Thank You For Helping Me Celebrate My 20th Anniversary of My Ordination!

My dear Parishioners and Friends:

What a truly humbling experience I had last weekend. Your genuine outpouring of love and affection were overwhelming. The Knights of Columbus brought that element of regality as no one could … the music and choir were genuinely uplifting and for a change, I heard many of you singing along! The programs were elegant, despite of my picture on the cover! The decorations in the CYO were no small undertaking and I couldn’t have been more pleased. Now ~ we come to those delicacies that I am absolutely supposed to look the other from … but how could I knowing that you took the time to bake and decorate them? To not sample a little bit of each one would have been quite a crime, because they were delicious!

But you know, my dear people, it is your companionship and little notes and events like this that make this place so splendid...that make this place home. So many pastors have a church they are in charge of running, but here we have people whose love is the driving force. The love of Christ is evident through the many countless acts of mercy and sacrifices I witness here constantly. People take care of each other and appreciate the struggles of daily life. I’ve learned so much from you these past 13 years. I have been a priest for 20 years, which is truly a privilege in itself. It is the title of Pastor that I have learned to treasure … because of you.

Thank you! Mille grazie!