Hello and Good-Bye!

May 7

I had a great time in Italy…but it is great to be back! Because I missed last week I have a few things to share with you: the pilgrimage, Confirmation, and Fr. Steve

The pilgrimage was wonderful. The students and the chaperones truly had a moving experience that deepened their faith as we entered into the lives of Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi. We had early mornings, lots of walking [one day, my Fitbit recorded 23,000 steps. The norm was about 15,000!], and we had late nights. It was all worth it! We prayed at the tombs of St. Francis and of St. Clare. We walked to the Portziuncola in the valley outside of the walled city of Assisi. This is one of the churches that St. Francis literally rebuilt and was always a special place for him. At the back end of our time in Italy, we went to St. Peter’s Basilica and Rome’s cathedral church of St. John Lateran. We prayed, we laughed, we sang, and we eat some wonderful meals. Everything that makes a pilgrimage a pilgrimage! It was great!

Confirmation: The Friday after I returned we welcomed our bishop, Bp. David O’Connell, C.M., to confirm 23 of our brothers and sisters into our Catholic faith. It was great to have Bp. O’Connell with us. I thought he did a fantastic job and from what I hear so did those who attended. I really enjoyed witnessing our brothers and sister publically state their desire to be Catholic as they confirmed the faith of their baptism. Congratulations to all of you! I would like to thank your sponsors for standing with you on that Friday afternoon and on all the days to come as you continue to grow and mature in your faith. Thank you to your parents. They were your first teachers and probably the most important teachers that you will ever have. I thank them for their dedication to you and for their example as people of faith.

We welcome you into our faith community, but know, as Bp. O’Connell reminded us, this is not a graduation but an opportunity to enter more deeply into our faith and your relationship with Jesus. May your journey always be blessed. May you be open to accepting Jesus’ constant invitation to come closer to him as you continue on your journey through life.

Welcome Lauren Elizabeth Ambar & sponsor Christopher Coutinbo; Connor Arnold Arnold & sponsor Mario Muglia; Kylie Angela Ballin & sponsor Tim Butler; Aodhan Robert Beetel & sponsor Kevin Beetel; Teaghan Mary Beetel & sponsor Dorothea Beetel; Gianna Monica Borgia & sponsor Joanna Polizzi; Kathleen Cecilia Brennan & sponsor Eileen Ziegler; Gavin Emilio Cleary & sponsor Lorraine Fitzpatrick; Christian Joseph Compitello & sponsor Caryn Altieri; Molly Dorothy Falletta & sponsor Andrew Falletta; Madison Janet Garabedian & sponsor Joanne Garabedian; Robert Joseph Green & sponsor Rocco Manfre; Erin Veronica Jones & sponsor Shannon Umhafer; Emily Marina Kulinski & sponsor Theresa Kulinski; Liam Patrick McGinty & sponsor Patrick Brown; Brady Paul Nolan & sponsor Aidan Nolan; Emma Yvonne Ortiz & sponsor Susan Wyrsch; Emma Carina Reiser & sponsor Kelly Binkowski; Joseph Francis Sinatra [I love his choice of confirmation name!] & sponsor Florienne Sinatra; Anna Catherine Rose Skelly & sponsor Jaime Lynn Francis; Christopher Paul Small & sponsor Julie Malfitano; Olivia Adela Strunk & sponsor Gina Gibbons; Emma Valentine Whiteley & sponsor Kellian Frank.

And finally, Fr. Steve. As we welcome our brothers and sisters into full communion in the church, we must also say goodbye. Our brother, Fr. Steve Kluge, has been asked by our Provincial Minister, Fr. Kevin Mullen, to assume the responsibilities of Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart Church, Tampa, Fl. Our parish has been blessed to have 6 friar priests. I don’t know of any other parish that can say they have 6 priests. So when a need arose at Sacred Heart the provincial called. We have been blessed to have Steve back at St. Francis. I always enjoyed living with Steve and ministering beside him. He is a man of deep prayer and great faith. As a first-time pastor, I treasured his insights, thoughts, and opinions. I know I will certainly miss him, his counsel, and his wonderful ability to teach complicated mysteries in ways that even the simplest among us can understand. He has a great way of weaving his humor into pretty much everything and is a good and faithful brother to us all. Steve, may God’s blessing follow you wherever you go, and may you continue to be a reflection of that blessing to everyone you meet. Steve’s last Mass at St. Francis will be on May 29th at 11:30 AM. We will have a reception following that Mass in the Parish Center to formally say our goodbyes

May God continue to bless you and our great parish with peace and all good!