Grateful for the Year

We had the Marian Pilgrimage pass through our parishes this past week which served as a reminder to all that the Lord has done for us. As the restrictions from the pandemic are lifting nationwide, there is a lot to be grateful for. Although things haven’t been easy, you have been incredibly understanding and generous with changes and restrictions. They weren’t fun, yet we have plunged forward without too much difficulty.

Also thank you for your continued generosity. Our parishes have managed rather well financially during the pandemic. We are grateful for the payroll protection loan and parishioners who have given all or part of their stimulus checks to the parish. Moreover we’ve received generous gifts like the Kleinhenz-Moeller Foundation at St. Joseph and the Immaculate Conception Ladies Sodality gave a generous gift to the stained glass window fund.

Each year during this time, I find myself being drawn to the Lord in gratitude. May 21st was my fifth anniversary of ordination. Also May 18th was Fr. Jedidiah’s second anniversary. It is quite the gift to serve as a priest, especially in our parishes. I am continually humbled by the way that the Lord has worked in my life. It is not due to my own ability or insight. It simply comes from His love and mercy.

Thank you for making these years so memorable. As I look out during Sunday Mass and see your faces, memories often fill my mind. There are joyful memories like baptisms, weddings, or First Communions. There are difficult memories like hospital visits or funerals. There are simple memories such as dinner conversations, being at high school sports games or community events. You all mean so much to my life. Thank you for welcoming me into so many aspects of your life.

We are really grateful to have you in our life and one of the great joys of our lives is to serve as your priests. It isn’t always easy, but the cross is always part of every life. It is the cross that ultimately brings joy and points us to Jesus Christ and eternal life. Pray for Fr. Jedidiah and me that we may be faithful and generous in our priestly service.

Although there are so many parishioners that we have gotten to meet and come to know, there are even more that we still need to meet. One of the blessings about being a parish priest is getting to know parishioners and hearing how God is working in their lives. Feel free to invite us over, especially as our calendars quiet a little bit over the summer. We really enjoy spending time with parishioners. Maybe you’ve never had your house blessed or maybe you are having hamburgers on the grill, we’d love to spend quality time with you.

Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Sean Wilson