My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As a relatively young man, I haven’t had many experiences of losing close loved ones. While I keenly miss my grandparents, I am blessed with having my parents and all my siblings still with us. And while the priesthood gives frequent insight into the sting of loss as the priest is called to accompany people as they mourn their losses, Msgr. Fennessy’s passing is the first time someone from my home has gone to the Lord.
People talk about the death of a family member as initiating “a new normal”…a time of adjustment getting used to their absence, the lack of that person’s presence, no longer hearing their particular gate as they walk down the hall, their favorite foods no longer on the shopping list, their place at the dinner table empty.
The whole parish here at All Saints is experiencing this at some level, we are all adjusting to a “new normal”. We’ll no longer have Monsignor coming into the office to pick up his mail, greeting everyone he sees with his trademark “Good to see ya!” He won’t be found walking a lap around the parking lot and greeting the Preschoolers. His gentleness in the confessional will be greatly missed.
And in brass tacks, we won’t have the generous offering of his time and service in ministry. He carried a substantial ministerial load for us here, even though he didn’t have to. He was eager to help with Masses, confessions, sick calls, home visits, and the simple but profound “ministry of presence,” the light and joy he’d bring just by being around.
Without his gracious assistance, we will need to make some changes to the liturgical offerings we are able to offer, a “new normal” as it were. Starting the first weekend in November, which is November 1st and 2nd, we will end the 12:15PM Sunday Mass. This should coincide with our return into the church, but wherever we find ourselves gathering for Mass that weekend, the new schedule will be in effect.
I thank you for your understanding and let’s certainly hold each other in prayer as we continue to adjust to the “new normal” without Msgr. Fennessy. May he rest in peace!
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor