Dear Saint Bernadette Parishioner,
As your Pastor, I want you to know that the news this past week concerning clergy abuse in Pennsylvania has hurt me as I know it has hurt you. I know our feelings cover the spectrum: grief, anger, confusion, denial, fear, and even for some, despair. Personally, having just celebrated my 25th Ordination Anniversary and having received so many kind and generous accolades from you, today’s revelations about abuse coverups in Pennsylvania feel surreal.
I ask you to join me in prayer this coming week for all victims of abuse by the hands of those we should be able to trust the most. I ask you to join me in prayer this week for our Church… we need to get this right for the sake of all those who will inherit the Church from us. I want you to know that in the coming week I will be preparing a homily for next weekend that will speak to this tragedy, but this weekend (led by the scriptures in the context of the baptisms we will be celebrating) I will be preaching around our need for wisdom.
I take heart in Pope Francis’ recent message that he is on the side of those who have suffered abuse at the hands of our clergy. I pray he be strengthened in his crusade to root out this evil from our midst. And I join in his prayer that all who are wounded by these crimes know healing. My staff and I stand ready to be with any who need our presence and prayer, please approach us should you discern the need.
I am blessed to be your Pastor and will do all in my power to serve you.
Sincerely, Fr. Jeff
As your Pastor, I want you to know that the news this past week concerning clergy abuse in Pennsylvania has hurt me as I know it has hurt you. I know our feelings cover the spectrum: grief, anger, confusion, denial, fear, and even for some, despair. Personally, having just celebrated my 25th Ordination Anniversary and having received so many kind and generous accolades from you, today’s revelations about abuse coverups in Pennsylvania feel surreal.
I ask you to join me in prayer this coming week for all victims of abuse by the hands of those we should be able to trust the most. I ask you to join me in prayer this week for our Church… we need to get this right for the sake of all those who will inherit the Church from us. I want you to know that in the coming week I will be preparing a homily for next weekend that will speak to this tragedy, but this weekend (led by the scriptures in the context of the baptisms we will be celebrating) I will be preaching around our need for wisdom.
I take heart in Pope Francis’ recent message that he is on the side of those who have suffered abuse at the hands of our clergy. I pray he be strengthened in his crusade to root out this evil from our midst. And I join in his prayer that all who are wounded by these crimes know healing. My staff and I stand ready to be with any who need our presence and prayer, please approach us should you discern the need.
I am blessed to be your Pastor and will do all in my power to serve you.
Sincerely, Fr. Jeff
Aug
22
Holy Hour for Our Church
7pm-8pm; Join us for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church
Are you going?
Yes
No
Maybe
going.
not going.
might be going.