Faith of our fathers: son of a deacon celebrates first Mass, with his father by his side

From the Charlotte News Herald: 

Father Paul McNulty celebrated his first Mass June 29 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

His father, Deacon Brian McNulty, chanted the Gospel reading at Mass and assisted Father Paul at the altar during his first Mass.

Father Joshua Voitus delivered the homily.

Father McNulty’s chalice was a gift from Abbot Placid of Belmont Abbey.

His mother, Michelle McNulty and her daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren brought up the gifts.

A reader in Charlotte who was there dropped me an email:

 Many seminarians, visiting priests from the Josephinum, the Abbott of Belmont Abbey, our local Missionaries of Charity, Poor Clares and a packed cathedral had the privilege of watching this amazing work of God. The procession was led by an Irish kilted honor guard. Seminarians sang three part chant to the organ, and the Knights of Columbus lined the aisles. Many altar boys lifted high the crucifix and lanterns. The love and support provided to Fr. Paul revealed the strong fraternity among the seminarians and priests in our diocese.

The highlight of the mass for me, aside from the consecration of course, was when Deacon Brian was preparing the altar and the seminarian trio led the congregation in singing “Faith of Our Fathers”. I couldn’t help but see the father preparing the altar as the lived reality of the song.  His parents and sisters were pivotal in his embracing God’s call for him.

I talked with Brian afterwards and he said he and his wife Michelle are so humbled that God blessed them with this amazing privilege. He said he thinks of so many others who did everything right and their kids chose another path far from God, and he wonders “why us, Lord?”, but with great gratitude.

God bless them all. Ad multos annos!