Dear Parishioners,
As Fr. Stephen says his farewells to our parish community, I wish to publicly thank him for his four years of ministry here at POP and at JPII High School. He's especially been instrumental this past year helping to guide and acclimate me during my transition to POP. Without his counsel and institutional history, I would have really been at a disadvantage this past year. Thank you, Fr. Stephen!
Next weekend we will welcome our new Parochial Vicar, recently ordained, Fr. Lucas de Sales to our community. I know he will be as welcomed by you all as I was last year.
During the last twelve months at Prince of Peace we have experienced unprecedented change in our community: the retirement of Fr. Tom, the assignment of me as your new Pastor, the groundbreaking of our Building Campaign project, the implementation of Phases 1, 1a, 2 and soon to be phase 3 of the construction process, the relocation of Sunday Mass to the gym, daily Mass to the House of God's Glory, the assignment of our newly ordained deacon, Luis Boy to St. Mark and now the reassignment of Fr. Stephen and the new assignment of Fr. Lucas. Whew, this is a lot of change in 12 months!
We all process and cope with changes in differing ways. Some people despair, some welcome the new experiences, some remain indifferent. To all of us, I would simply call upon our trust in our good and providential God. Think back on other times in life when change came our way. I suspect that while the change was painful, exciting, or neutral, ultimately, we're better off for it.
Thanks for your continued fortitude and support during these unprecedented times in our parish community.
God bless,
Fr. Michael