This weekend as we celebrate the Third Sunday in the Easter Season, it is also the weekend that we bid farewell to Fr. Ron St. Pierre who has been with us for nearly four months. I am ever grateful to him for his dedicated service and ministry over these past weeks. Obviously I was not able to be here. It was reassuring to know someone as competent and willing was able to step in and meet the challenges along the way. I truly was not worried about St. Michael’s while I was gone. I also have heard many positive reactions to his presence and very often people mentioned him in their get well cards to me. He has been a blessing and as I say goodbye I wish him Godspeed.
  Fr. Ron (St.P.) is in the process of searching for a new more permanent assignment in the Archdiocese. So please pray for him as he discerns where God is calling him  to next.
  While I am at it, I would like to say a word of thanks to all the staff members who really stepped up to the plate while I was away. WE had a large number of deaths and funerals during those weeks. That involves staff people meeting with families, planning funerals, conducting wake services, coordinating the funeral Masses, and sometimes leading the graveside service. When there are four or five funerals in a week (which happened more than once) this is time consuming as well as emotionally draining. From what I understand all went off without a hitch.
  This was just one area of ministry the staff continued. Thankfully when I returned everything was in order and as it should be – except of course for me. But I am progressing and will get there soon.
Happy Spring!!!!!!!