Dear Friends in Christ,
Last weekend at all the Masses I informed our parish that I have been reassigned to a new role in the central administration of the Archdiocese and that I will be leaving St. Thomas More Parish. Cardinal DiNardo has appointed me to serve as the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Director of the Secretariat for Clergy Formation and Chaplaincy Services of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. (I’m still trying to remember that title!) An episcopal vicar is essentially a priest whom a bishop appoints to oversee important aspects of a diocese and, here in our Archdiocese, the Episcopal Vicar for Clergy is the liaison between Cardinal DiNardo and all the clergy. Additionally, my new role will oversee various aspects of clergy life, such as St. Mary’s Seminary, the Diaconate, the Vocations Office, Continuing Education of Clergy, and the Catholic Chaplain Corps.
While I am honored and thankful for the Cardinal’s confidence in me, it will be very difficult to leave St. Thomas More. The Cardinal assigned me to serve our parish four years ago, and we have accomplished so much together in a relatively short amount of time. St. Thomas More is truly one of the best parishes in the Archdiocese, and the reason it’s so good is because of the people who make it up. I truly believe that God desires our salvation and that He can use any and every moment of our lives to help us get to heaven. I am so thankful that my personal faith journey crossed paths with this wonderful parish and with so many of you. Thank you for all you have done for me!
My new role as the Vicar for Clergy will begin on July 1st and a new pastor will be assigned to St. Thomas More in the near future. Please continue to keep me in your prayers, and please pray for the next pastor! And of course, know of my prayers for all of you.
God bless,
Fr. Clark