As you saw in last Sunday's bulletin Helen Oesterle has accepted an offer to become Director of Religious Education at St. James Cathedral. We will miss her great talent and upbeat personality. It will be a time of readjustment at both Holy Family and St. Bernadette's. A number of people have already assured me of their willingness to help out in faith formation on a volunteer basis. I am grateful for the work Eleanor Cummings has been doing to set up the course for adults interested in the Catholic faith. The Thursday evening class is still open, especially to those inquiring about the Catholic Church.
This summer we are fortunate to receive a seminarian of the Archdiocese, Mr. Derek Lappe. Derek has just completed his third year of theology at North American College in Rome and will be ordained to the diaconate on July 25. Derek will be with us beginning around July 9 through early September.
Most of our parish and school staff will be intact for 1999-2000, a fact I am most grateful for. We are especially blessed to have with us Fr. Richard Gallagher. So many people have told me this year how wonderful it has been to have Fr. Gallagher's caring presence. He is such a help and support to me and I pray that he will be with us for many years to come.
For me personally it hardly seems possible that I am completing four years here at Holy Family. In July of 1995 I was assigned as priest minister to the Hispanic Community of this parish, the next year as priest administrator and two years ago as pastor of Holy Family. If all goes well I will continue in that role till 2009. The present archdiocesan policy is for a pastor to be assigned for six years after which it can be renewed for six more. These are exciting times for our parish and I look forward to being with you as we face the challenges of the new millenium.