My dear friends in Christ,
Last week our parochial vicar Fr. Robert Blaney and I addressed you in a video posted on our website to deliver important news. Effective September 1, 2020, Fr. Robert will be leaving our collaborative to take up his new assignment as pastor of Most Precious Blood Parish in Dover and St. Theresa Parish in Sherborne. Fr. Robert has brought so many gifts to our collaborative and we are all very sad that he is leaving us. It has truly been a joy for me to work with him as a trusted and valued colleague who has also become a very dear friend. As sad as I am to lose him, I am thrilled for him and for the people of Dover and Sherborne. Fr. Robert will be a wonderful pastor and is more than ready to take on this new and challenging role.
The news that I deliver would be even more difficult were it not offset by some good news I have to share. Also effective September 1, a new priest will be joining our collaborative. His name is Fr. David Brogan. Ordained in 2005, Fr. David is an enormously talented young priest who happens to be a good friend of our Fr. Robert. Many of you may already have met him since he has celebrated Mass at our parishes a number of times over the past few years. Fr. David is also a clinical psychologist and for the last year has been Director of the Wellness Center at St. Mary’s University in Minnesota. He is very excited to begin his new ministry as our parochial vicar and is anxious to meet all of you.
We are grateful for the blessing Fr. Robert has been for our community. As your pastor, I would also like to take this opportunity to tell you how grateful I am for all of you. Even in these most challenging times, I continue to be inspired by your faith, generosity and goodness. Every day, you show me the face of Christ.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Jim