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not a member of your parish, but, before my accident, I did attend your church.  Deacon Steve Hodson asked you whether y

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Fellow St Jude Parishioners:

I would like to begin this letter by thanking you for having given me the opportunity to serve the parish of St Jude for the past eight years, the last three of which as your pastor.

During those eight years, you followed the age-old custom of calling me “Father,” and as your shepherd, I have tried my best to carry out my role as Father to the parish community — a title that I find both a gift and a humbling experience.

I am truly appreciative for the support that you gave me over the years. And if I may make one more last appeal to you, let it be this…

As you allowed Fr Skip to depart in 2013 so that I could become your parochial vicar, and as you allowed Msgr Sabia to depart in 2014 to make room for me to eventually become your pastor, I ask that you allow me to leave you this coming summer with your blessing, to make room for your new pastor to come. Please offer him all of the support and love that you shared with me.

Although I will still be your pastor until July, it seems fitting that the announcement of my eventual departure should come in this month of May, when we are celebrating so many First Communions and Confirmations. Just this coming weekend alone… on Saturday 5/15, I am celebrating a first communion mass at 10am and another at 12noon for the our newest St Jude Parishioners who are joining us in receiving the Body of Christ. And on Sunday 5/16, I have been delegated by the Bishop to celebrate confirmations at 2pm, and again at 4pm, as many of our young St Jude Parishioners become adults in the faith through this all important sacrament of initiation. So many of our young ones receiving these sacraments during this month gives great hope and promise of an abundant future at St Jude Parish.

In addition to the all-important spiritual sacraments of this weekend, we also have our community building movie nights planned, to help build up our St Jude Parish family. We of St Jude are a faith-filled community of prayer and service and I have no doubt that you will continue to grow under new leadership.

The word “Hope” appears 129 times in the Bible, and along with faith and love, “hope” is one of the theological figures.

St Paul combines two of those virtues in Hebrews: “Faith is the realization of what is hope for and evidence of things not seen.”

Have faith in the wonderful future that lies ahead for St Jude Parish. Hope for what is not yet seen and bring it to life within your church!

And bring in the other of the three theological virtues: Love. Love one another. And welcome and love your new pastor when he arrives.

And pray for me as I look forward to the opportunity to spend some time doing private studies in the form of a sabbatical. A priest is called to go apart and do private studies fifteen years after ordination, to refresh and reboot. I hit fifteen years of priesthood three years ago and was not able to take the time away because of the needs at St Jude. Now in my eighteenth year of priesthood, I can step away from the parish for private time to pray, refresh and reboot while doing a sabbatical.

Again, thank you for the love and support you have shown me during my eight years at St Jude. Please know that I will hold the special memories of my time at St. Jude in my heart.

Fr Henry

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May God Bless Fr. Henry as he moves on to his next assignment

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May God Bless Fr. Henry as he moves on to his next assignment

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Fr. Henry, we wish you well and we thank you for your years with us at St. Jude Parish

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Dear Father Henry 'thank you' doesn't seem enough;

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Dear Father Henry 'thank you' doesn't seem enough;

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you have given so much of yourself to help us to become a stronger family. We will miss you and will always have you in our prayers.
Thank you.

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God bless you on your next journey. We will miss you so much. We will keep you in our prayers. We are sad to see you go. 😢 Thanks for all the great movie nights.
Love,
The Charbonneau's

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Best of Luck Father Henry!
Wishing you well on your new assignment!

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Father Henry, we wish you many blessings on your next journey.  You will be greatly missed!  You picked our Parish up and renewed hope when we needed it the most.  Thank you for guiding us in our faith and spirituality!

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Father Henry, we wish you many blessings on your next journey.  You will be greatly missed!  You picked our Parish up and renewed hope when we needed it the most.  Thank you for guiding us in our faith and spirituality!

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Best Wishes,
Karen Julian and Ava Alves

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Father Henry, I want to sin

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I became a Reader almost four years ago and you have shown me nothing but kindness as you welcomed me into the ministry. Thank you for leading our parish, especially in the most challenging times. We wish you much happiness and success in your next chapter. May God bless you always.

