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Eleventh Sunday of the Year
13 June 2010
Dear Friends in Christ,
1. Today is Kevin Clarke’s last Sunday with us as organist and choirmaster. During these last two years, Kevin has lifted and strengthened our program of sacred music in every way, and I am immensely grateful for his service. Kevin, Lisa, Lucy, and Hugh are moving back to Texas in the coming days, and we wish them a safe journey and every blessing in their new home and work.
2. Sunday 27 June will be Father Longenecker’s last Sunday with us as a regular assisting priest. Because, however, he is going only across town to our sister parish at Our Lady of the Rosary, we will surely see him on a regular basis, and he will continue his work in the chaplaincy at St. Joseph’s School. I am deeply grateful to Father Longenecker for his service to the people of this church in which he was ordained to the priesthood, and I invite you to express your thanks to him at a reception in Gallivan Hall after the 9 am Mass on Sunday 27 June.
3. Last Friday evening at our Cathedral Church in Charleston, Bishop Guglielmone ordained three men to the priesthood for service in our diocese. This is a great blessing for which we should be thankful, but even the gift of three new priests is not sufficient to offset the losses which occur in the coming year through retirement and transfer. For several years, I have spoken to you about the effects on our parish life of the declining number of priests in our diocese, and now we will feel those effects in practical ways. Father Bart will continue to celebrate the 7.30 Mass on most Sundays and will help with weekday Masses and Wednesday Confessions when his other obligations permit. But aside from that splendid help, I will now be the sole priest in the parish for some time to come. With the assistance of our truly outstanding staff, I anticipate being able to do everything that must be done, but there will be very little time in my week left unfilled by obligations, so I must ask in advance for your patience and understanding for the times when I will not be available to you. As ever, when you need to see me in the office, please make an appointment by contacting my secretary, Mary Williams (whose contact information is in the staff section of the bulletin). And if you need me in an emergency, you can always reach me by calling the answering service which is available 24/7. That number is listed on the back of the bulletin and is announced on the message which you hear when calling the church office after hours. Finally, you are always welcome to be in touch by email at pastor@stmarysgvl.org.
4. The Wednesday afternoon Holy Hour and Confessions will not be held throughout the month of July. The last Holy Hour before the break will be 30 June, and the first after the break will be 4 August.
5. Pray for more young men to answer the call to serve the LORD and His Church in the sacred priesthood, especially from our parish.
Father Newman