Happy Labor Day Weekend! Greetings to everyone from the “recuperating one”.  Thanks for the prayers and concern.  The knee is healing quickly and well; obviously your prayers are effective.  As we celebrate Labor Day and the “beginning” of the regular year, I want to send God’s blessings to the faculty, staff and students at St. Louis School as they begin this Centenary Year.  One Hundred Years of the Sisters of the Assumption offering their service and work is a grace for us all.  The major celebration is only a few weeks away and we are all looking forward to it. 

Let me also share a few thoughts to some persistent rumors that have been circulating around.  First, there are no absolutes!  The rumors continue (must have been a slow summer in Dracut) that Ste. Marguerite’s Parish is closing.  At the present time, that is not true.  Can I say categorically that this parish – or any parish – will not be closed in the future?  Sorry, I have no crystal ball.  My assignment from the Archbishop coming to Dracut was to pastor Ste. Marguerite’s Parish and administer St. Louis School.  My subsequent assignment this past Spring was to pastor St. Francis Parish in addition to Ste. Marguerite’s Parish.  Fr. Chris and I have been asked to pastor both independent parishes – and that is what we are attempting to do.  This will only happen with the support of the people from both parishes, and you have been so great these past few months!  At the present time, the only shared “link” between the two parishes is the divided costs for the priests and the rectory.  Will we try to initiate some shared programs as time goes on?  Absolutely.  We would have worked on this if this arrangement had never taken place.  Fr. Blaney and I were already speaking of ways to cooperate and share ministry and programs.  

In past discussions regarding parish viability, I have always noted that it is not “priests” that close parishes, but people.  It is no secret that Ste. Marguerite’s Parish is in serious financial difficulty.  The Parish Council, Finance Committee and I have been reporting that for a year.  The Parish needs to stabilize its finances and increase its support and participation in the parish –or there can be serious consequences.  This situation is arising, not because of the priests, but because 85% of the registered parishioners of Ste. Marguerite’s Parish do not attend liturgy on a regular basis and do not contribute financially to the parish.  By the way, of the 15% who do attend, it is known statistically that 5% of those attending contribute 80% of the income.  I have asked the Finance Committee and a new Ad Hoc Development Committee to quickly address this issue.   

I look forward to their suggestions. [In a spirit of disclosure, probably only 20-25% of parishioners at St. Francis Parish are attending on a regular basis.  Nationally, regular attendance is about 25-30% of registered parishioners.]

THE NEW YEAR.  For all of us, this is going to be a new experience.  Summer is over, the transitions have taken place, and now September begins.  As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the most obvious consequence of trying to administer two parishes for the priests will be our diminished presence in the Parishes on Sundays.  I am most disappointed and saddened by this fact, but it is a reality.  I have worked out our schedule so that Fr. Chris and I alternate Sunday mornings between the two parishes, but it means you will see each of us less.  BUT, I strongly emphasize that you know we are there for you, and you need to call!  If you need us to help you or your family in any way, please call and make an appointment.  We are trying to return calls within 24 hours or less.  Please be patient with us and know how much we want to be there for you.  We are ALL learning a new way of being priest and people in a parish.  It will take some time, evaluation and reflection to understand it best and work out the kinks.  With your continued support, I know it can be done.  It’s your parish; you can make it work well! 

So we begin–independent, yet more interdependent–to bring the Lord Jesus Christ to us all.  That, after all, is the only goal – to come to know, love and serve the Lord in this world and prepare for the next.  Everything else is truly secondary; we just tend to forget that and need to remind one another every once in a while.  As the year begins, peace to you and your families.   

God bless you all.
Fr. Bob