Love, Sue Palumbo & family

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Thank you for you Spiritual, Financial and Social guidance during these
past 8 years and especially the 3 years as pastor. We wish you all the best in your futre studies and will keep you in our prayers. May God bless you.
Hank and Kathy Banville

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Fr Henry, we will miss you!

You probably won't remember doing anything special on the the day I'm about to recall here, but I wanted to share a special memory that my 87 year old mom (who is a member of another parish) has of you.  While at a post-Christmas Concert gathering in our parish center downstairs, you had grabbed an empty chair next to her and in between all the other members of the family - who filled up the rest of the table seats. You reached out to shake my mom's hand (it was OK to do that in those days!), and introduced. yourself as "Henry".  When you walked away, my mom asked who that kind man was, and I proudly said that you were the pastor of our parish.  She was so touched that you had honored us at our table. A small gesture, but you won her respect and her heart.

We wish you happiness and much success in your studies and on your next journey in life.  Be you.  Be kind.  Be blessed.
Margaret and Bill Lewis

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Wishing you the best of luck!!!

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Dear Father Henry: We want to Thank You for all you have done for St Jude Parish over the past 8 years. We also want to Thank you for what you have done for us. We especially want you to know that we will remember you as a priest who always was there for us when we needed your presence. We were always confident that if we needed you for any reason, you would be there. We wish you all the absolute Best of Health and Happiness as you go into your next adventure. We will miss you and we will keep you in our prayers always.   	Love always and God bless you as you head forward,                                Donna and Jim Cramond

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Dear Father Henry: We want to Thank You for all you have done for St Jude Parish over the past 8 years. We also want to Thank you for what you have done for us. We especially want you to know that we will remember you as a priest who always was there for us when we needed your presence. We were always confident that if we needed you for any reason, you would be there. We wish you all the absolute Best of Health and Happiness as you go into your next adventure. We will miss you and we will keep you in our prayers always.   	Love always and God bless you as you head forward,                                Donna and Jim Cramond

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Dear Fr. Henry: Thank you for all you have done for St. Jude parish. It was a pleasure to work with you for five years. God bless you on your new assignment. We will keep you in prayer.

Joe and Dolores
Palmisano

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Best wishes in all your future endeavors 

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Best wishes in all your future endeavors 

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Thank you for guiding us in our religious journey.
God Bless!
Christine Ballerini

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Thank you for all you've done for our St. Jude Parish especially this past year.

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Thank you for all you've done for our St. Jude Parish especially this past year.

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Kathleen Paradise

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May our dear Lord continue to bless all that you do with many HOLY MOMENTS!
Blessings & Prayers,
Jean Paul

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Dear Father Henry, We are blessed to have known you as Priest and Pastor for the past eight years. Thank you for saying yes to your vocation. “May the Lord bless you, may He keep you;may He make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Lani and Jim Bermingham

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Wishing you the best of luck you are a good priest we will miss you . from Barreira  and Branco family

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When my son, Tim, was having back trouble, Fr Henry got out his cell phone and looked up a certain exercise for strengthening back muscles, and even gave a quick demonstration!
Thank you, Fr Henry, for strengthening our parish, and getting us through difficult times. God bless you always!
The Lestrange Family

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We wish you the very best on your next journey. Stay Safe! God Bless You!

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We will miss you but wish you a blessed and well deserved Rest.  God bless you and stay in touch with us.  We love you.  Your messages were all from the heart.  Gudrun and Walt ROsenbush

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We will miss you but wish you a blessed and well deserved Rest.  God bless you and stay in touch with us.  We love you.  Your messages were all from the heart.  Gudrun and Walt ROsenbush

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We've only known you a couple of years and one was the pandemic year.
You remind me of the parish priests I've had in the past with your kindness and help I wish you were staying but things change even if we don't like it! May you find what you need and may God Bless you.
Bill & Phyllis Caple

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Thank you for your servant leadership. Your guidance of this parish family over the past year was an amazing accomplishment and was done with grace, patience and grounded in faith and prayer. Your smile each Sunday will be missed. We wish you all the best!

