In the 12 years as pastor of St. Mary in Los Gatos, it never occurred to me that I would write this announcement, and I find myself resisting the thought of what another personnel change might mean to our staff at St. Mary. One of the more consistent changes a priest can depend is the experience of being assigned by the bishop to serve in one parish or another. Pastors are usually assigned 1 or 2 terms of 6 years and sometimes longer until a new one is assigned. However, when a staff member as reliable and accomplished as Ms. Teri Shepherd Tucci retires from her post, it makes me scratch my head and wonder since I always imagined I would have retired or been reassigned before Teri left.

     Long before I worked with Teri, I knew her as a fellow colleague among the employees of the Diocese of San Jose and by association through Fr. Justin Zawadzki. When I was assigned to St. Mary, Teri asked what colors I wanted the walls of my quarters painted in the rectory. I quoted from James Taylor’s Sweet Baby James—"deep greens and blues are the colors I choose.” When I went to see the completed project, I was amazed at her choices of sea green and blue, and it matched the existing trim. I thought, wow, how talented she is. At that very moment, I could see how easy it would be to work with Teri, and it just kept getting better all the time!

     It will be difficult to imagine parish administration at St. Mary without Teri. As with all good things there must be a beginning, middle an end, and another beginning. The circle of life goes on and so with St. Mary. Yet, for now I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Teri for her excellent performance as a business manager and for the many, many efforts she made on behalf of this parish community and the lives of the people who call St. Mary home. Thinking about all the projects that she and I endeavored to complete, I recall how we reproved each other and were able to manage the contentiousness one might expect when there is so much at stake. Teri was unabashedly honest about what she perceived, and she wasn’t afraid to tell me. Once I wrote an article for the newsletter and sent it to Teri the night before it was due. The next day, I asked if she received it. She said, “we’re not printing that!” I asked why, to which she said, “it’s too depressing. You’re supposed a man of faith so start writing like one.” That made a lot of sense to me, so I rewrote the article with that in mind.  

     It’s been a great honor and privilege to work with someone as competent as Teri, and I am sorry to see her go. She has worked tirelessly for the members of this community, and though she is moving out of the Bay Area, I’m sure our paths will cross again in the years to come. God bless you Teri as you go forth; I pray you will prevail, prosper, and bloom where you are planted.

     Change happens when we least expect it, and it happens all the time. With Teri Tucci’s departure, we will have a new member of St. Mary Staff. Ms. Sharon Aeria will be joining the staff of St. Mary. She has experience working at St. Julie Parish in San Jose as their business manager. I hope you will help me welcome Sharon to St. Mary and to wish Teri Tucci all the best in weeks and months ahead.

Weekday Mass in-person: Monday – Saturday 9:30am (courtyard)

Confession: Saturday 1:30pm in the Conference Room in Pastoral Center

Saturday Vigil Mass in-person: 3pm (courtyard)

Sunday Masses: 8am Livestream (in the Church) and 9am & 3pm Mass (courtyard)

NOTE: Mass sign-ups are available through January 31, 2021 online.  Offices are still not be open for in-person meeting and assistance per diocesan & county health protocols.