On December 1, 2019 I on began my pastoral care of St Malachi as your Parish Administrator. Those first months were followed immediately by the onset of the pandemic. In addition to a new administrator, our parish family was forced into a new way of doing things, beginning with sustaining communal life while the world was shut down. Then rebuilding began as we crawled out of the quarantine phase and adjusted to “new normals.”  Talk about a flood of change for everyone.

Through it all, I have come to know many of you and the commitment you bring to our small-but-mighty parish.  Not without the need to address certain realities, I continue to observe the many wonderful blessings of our community, from the desire to worship well and grow spiritually to ongoing ways of caring for the vulnerable and those in most need.   We also have celebrated well as the liturgies balanced festive joy with prudence and safety.  Our Homeless Jesus statue graces our property as we continue to collaborate with good neighbors.  And our outreach ministries are being reimaged in this post-Covid era.

I especially witness these desires as we experience our Strategic Planning initiative.  It is evident that so many parishioners – and friends – love St. Malachi and remain committed to a hopeful future, whatever that may look like, as we look for creative ways to address the medley of strengths and challenges before us.

As we reach this three-year milestone together, know of my deep respect and gratitude for all those who call St Malachi their home.  For however long the Bishop has me assigned as your Administrator, may this be a time in which we continue to grow.

Be assured of my continued prayers for you, Fr Tony, and all those we earnestly seek to serve in the name of Christ the Eternal Word.

 

Advent blessings,

Fr Gurnick