June 30, 2024

Well, there it is, I’ve been with you the parishioners of Saints Aloysius and Benedict for just over a year now. It’s strange to think that it has already been a year; it feels like just the other day I was moving in the pouring rain. I want to thank everyone for how kind they have been this past year, you’ve really helped to make me feel at home and I can definitely say that I’m happy here. I’ve been with you now through an entire calendar year, fiscal year, and liturgical year with all the many blessings and challenges that they bring. I’ve been with you through fish-frys, Saint Benedict Rod-Runs and Saint Aloysius Social, Yard Sale, and Craft Fair. We have celebrated my installation as your pastor at both parishes and had a very nice, combined luncheon to celebrate. We’ve had Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, a wedding and a number of funerals. We have had time for prayer including regular Eucharistic adoration, times for confessions, stations of the cross and special Masses throughout the year. We have spent time together and gotten to know one another. We’ve gotten some work done over the past year as well. We replaced the roof on the Saint Benedict rectory, home of Fr. Kevin Bryan, we fixed the collapsing ceiling in Saint Benedict’s, we have started the process of cleaning up the school building at Saint Aloysius as well as dealt with numerous maintenance issues at both parishes. Through the generous support of volunteers, the floor in the Saint Benedict’s cafeteria was also redone. We have done all of this while maintaining a balanced budget and will probably have some money left over after the end-of-year reporting has concluded. We have welcomed a number of new parishioners and have had long-term parishioners return to Mass after an absence of some time. We have also had a summer seminarian for the first time in a long while. We have seen the return of regular servers at both the Saint Aloysius Masses – a ministry that I understand had been vacant for some time. The office staff have also been busy learning a new financial accounting and parish database systems software. A lot has taken place over the past year and I’m certain my brief summary has unfortunately left out significant contributions from parishioners in any number of areas.     

So, what’s next? Other than a calendar full of routine events I’m also looking forward to the parking lot at Saint Benedict being paved next month as well as continuing to work on the process of inviting Regina Caeli to take up residence in Saint Aloysius School. I’m looking forward to a more robust adult faith formation program at Saint Aloysius as well as seeing the Bible Studies continue at Saint Benedict. I’m looking forward to getting the gutters on the Saint Aloysius gym repaired as well as repairing the cupola on Saint Aloysius Church. I hope to refinish the outside doors at Saint Benedict as well as polishing the Tabernacle. I am definitely looking forward to the ordination of Deacon Kevin Webb on August 24 and him starting ministry soon after that at both of our parishes. He and his wife are quite eager to get started and I am very hopeful that their ministry will have a profound impact on our community! It should be an exciting year with all that God has in store for us. 

Two Parishes, One Heart,

Fr. Adam