25 May 2007

Dear Pastors and Lay Pastoral Animators,

            The following pastoral assignments of priests will take effect on September 7th, 2007.  I ask that you read these out to the people of your parish(es) at all Masses and Lay-led Services this weekend.

Father Julien Benedict Mary, presently at Immaculate Conception Parish in Sexsmith, will be the pastor of St. Rita’s Parish in Valleyview, with pastoral responsibility also for St. Francis Xavier in Sturgeon Lake and Holy Rosary in Crooked Creek.

Father Charles Lavoie, presently at St. Rita’s in Valleyview, will be the interim pastor of St. Peter Celestin Parish in Slave Lake, with pastoral responsibility also for St. Anthony in Faust and St. Felix de Valois in Kinuso.

Father Gamini Silva Balasooriyage, OMI, will be returning to his home province in Sri Lanka.  I am grateful to Father Gamini for his dedicated service to the parish in Slave Lake over the past several months.

Father Dino Benedet, C.Ss.R. will be pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Sexsmith, with pastoral responsibility also for Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Bezanson.

            I am grateful to these and all of our priests for their willing service to the people of our archdiocese.  My prayers are with them and their parish communities as they deal with change, which usually tests the strongest of spirits.

Yours in Christ the Redeemer,

+ Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R.
Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan

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