Father Newman giving a Sermon

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Thirteenth Sunday Of The Year

28 June 2009

Eight years ago on this day I began my service as the 16th pastor of St. Mary’s (which now makes my tenure the fourth longest among the sixteen), and on this anniversary my thoughts naturally turn to all that we’ve been through together.

First, my regrets. I had hoped by now to be able to visit most of you in your homes, and for many reasons that simply hasn’t happened. I also regret that the changes I have introduced during these eight years have led not a few families to seek a new parish home; a shepherd never wants to be the cause of disagreement or disappointment among the flock. Finally, I regret that I have not found more and better ways to be of direct service to those in need and helped you to do the same. The widowed, the imprisoned, the sick, the lonely, the poor: these are our brethren, and in their faces we see Christ. I hope in the years ahead to be able to make progress in redressing all of these regrets, and I ask for your support in that work. Now, the things for which I am grateful. The parish has grown dramatically in these years, and together we have accomplished much. The celebration of the sacred liturgy is the center of our common life, and we are blessed with truly exceptional programs of sacred music and adult catechesis. We have expanded the campus by over 30% to provide room for future growth, and we have completely renovated the church and Pazdan Hall. Graceful buildings and beautiful grounds are not an end in themselves, but they are the means to creating an oasis of tranquility in which the soul can be nourished. Our school is the oldest private school in Greenville County and is the principal apostolate of the parish. I am most grateful for the decision of the Nashville Dominicans to send Sisters to our school, and even as we continually look for ways to strengthen our curriculum, I believe that we already provide an education and Christian formation second to none. Finally, the ordinations of Deacons Diego Ferro and John Heuser, and of Fathers Christopher Smith, Dwight Longenecker, and Michael Cassabon, and the decision to try the novitiate or the seminary by one woman and eight men all bear witness to the dedication of the people of St. Mary’s to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Much, of course, remains to be done. We must remove the old rectory and build a beautiful columbarium. We must integrate the newly acquired property into our campus and plan for the future use of that space. We must constantly look for ways to integrate the Anglo and Hispanic portions of the parish. We must serve those in need with love and works of love. And above all else, we must be entirely dedicated to following the Lord Jesus in the Way of the Cross and to bearing witness to our faith through radical conversion, deep fidelity, joyful discipleship, and courageous evangelism. Thank you for these eight years; I look forward to the next eight.

Father Newman