Dear Friends:
At long last, I share with you some very good news. I have received word that we will be welcoming a new parochial vicar (what used to be called in my early days as a priest, an “assistant pastor”) this coming week. On Friday, April 28, Father Alen Shaji Mathew, a priest from the Diocese of Pathanamhitta, in the State of Kerala, from where Father Deny, Father Sam, Father Lijo and Father Moncy hail, will be arriving to serve at Precious Blood Parish. I welcome him and look forward to his presence in our parish and the help that he will give me.
Father Alen is a young priest, just thirty-one years old. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 28, 2019 and has served in a parish in his diocese, as an assistant director of a school in his diocese, and as secretary to the Bishop-emeritus (the retired Bishop of his diocese). I hope you will welcome him when you meet him and I know that our parish will benefit greatly from his presence and his ministry among us. I am happy that Fr. Lijo, who has a superb assistant to me since his arrival just before the pandemic and especially in these past eight months since Fr. Moncy returned home, will have a house mate in the rectory at St. Agnes on Merwin Avenue.
Father Moncy, by the way, has returned to the United States and to the Archdiocese of Hartford. His health has improved and he has been assigned to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury as parochial vicar. His address is:
Rev. Moncy Varughese
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
74 West Main Street
P.O. Box 1670
Waterbury, Connecticut 06721-1670.
I will also note that another priest from the same diocese in India will be staying at St. Agnes for a few weeks before he takes up an assignment in the Archdiocese. He is Father Ajiesh Oriseph. You may see him at Masses in either church in the next several weeks. I know you will welcome him warmly as I do.
As I reflect on everything, I am amazed that I have been assigned seven parochial vicars to assist me as pastor in my time here, first at St. Mary’s and now at Precious Blood. All of them have been of immense help to me, and each of them has made a significant contribution to the life of our parish. I name them now and thank them: Fr. Chacko Kumplam, Fr. Sam John, Fr. Deny Varghese, Fr. Lijo Thomas, Fr. Moncy Varughese, Fr. Lee Hellwig, and now, Fr. Alen Mathew. Given the ongoing shortage of priests, I am all the more grateful to have had the assistance of these good and capable men. I hope you are as grateful as I am.
Next weekend, from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, the annual St. Mary School Carnival will be held on the grounds at Gulf Street. Pray for good weather, especially for the fireworks on Saturday night. Come and support this major fundraiser for our school. By way of forewarning, those who come to the vigil Mass at St. Mary’s on Saturday might well consider going to St. Agnes next week or coming on Sunday morning as parking will be somewhat limited.
Have a good week!