How time flies! It’s six months already since Bishop John Dolan asked me to act as Interim Parochial Administrator of our beautiful Parish family. When Msgr. Bui called to break the news tome, it hit like a thunderbolt. Much as I was worried about my lack of experience of the workings of the Church in America, I was sure I had the most loving and caring Parishioners who would help me to navigate and hold the fort. And truly, these six months have been the most intensive of my life. It has been my privilege to serve as your Interim Parochial Administrator.

It is with humble gratitude that I want to express my continuing appreciation of you. I want to specifically thank Bishop Dolan for this opportunity. I am grateful to the Pastoral and Finance Councils for helping me to keep the status quo. I am grateful to our ever-supportive staff who made the work a lot easier.

With that thought in mind, there’s one more group to thank and appreciate—and that would be you,our wonderful Parishioners! On behalf of the entire Parish staff, we want you to know how much we appreciate your consistent presence and participation in our Parish community. Let me thank you in advance for your continued active engagement in our Parish.

We are grateful, as we should be, for our new Pastor who begins ministry with us July 1. We all know Fr. Kilian McCaffrey can’t do it alone. It takes all of us — Priests, Deacons, Parishioners, Volunteers,and Parish staff to be the Body of Christ. As a Parish, we understand the fullness and challenge of living out our Parish mission — building the Body of Christ together. The warm reception accorded Fr. Kilian June 4 is a foretaste of the kind of support we anticipate for him. You all came out in your numbers to receive him, and the Parish is actually beginning to feel the “Kilian effect.” I’m excited to see what the Holy Spirit has in store as we enter this new and different era under the able leadership of our new Pastor. Please keep Fr. Killian in your prayers and offer him every support he needs. We need him to succeed, and we want our Parish to thrive under his leadership.

From July 1, I revert to my former position as Parochial Vicar. I am glad that I can continue to call Blessed Sacrament my home away from home. I look forward to our continued relationship, and I look forward to collaborating with Fr. Kilian. I know that, together, we will continue to make Christ felt in our parish.

As I offer my gratitude to you and offer words of welcome to our new Pastor, let me, in your name,thank Fr. Devaraju Gangolu for his ministry among us. With the departure of Fr. Bryan Buenger to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, we needed help, and Bishop Dolan kindly sent us help. Fr. Dev began ministry here March 1. He’s been a blessing to our Parish community, and we remain eternally grateful to him. As you all know, he moves to St. Mary’s Chandler on July 1. Fr. Dev will be pleased to share a moment with us after all the Masses of June 24-25. Let us remember to stop by to let him know how grateful we are for his ministry with us and wish him well in his new assignment.

May Jesus, the Good Shepherd, continue to bless you and all yours.

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