From the Pastor 

Dear Parishioners,

This past June I completed eight years as your pastor. As I have said many times, I am grateful for your continued prayers and support. Even amid certain challenges that have confronted the church, our journey as a collaborative and then as a single parish has been a positive experience. As you know, I have done my best to maintain a pastoral schedule that offers parishioners a variety of Mass times, devotional services and educational classes.

This past year, it has become clear that our current Mass schedule needs to be adjusted for the following reasons:

1. In June of 2014, five full time priests serving the three parishes was reduced to three full time priests. In August of 2020 that was further reduced to two full time priests.
2. As of August 1, 2020, we became one parish with three worship sites.
3. For a variety of health reasons, a few of the senior priests who have assisted the parish these eight years need to reevaluate their ability to assist us on the weekends.

The shortage of priests is why I must now share with you the following changes to our current Mass schedule. We no longer have the priests to maintain ten weekend Masses for three worship sites that are less than two miles apart. It has become clear that we no longer have the luxury to offer three 4:00pm Masses on Saturday afternoon. With the approval of the Pastoral and Finance Councils, I am establishing the following changes in the Mass schedule which will begin the second weekend in January:

• 4:00pm Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church from January - June
• 4:00pm Saturday Mass at Saint Ann Church from July - December
• Eliminate the 10:30am Mass at Saint Mary
• Eliminate the 7:30am Mass at Sacred Heart

Starting January 6/7, 2023 

The new Mass schedule is as follows:

Saint Mary Church - 4:00pm Saturday & 8:00am Sunday

Sacred Heart Church - 4:00pm Saturday, January–June, 10:00am & 6:00pm on Sunday

Saint Ann Church - 4:00pm Saturday, July - December, 9:00am & 11:00am on Sunday

By eliminating three weekend Masses, two full time priests with the assistance of a senior priest can maintain a weekend schedule that offers seven Masses at three worship sites. I realize change is not easy. However, I hope you can understand that with celebrating over 200 funerals per year along with other sacramental responsibilities, the current weekend Mass schedule is impossible to maintain. I hope that those who are affected by the change will prayerfully consider attending a different Mass. I hesitated to make this decision, but the reality is that I no longer have the pool of priests to provide for ten Masses on the weekend.

Please pray for your parish priests and pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood so that the Lord can send more workers to His vineyard.

I am grateful for your continued support and prayers,

Fr. Lou