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