5 June 2008

Dear Pastors, Lay Pastoral Animators and Parishioners,

            Summer is here.  The daylight is longer; farmers are seeding in their fields, students (and school staffs) are ready to move into summer-mode.  In our climate, we experience the change of seasons in a dramatic way.  It keeps life always new and interesting!

Clergy Assignments
            There are a number of clergy assignments that need to be made this summer.  I am not yet ready to announce them all, but I wish to announce as many as I can.  Before listing them here, I want to share with you what I shared with the clergy at a recent presbyterium meeting in McLennan: change is difficult.  Even when we appreciate the change, we have to adjust to a new environment, new expectations.  This adds to the level of stress in our lives, and so each of us looks for a way to manage change.  As the archbishop, I am keenly aware that I am often the agent of change, the one who makes change happen.  Please know that as I do this, I also carry in my prayers those whom I know will be upset with the changes themselves.
            These are the assignments that I am sure of as of this date:
Father Charles Lavoie as pastor of Falher (Ste-Anne), also serving Sacré Coeur (Donnelly) and St-Guy (Guy).  Effective August 15th.
Father Maurice Marion as pastor of Girouxville (Notre-Dame de Lourdes), also serving Tangent (Sts-Martyrs-Canadiens) and Eaglesham (St-François Xavier).  This will take effect on 25 August 2008, after his ordination to the priesthood.
Father Joseph Goutier, O.M.I. as pastor to the communities of the Little Red River Cree Nation (Fox Lake – Little Flower Mission, John D’Or Prairie – St. Joseph and Garden River – St-Jean Baptiste).  Effective August 1st.
Father Cyrille Rigobert Ogbabo, C.S.Sp. as pastor of St-Isidore, Marie-Reine (Marie Reine des Coeurs) and Nampa (St. Charles).  Effective September 1st.
Deacon Reg Bouchard, having faithfully served the Archdiocese for many years, has asked to be on part-time ministry.  He will continue to serve the Native Communities in Cadotte Lake (Sacred Heart) and Little Buffalo (Holy Family), as well as chaplaincy at the hospital in McLennan.  Effective August 15th.
As you can see, there are some gaps that need to be filled, and filled appropriately.  I hope to have some other assignments in place by this time next month.  Need I give voice to what you know I will say?  Please, pray for and encourage priestly vocations within our archdiocese! 

Priests Leaving the Archdiocese and Retiring
            Having exercised a valuable ministry among us, we are losing two priests who are being asked by their communities to accept an assignment elsewhere:
Father Boniface N’kulu Lupitshi, O.S.B. will resume his studies in pastoral psychology in Montreal, before being assigned with the Benedictine Congregation.
Father David Ngondo, C.I.C.M. has been recalled to Africa with his congregation, the Scheut Fathers. 
Father Frank Jones, C.Ss.R. will be returning to his Redemptorist Province in the United States at the end of June.
            In your name, I express a deep gratitude to these good priests for their service among us.  Like many of the priests who serve here, they have come from another country and culture to bring the Gospel message and the Church’s sacraments to us.  Thank you, Fathers.
            The Code of Canon Law calls for pastors (and bishops!) to submit a letter of resignation when they reach age 75.  Two Oblate priests who have passed this age are being recalled to their community to engage in less demanding and more age-appropriate ministry.  Fathers Jean-Paul Vantroys, O.M.I. and Robert Filion, O.M.I. have literally given their entire life-time of ministry to this archdiocese.  I am at a loss to find the right expression of my and our gratitude!  Both of them have given of themselves entirely, holding back nothing for themselves.  They have laboured in the heat of the day, and at day’s end have taken comfort in the sole thought that they have done what was asked of them by the Lord.  Fathers Vantroys and Filion will move to Foyer Lacombe in St. Albert on September 1st.  We will miss them, and will take delight in any occasion that brings them back for a visit.

The Month Ahead
            Just to let you know, the coming months are full.  The following are my activities for June and the first week of July:

Please remember me in your prayers, as I do you.

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