At 11:00am last Sunday, Msgr. Mike and Fr. Joe presided together over what was to be their last weekend Mass here at St. Luke Parish. It was very well-attended, full of parishioners who wanted to celebrate the Eucharist along with these beloved men who have guided and cared so well for our church family.

Msgr. Mike’s homily was loving and comforting; with stories, memories, wisdom, and great hope about changes to come. “This sense of movement is part of all of our lives,” said Msgr. Mike.  “We’ve all experienced it in so many ways. But this is a good time, and it is wonderful to gather around the Eucharist and share in the intimacy of God’s living presence as he gives himself to us as a gift; and what God asks of us is to give ourselves as a gift to one another.”

Fr. Joe shared memories of his four years at St. Luke church, happy that after a tough year of for all of us, we are back and celebrating together at Mass. He asked us to invite others to return to Mass, to join us and meet our new Pastor.

The Environmental Stewardship Ministry thanked Msgr. Mike for his blessing and support of this ministry, which runs study groups, blessing of animals, garden projects, and more. In the new Butterfly and Pollinator Garden at the St. Luke Cemetery property, a Red Oak tree will be planted and dedicated with a plaque, “To Msgr. Michael Foley, Pastor and Spiritual Guide.” A Sugar Maple will be planted in appreciation of Fr. Joe’s work here at St. Luke Parish.

A receiving line wound down around the aisles after Mass as people came to chat and share well-wishes for the two priests. The atmosphere was light and joyful, with Martha & Mary Ministry providing homemade cookies and drinks.

Fr. Joe will be moving on to become Administrator of three parishes in the Brookfields.  A native of Worcester, Fr. Joe thought about the priesthood as a vocation since childhood. However, after high school he worked in sales and customer service, studied computer programming, and earned his bachelor’s degree at Fitchburg State. With encouragement from other priests and his family, he returned to the idea of becoming a priest and was ordained in December of 2016 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Worcester at the age of 49.

In an interview with the Catholic Free Press in 2016, Fr. Joe shared that as a priest, he hoped to help people understand that God loves them and will forgive them for their sins if they seek forgiveness. He also wanted to help people understand the power the sacraments can bring to them.

Msgr. Mike became pastor of St Luke's on June 30th, 2007 after the retirement of Rev. George Lange. He’d been pastor of St. Mary's in Milford for 16 years, and pastor for 7 years at St. John’s in Worcester before that. Born in Chicago in 1945, Msgr. Foley is the oldest of six children. His family moved to Worcester where he attended The College of the Holy Cross, graduating in 1967 before deciding to enter the priesthood. He continued his studies in Rome and was ordained at St. Peter's Basilica in 1970. After 50 years of service, he is retiring. 

In an interview with Judy Powell just after coming to St. Luke Parish, Msgr. Mike shared his conviction that we all have a profound responsibility to care for the environment. He also knew of St. Luke parish’s commitment to the poor, for while he was at St. John’s parish, they were recipients of St. Luke’s annual Giving Tree. 

It is easy to see that in the years here at St. Luke Parish, Msgr. Mike’s compassion and gentle care for others, in particular the poor, have made a difference in the lives of so many; not only St. Luke families but the larger community as well as in places such as Central Appalachia, Haiti, and Ghana. 

In 2012, St. Luke church implemented the “Sharing First” program. “Sharing First” is a commitment of our parish family to designate the first 10% of Sunday collection each week to go to supporting the needs of the poor. Msgr. Mike often spoke of how we are called to help those in need and model “sacrificial giving” saying, “While we certainly have many needs of our own, we as a parish community have been blessed with so much.  Sharing a very significant and specific amount shows God our gratitude for all He has provided, and it is also a visible sign of our trust in Him to provide us with all we need.”  

Msgr. Mike’s is a heart of compassion and generous care for others which has nurtured St. Luke Parish’s ministries. With this commitment to “A Generous Way of Life,” St. Luke’s Outreach Ministry has grown into a strong and vital program that is able to directly help the needs of struggling families and support those organizations whose mission it is to help those in need. We can see Jesus in the faces of the poor, Msgr. tells us, and we must answer Jesus’ call to care for others.