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Dear Father Henry, Thank you for eight years of your guidance as our parish priest. Your dedication to all of us is most appreciated. We wish you success and happiness in your studies and future in the priesthood. You will be missed. Many blessings, Eleanor & Frank Schrader

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You will be missed, Father Henry. During the pandemic when church was closed your sermons online pulled me through. They were very inspirational and you will be missed!  God bless you in this next phase of your life. The Guerrera Family

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Thank you for leading our parish through a difficult time.  You were just what we needed.  We will miss you and wish you well in your next parish.  Thanks for being a quiet neighbor!
Dyana and Jack van der Wielen

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Good luck to you in your future endeavors and assignments.  Thank you for being so kind to me when I had difficulty walking.

Liz Guaglianone

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Thank you for all the time and love you put into our
parish we will be eternally greatfull .
Your smile made us feel safe and your interest in
all of Saint Jude  parishioners  was genuine.
Will remember you always.    God Bless you!
Carole-Joe. Donnarumma

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Wishing you more Holy Moments on your new journey ahead. So happy that we have spent great times together. Thank you for all you did for us at St. Jude.  God Bless you always.
Phil and Betty

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Many thanks for all that you’ve done over these last years at St Jude’s . You took over the helm of the parish  during some tough financial times - but you kept it going .
Thanks also for the last year during the pandemic . We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the many many Sunday’s where you stood outside and gave out Communion during all types of weather. We will be forever grateful for that . Be well Father Henry and God Bless .
Colleen & Bill Shannon

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I will always be grateful to you for: allowing me the opportunity to write about the saints in the Sunday bulletins when you first became pastor; taking the time from your hectic schedule of weddings and funerals to specifically make a trip to Yale-New Haven Hospital to administer Last Rites to my dear friend, Linda Ducsay who was not a parishioner, but who would die 2 days after you saw her from pancreatic cancer. (You did this as a favor to me.) and lastly, your coming up to Bridgeport Hospital to administer a final blessing to my husband, Gaylord, who lay dying of a subdernal hematoma. You will always have my prayers and my love. Thank you so much.
God bless you as you begin yet again a new chapter in your priestly life.
Andrea Paddock (Andy)

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We wish you all the best on your next journey!  Thank you for being our pastor and for all your positive words.  God Bless you.  Joe and Antoinette Garofalo

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Thank you Fr. Henry for all you have done for St. Jude Parish and helping us heal. We thank God for you. May God be with you always in the new chapter of your life.

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Thank you Fr. Henry for all you have done for St. Jude Parish and helping us heal. We thank God for you. May God be with you always in the new chapter of your life.

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God bless,
Fran & Manny Cambra

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Blessings Fr. Henry, we will miss you. Love, Fran & Manny Cambra

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Blessings Fr. Henry, we will miss you. Love, Fran & Manny Cambra

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Palm Sunday - St. Jude Parish-4-14-19 021.JPG

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Blessings from all of us at St. Jude Parish. God bless

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Blessings from all of us at St. Jude Parish. God bless

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St. Jude Parish Picnic-Fr. Henry 1st year Pastor -7-14-19 026.JPG

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July 2019

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I am grateful to you for always being there with great advice. I appreciate that you gave me the courage to become a Eucharist Minister.
May God bless you in the next part of your journey. You made a positive impact on our parish when it was needed and you will be missed.

MaureenJulian

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You restored our faith in our church leaders, our Parish and our ability to make a difference after “Others”disappointed us with their actions.  We will miss your quiet strength, inspiring Homilies and newsletter messages.  Mostly we will miss you and know you now have to move on to inspire others.  Thank you. Liz and Jeff Romeo

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Dear Father Henry,
Thank you for being a wonderful Shepherd for all the Faithful at St Jude Parish!! You are a blessed priest .
We are so fortunate to have had you here for these past 8 years!! Your kindness ,and easy going, caring manner have ministered to so many. We are very grateful for everything you have done! We appreciate your friendship and breaking meatballs with you on our deck! You are an awesome person and a great friend!
We look forward to all that God has in store for you!!
May God bless you abundantly and fill you with great joy , peace and a grace , and a  future filled with immeasurable blessings!!
We love you,
Annette and Mike  Bonomo

