When I announced Fr. Jakub’s leave of absence in March, I mentioned that there was no priest available to take his place here at Visitation. I had hoped that a priest would be assigned with the July transfers; however, that did not happen. There appears to be none available for replacement and no ordinations to the priesthood are scheduled for the Diocese of Trenton this year. Therefore, based on the Mass attendance counts taken recently I must announce that:
Starting July 6 and 7, the weekend Mass schedule at Visitation Parish will be:
Saturday 4PM
Sunday 7, 9 and 11AM
You may ask how the retired priests feature in this situation. I am truly grateful that we are blessed to have our retired priests to celebrate Masses and have relied on them greatly over these past weeks. However, it is not meant for them to take the place of a full-time staff priest. I know that Mass time change is the most difficult part of change for a parish community; however, canon 905 in Church law regarding the number of Masses a priest can celebrate as well as the physical limitations of Deacon Sal and myself make this change necessary.
The vocations crisis in the United States has reached the diocese of Trenton and has now touched the Church of the Visitation. Please pray and work in forming hearts able to respond to calls in the ordained and religious life. Please pray for a return of our culture to one of faith in Christ Jesus.
On this Pentecost weekend, I am reminded that, from a room of twelve frightened Apostles and a few brave friends, the Church was born to spread the Good News throughout the world and change human history forever. That has not been without periods of trial such as the one we are now undergoing. Continue to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the Church and for the renewal of effort in spreading that Good News.
I thank you for your prayers and your support. May God continue to bless you and God bless Visitation Parish!