Before entering seminary, Father Andrew J. Fisher played four years of baseball at Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Md. And if Father Fisher isn’t in the office or the chapel of his new parish, St. Timothy Church in Chantilly, he advises anyone looking for him to check the school’s baseball field.
After 15 years as pastor of St. Ambrose Church in Annandale, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge installed Father Fisher as pastor of St. Timothy during an evening Mass Aug. 13. They were joined by several other clergy members, including Father Mauricio Portillo, who became the parish’s newest parochial vicar this summer. Father Gerald Weymes, a retired priest who was Father Fisher’s first pastor and the pastor of St. Timothy for 18 years, also was present for the celebration.
During the Mass of Installation, Bishop Burbidge entrusted the parish to Father Fisher, who then led the people in the profession of faith. Father Fisher then turned to Bishop Burbidge and said an oath of fidelity. The congregation greeted their new pastor with applause.
In his remarks during Mass, Father Fisher described St. Timothy as a parish filled with faith, life and generosity. “It is a big and busy community, but it still feels like a family,” he said. His parishioners concurred. “I see a growing number of families who are on fire for their faith,” said Marsha Jacobeen, a parishioner since 1986. James Horoho, a high school senior and leader of the parish youth group, noted, “I think there’s a lot of young Catholics (here) who want to grow in their faith.”
Longtime parishioners Carolyn and Thomas Yehl got to know Father Fisher when their son, Youth Apostle Father Thomas Yehl, was serving alongside him at St. Ambrose. They were excited to welcome the familiar face to their active parish. “We have almost every Catholic organization in this country represented here at this parish,” said Thomas. “We have the Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, women’s Bible study and the best thing that we have is the adoration chapel,” said Carolyn.
During his homily, Bishop Burbidge encouraged the new pastor to preach the truth and to help his parishioners courageously bring that truth out into the world. He asked Father Fisher to rely on the help and prayers of his dedicated staff and his parishioners as he leads the faithful. If you do, said Bishop Burbidge, “I am sure, at the parish, you will hit the ball out of the park.”
Maraist is a freelancer from Reston.
