Guest Column Pastor’s Letter: January 26, 2025

Guest Column Pastor’s Letter: January 26, 2025

24 Jan 2025 | Posted by: chadmin

Dear friends,

I hope and pray you are all well! I miss you all very much. It was truly an interesting experience to move from St. Philomena to Epiphany last July. I was blessed to be with you at St. Philomena for 18 years! The years went so fast. I was personally able to do a lot of reflecting before moving and received so many notes, cards, pictures and personal stories about my 18 years at St. Philomena from so many of you. Thank you for taking the time to write cards and send notes. With the move, it took me a while to read through the three albums you sent with me. Truly a gift I cherished and will return to when I need some positive thoughts. =) With the love and kindness you gifted to me last July, the Parish raised money to purchase a chalice and paten to be handmade in Madrid, Spain. The chalice arrived and is pictured below. It is absolutely beautiful! I will remember the St. Philomena Parish community when I pray Mass with the chalice.

The Chalice is constructed of silver, plated with gold, and includes 12 hand painted images. The picture St. Philomena (top) and St. John Vianney (bottom). The other 10 images around the chalice are Jesus as the Good Shepherd and John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph, Peter and Paul, St. Therese and St. John Paull II, and St. Gabriel and St. Michael the Archangel. I was able to choose the images before they were painted and the chalice was constructed. The chalice is more beautiful than I imagined when the idea was presented to me at my farewell Mass. Thank you to all for the love and support over the years, for welcoming me into your Parish family and for this most generous and beautiful gift.

Fr. Luke invited me to St. Philomena to say Mass and receive the chalice from the community. I will come to St. Philomena and say the Saturday 4:30pm Mass on February 1. On behalf of the Parish, the St. Philomena Trustees, Allyson Schneider and Steve Knecht, will present the chalice at the Offertory of the Mass. I will then consecrate the Eucharistic with the Chalice and Paten with you for the first time. I have true gratitude for this gift and the memories of you that will stay with me when I pray with the chalice into the future. Special thanks to Fr. Luke for inviting me to pray with you again. I know he loves serving the St. Philomena community as I did for so many years. Thank you for welcoming him so well. May the Lord continue to guide all of us.

St. Philomena, Pray for us.

Fr. David Richardson, Former Pastor