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It has been a privilege to have had you as our pastor these past few years. It has been a blessing knowing you. May you have much happiness and good health in your new adventure and may you have many blessings along the way.
Sincerely,
Leslie Gosselin

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Thank you for all you have done for St. Jude parish, for bringing us safely through the pandemic and enabling us to attend Mass and receive Communion. Thank you also for sharing your memories of your mother and aunts Italian family meals.  We will miss your homilies, your smiles and your sense of humor.  We are happy that you will have some time to rest after this trying year.
God bless you.  You are in our prayers.
Anne & Jack Bath

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Thank you, Fr. Henry for giving so much of yourself to our parish! You will be missed. Many blessings will come your way.

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Always sad to say ‘good-bye’ but know you have other responsibilities to yourself and vocation.  Thank you for serving as Pastor of our Parish.  Best wishes and may God continue to bless you.
Blessings,  Carol and Joe Aucello

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Thank you Father Henry for your leadership here at St Jude Parish. We will continue to pray for you as you continue your spiritual journey.  You have touched the lives of so many. When we met you your first Sunday at our church after mass, we walked out not saying "He is no Fr. Skip," but saying, "He is our paror in training." And so you became a wonderful pastor.  Thank you for all you have done. Continued prayers. Mario and Diane Saliga

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Thank you for bringing St. Jude Parish through a difficult time. You have been a good pastor and a great person! Thank you for being you. May the wind be always at your back. You will be missed...wishing you all the best.
Agnes Duggan

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Best wishes from Marie, Pete D'Ostilio and family!

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Best wishes from Marie, Pete D'Ostilio and family!

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Dear Fr. Henry, we have enjoyed working with you in ministry and will miss your presence.  We understand that God has a plan to move you to another parish where you can bless others with you witty and insightful homilies.  The Columbiettes will miss you greatly!  God Bless your time of rest and reflection as you prepare for your new assignment!  Marie & Pete and family

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I am so sorry your leaving, Father Henry, but I do wish you much happiness and blessings in your future undertakings with church. I will remember you in prayer and say a prayer for me.  Thank you - God Bless
Mary McDonald

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We will miss you for your reverence, humility, and humor.  Most of all, we will miss your quiet leadership with which you led the parish through the challenges of the past few years.  Your reflections to us, your “fellow parishioners,” in the weekly newsletters during the pandemic helped to keep us focused on what is most important in our faith and our lives.

Doug & Ellen Stevens

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Dear Father Henry, First of all, thank you so very much for your caring and love. I will miss you terribly….know that you have left your mark of hard work, humor, and love with all of us here at St Jude. Wishing you all of God’s graces as you continue His work. With love, Nancy Hurley

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Thank you for the many blessings you bestowed on us during our brief time as members of the Saint Jude Family ... especially during the pandemic when your Masses and Homilies sustained us. We wish you God’s abundant Blessings and Graces as you continue the Divinity of your Priesthood and begin a new journey where others will be blessed as we have been by you! You personally blessed us in many ways and we are forever grateful! We are sad to see you go... but, be assured of our friendship and prayers always! God Bless You! The Farrugia’s

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We wish you the best in your future endeavors. May God continue to bless you! Thank you for all that you have done for St. Jude’s Parish and our family. You will be greatly missed!
The Sekerak Family

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Dear Father Henry,
Thank you for your hard work and devotion to St. Jude Parish. Your wisdom, smile, and wonderful sense of humor will be missed! I wish you much happiness in your next assignment.
Kind regards,
Daria Kirkham

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Father Henry, we thank you for all that you have done for our St. Jude parish family. We will miss you, your stories, homilies, kindness, friendship, and food likes. We pray for you to have a fulfilling sabbatical and journey to your next assignment. God bless you, Brian and Jana Veo

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Thank you for everything you have accomplished during your time at St. Jude. You will be missed. God bless you on your journey. The Matthews family

