When we changed the format of the bulletin to become The Weekly, the format of my column changed from a sort of “what’s going on” to a more focused column on something usually pertaining to discipleship, many times reflecting on the readings of the particular Sunday. This week I have decided to revisit the old format and I think that I will do that from time to time when things are going on in the parish that I would like to draw your attention to.
May is generally a busy time for families and it is no different for the parish family. This coming month will be of particular significance for us. Since Easter was relatively early this year, one event that normally falls in May has already been celebrated. First Communion for our 2nd grade students in our PSR program and in our school was celebrated this past weekend, April 21/22, on the Fourth Sunday of Easter also known as “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Our parish 8th grade class is preparing for their commencement exercises in just under three weeks on Friday, May 18th at 6:30PM in the Cathedral church. All are welcome.
We ask for God’s blessing on these students celebrating these great achievements.
While these events are always moments of joy, there can be no denying that these events this year are also wrapped with a sense of sorrow as we prepare to end our grade school programming. In these upcoming weeks I would ask that you keep our school children, faculty, staff, and all of their families at the forefront of your prayers. This time of transition will not be easy for many and your prayers are most appreciated.
As we prepare for this transition, I would like to invite you to take a walk through the Cathedral School on Sunday, May 6th, from 11:00AM to 1:00PM.
There will be refreshments provided, many old photographs on display, and memories to be shared.
May will bring another transition with it. If you were not able to join us at Mass last weekend, it was announced that our Father Braden Maher will be concluding his appointment with us and transferring to Our Savior Parish in Jacksonville as parochial vicar. He will also assist as the parochial vicar of the parishes in Beardstown, Arenzville, and Virginia. This new assignment will begin on August 1st. Before Father Maher begins his new assignment, he will begin studies in Canon Law at the Catholic University of American in Washington, D.C. at the beginning of June. This means that he will be leaving us at the end of May. We are grateful to Father Maher for the ministry that he has provided to us over these past two years and we wish him every grace and blessing in his transition.
We will have a farewell reception for Father Maher after the 4:00PM Mass on Saturday evening, May 19th, in the Atrium.
There will be further reminders to come. We will joyfully welcome his successor, Father Michael Friedel, at the beginning of July and I will have more to share with you about Father Friedel in the future.
Personally, I do not like transitions, mostly because they seem to come with grief, but this is a part of the Christian life. As we move towards these times of change, let us remember the Lord’s words to his disciples when he told them that he would be leaving them in the earthly sense but that he would always be present to them in the gift of the Holy Spirit: you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world (John 16: 20, 33). God bless you!
Father Christopher House is the Rector-Pastor of the Cathedral and serves in various leadership roles within the diocesan curia, specifically Chancellor and Vicar Judicial.