Dear Parishioners, As I announced last week, I have big news to share: Bishop Henning has asked me to study Canon Law at Catholic University of America. For the next four years, during the months of June and July, I will be in Washington D.C. taking courses to complete the degree. There are at least two reasons for this decision: First, we need priests who know Canon Law and can assist with Church law issues regarding marriages and annulments. Given the shortage of priests, we will need to wear multiple hats going forward. Second, since I already have a licentiate degree in theology, I can complete the degree for Canon Law in a shorter length of time. All that having been said, I want everyone to know that I am still pastor of St. Teresa Parish and School. As part of this process I wanted to make sure that I would continue serving you and the parish. This is not me leaving the parish. I will still be in regular contact during the months of June and July. I am a hard priest to get rid of!
For the month of June priests from the Diocese of Providence will assist at Masses and liturgies. Fr. Bernie O’Reilly has been a tremendous help and will be assisted by others. For the month of July our newly ordained priest, Fr. Patrick Ryan will take my place. Not only do we have a summer seminarian, but we will also have a newly ordained priest. Since he is right out of the seminary, he will certainly know more than me! It is a wonderful opportunity for us as a parish and shows our vibrancy having a seminarian and a newly ordained (it is almost like having an assistant priest!). Fr. Ryan comes to us from Sts. John and Paul Parish in Coventry. For the last four years he has studied theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He goes back to Rome in the Fall to complete his studies.
In other news, this weekend we welcome Mr. Edward Walsh from the Chesterton Academy. This is a new initiate in the diocese to start a High School modeled after the Catholic Author, G.K. Chesterton. He will be at the front entrance of the church answering any questions you might have.
This past week we also held a Diocesan Meeting for Evangelization at our parish. Mr. Michael Lavigne who served as our Director of Religious Education several years ago and gave an excellent talk to our parish this past Advent, leads the Diocesan Office of Evangelization and Planning. The meeting was a chance for DREs and Ministers to discuss how to evangelize.
This week is the last week of classes for our parish school eighth graders. Soon we will celebrate their graduation (and the graduations of many students). Please pray for them as they complete their studies and go off to High School.