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God Bless you father Henry we will miss you and your smile and I remember you walking .. enjoy life stay well Prayers your way.....Vicki 

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God Bless you father Henry we will miss you and your smile and I remember you walking .. enjoy life stay well Prayers your way.....Vicki 

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We are grateful to have had the opportunity to know you. During your tenure, you baptized our daughters and most recently celebrated the first holy communion of our oldest daughters. Thank you for all you did for St. Jude. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter.
The Pierce Family

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I'm not a member of your parish, but, before my accident, I did attend your church.  Deacon Steve Hodson asked you whether you could get me transportation to your church on weekends, and you told him that you tried that out, and it didn't work.  But I have good news and that is that Deacon Steve Hodson picks me up every weekend and takes me to Mass and Holy Communion at St. Luke's, and I also have Fr. Pavia as my spiritual director.  My girlfriend of more than 60 years belongs to his parish.  I wish you God's grace in becoming a spiritual director.  You would make a good one.
I lost my sister in 2019, and I was attending your bereavement class until the virus, and it was very helpful.
Beverly Dugas

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Thank you for your hard work and dedication to St. Jude Parish.  God Bless you on your journey.
The Cavanaugh Family

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It has been a privilege and a blessing to have you in our church. With gratitude to you for your faithful service to our community especially in this time of pandemic. May God continue to guide you in your next endeavor and give you good health always! Thank you for blessing our children, Adriana and Patrick, on their First Communion! You will be missed!
The Korczeniewski Family

"To everything, there is a season and a time of purpose under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

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Thank you for everything you have done for me. Your words have counseled me and I believe they will make me a better person. I will try to live by them always.

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Thank you for being part of St. Jude's parish. We will miss you. Your words, your smile, and your kindness. We do understand that a priest is meant to serve where God wants him to serve

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Dear Father Henry,
Thank you for your gift of faith! I arrived at St Jude's having closed a significant chapter in my life.  God guided me to this faith filled parish with you as Shepherd.  Your relatable homilies, family stories and love of God helped to nourish my faith during my healing.  I view life as a book filled with many chapters.  All chapters have a beginning, middle & end.  Some are long & others short.  Many of these testing our faith.  As our Shepherd you offered your wisdom, guidance & prayers for your flock. As your chapter at St Jude draws to a close, know that you did make a difference in our lives.  God bless you on your journey as you start your next faith filled chapter.  I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

Many blessings,
Donna Viner

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Father Henry. Thank you so much for being our priest and always giving such wonderful homilies. I always learned something and loved your greetings.  I will miss you and I wish you a great sabbatical.   Love and blessings. Joan Anderson

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Thank you for your wonderful service at St Jude. You are a good priest. We will miss you.
Wishing you all the best in the days to come.
Fabryk Family

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Father Henry,  We are so sad to see you go. Thank you so much for all you gave to St Jude and all the parishioners. I felt that St Jude was another home for my family and loved that you knew each of us. Molly, Brendan and Shane were honored to be alter servers. We wish you nothing but the best. May God bless you always. Love,  Karen, Molly, Brendan and Shane Dauk.

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Dear father Henry
Thank you and good luck. Gracias.

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Unfortunately for me I will not have the opportunity to see you before you depart for your next  assignment. I'm confident  you will do great at your next assignment.
I would like you know my family and I greatly appreciated your spiritual healing you offered during very difficult times for us.
Thank you
God Bless You,
The Karcher Family

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Best wishes. God bless. Stay safe. Mary Gregg Julie and Thomas Ressler 

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Best wishes. God bless. Stay safe. Mary Gregg Julie and Thomas Ressler 

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Dear Fr. Henry,
Len and I want to thank you for the inspirational leadership you have provided while you served as Pastor and Assistant Pastor at St. Jude’s Church. We will always remember how you inspired us to become more active in our church and will never forget watching you, our Pastor, lug furniture that we were donating down a flight of stairs and out of the house…who would believe a pastor would do such heavy manual labor as you did that day! We wish you the best  in all of your future assignments…you will be sorely missed!
Ann & Len Szczesny