A man who never believed anyone could love the son of such a monster. If you're non-Orthodox, though, the priest probably won't be expecting you to ask for a blessing so he might try to shake your hand. I would love to praise my priest Fr. We are very grateful for both of them. He was pastor of our church, St. Alfred in Taylor, for just four years. As we love the Lord Jesus, we enjoy Him. Fr. Of course, the kids love the candy, but the real draw is Fr. Tom now retired but still saying Mass at St. Matthias, hes still there helping us cope with cancer. Both priests have helped me when my parents and brother passed on with funeral Masses, rosaries at the wakes, etc. Joe was with me on the happiest day of my life, as well as the hardest. You play a great game of hocker and youre pretty good on the softball diamond, too. Thomas and Fr. No. Kern for help. I can now think of certain people whom I have known, heroes in my life who fit this definition in a special way. Fr. We, the parishioners of St. Mark Parish in Warren, are very blessed to have Fr. Fr. In addition to ministering to the spiritual needs of his parishioners, hospital patients and caregiving families, he can also be found cleaning, emptying trash cans, replacing paper towels and other activities as required. He is very approachable and we are very happy he is our pastor. My son and his family (including a 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter) enjoyed attending Fathers Masses and wanted my husband and I to experience Mass with this welcoming, caring, and down-to-earth person. I thank you, and we do miss you. Have Realistic Expectations and Be Helpful Fr. Give them support. He uses his wisdom to teach us and guide us on our path to heaven. We thank GOD for Fr. I'm so lucky to have a man as handsome as you. We have shared faith. Those who have witnessed his ministry are forever grateful that he touched their lives during ordinary as well as extraordinary life experiences. Fr. Rooney. She was an assistant to Rudolf Bing, general manager of the Metropolitan Opera. Whether its his inspiring homilies or his timely response to the needs of his flock, Fr. The woman will want to make excuses for him and will probably always love him. Fr. Fr. Fr. His life choices exemplified tolerance, patience, forgiveness and acceptance. We are truly blessed to have him at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital. During his nine-month absence, he taught us how to remain strong and maintain faith in the power of prayer. To summarize, what draws people to Fr. We also thank you for helping our parish community reflect on the gift of eternal life. Both men have moved on to new assignments: Fr. The way that he personalizes his homilies is a very special gift to all of us. We pray that his stay with us will be blessed with much happiness. He has taught us not only to believe, but to practice our faith every day. Greg with this challenge, and Father said he would go to the hospital the next and not only give the rite of anointing of the sick, but also a special blessing! My husband recovered fully and Fr. Good Friday, Easter and Christmas Mass brought us closer to the life of Christ. J.J.s warm, enthusiastic and approachable personality always made you feel welcome and completely at ease. For example, he has inspired me to attend Mass on a regular basis, due to his phenomenal and engaging homilies, become a liturgical minister and Eucharistic minister, volunteer at various parish activities and join parish committees. Cornelius Okeke at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Ecorse. The year was 1984, while Fr. His kindness and generosity extends to all and he makes a point to visit all who were sick whether at home, or in the hospital. He is the reason I became a Eucharistic minister and to serve God. He is the epitome of faithful servant and of the existence of angels and Christ among us. 5. Now in our golden years, Fr. Don WatzaSt. Joseph the Worker, Lake Orion. Our priest, Fr. We had been without a full-time pastor since his predecessor, Fr. Get ready for mushy love texts all the time, my love! Fr. We'll walk you through some cute ways to tell him you love him! Fr. So many memories you have left with us. Parishioners of St. Alphonsus Church, Dearborn. I see clearly Gods and the Churchs love through the helping hand of Fr. Fr. I also think he is a pretty good one because he gives hugs to everyone no matter if its a boy or girl or if its the sick or healthy. Turns out, you just didn't know what to look for. That is what makes Fr. He helps us realize our own gifts. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Fr. It is brilliantly done in a way that allows children to interact with him through skits, providing lessons for all, while at the same time helping the children to grow in their faith. Dan Trapp as my pastor. He prays that his feelings will stop. I am just a member of his church, thank God. David Lesniak is leaving St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn as of Oct. 1, we would like to let him know how much he will be missed as our pastor after all these years. He always takes notice of who is at Mass, and he has always managed to give me the exactly right word of encouragement at the right time. May our Sweetest Heart of Mary be with you always. We truly appreciate all the energy and strength in faith that he invests in our community. Zbigniew is a gifted speaker and his homilies are very inspirational for us. Aaron is known for always saying: Dont worry. He visits each classroom at least weekly and regularly attends sporting events and extracurricular activities. Socorro Fernandes, SAC, pastor, and Fr. Sharon DillawaySt. Francis of Assisi-St. Maximillian Kolbe, Ray Township, In July 1979, the parishioners of St. John the Baptist Parish, Dearborn Heights, eagerly awaited the arrival of their new pastor. provide for their needs through your providential. He is a brilliant homilist. Stanley for bringing the Holy Spirit into our lives and in our parishioners. Robert Bauer at St. Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families Parish in Warren in July 2013. Zbigniew also has brought two parishes together, not closed them. He keeps our hearts on fire for God!We deeply cherish having Fr. He borrowed the words of one of the most loved and cherished priests of our archdiocese (the late Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw): Hi, my name is George. He said that once a couple in their 50s took turns confessing. Accept your lack of control. Even when I lector at Saturday Mass, I come to Sunday Mass as well just to hear Fr. Joe and I have laughed, cried (and argued) through many ups and downs. A truly great pastor is hard to find, difficult to let go of, and impossible to forget. A modest person, he never touts this as his social action: Learn from me, for I am humble of heart., Once I arrived at a crowded Christmas Mass and found strangers occupying my pew. Zbigniew as my priest, my guide and my spiritual father, Irma Veronica PinaSt. Barbara and St. Cunegunda parishes, Dearborn and Detroit. Craig Giera had some big shoes to fill when he took over after the death of our beloved Fr. A priest and a woman (who is not a family member) should avoid riding in cars together, just the two of them. What more could I ask from a loving God as I navigate through lifes complexities? Fr. They have more projects not mentioned here, and they are young senior citizens. You have also monitored the improvement of our parish grounds and given encouragement to us all. Our shepherd, Fr. As parishioners of St. Kenneth in Plymouth, we are blessed by the return of Fr. A parishioner and a momSt. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores. He wanted to make everyone happy, which was a difficult process. Ron Milligan at St. Ephrem Parish in Sterling Heights. He spends the 40-minute period visiting with students and genuinely getting to know them. I feel happy when I'm with you 2. F.A.B.O, on June 24, 2011 at 4:17 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 11. 3: He is very fun. Joe is a compassionate, kind and caring person. Our archbishop shows justice, peace and joy while leading our Catholic schools and parishes. He is always there for us, whether it be the choir (he has a wonderful voice), education, outreach programs, youth ministry and worship. Parishioners of St. Sebastian ParishDearborn Heights. He leads us in hymns at weekday Mass unaccompanied whether in English, Italian, Latin, or Polish and makes sure we are all in key. Today, we are stronger in our faith than ever before. Aaron is also a strong spiritual leader and teacher who is very brave and courageous and will speak out to his parishioners at Mass, whenever necessary, about the current events affecting our Catholic faith, in his quest to get all of our souls to heaven!Fr. Dan also welcomes all visitors each week and makes them a part of the community by asking them to stand as we give them a round of applause. They also celebrate the Hungarian culture, enjoyed by the many Hungarian Catholics and those of us of Hungarian descent, who attend Holy Cross. Lesniak was being assigned to another parish, his parishioners were, and still are, very upset. Parker is one of a kind and we are appreciative of all that he has done and will continue to do for the praise and glory of God and His Church. We would like to recognize Fr. We have been very fortunate at St. Valentine Parish and Our Lady of Loretto Parish, both in Redford Township, to have wonderful Pallottine priests from India leading our parishes in recent years. Brian kindly lent me his ear when I sought his advice. Nevertheless, our family is blessed to experience the gifts of his priesthood and faith shared so lovingly. Stanley for all of the blessings you bring to our parish and to our family. When youre in his class at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, you want to learn. Through the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, youve served humanity throughout the world. They often have to attend meetings in New York City, Toronto, Hungary, and Gylafehrvr in the Erdly Province of Romania, and other cities. He could have retired 15 years ago, but has stayed on at St. Anselm, where he is cherished by his parishioners. This is why Confession reveals the priest's own soul; it reveals his willingness to sacrifice his life with Christ. A Wedding Ceremony without Mass may have either a priest or deacon as celebrant. What a blessing this shepherd at St. Veronica Parish has been!Gianna House Board of Directors St. Veronica Parish, Eastpointe. As he alks down the aisle after Mass, kids scramble to be on the end of the row so he can give them a fistbump. Msgr. They celebrate Mass so devoutly and beautifully proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ by their words and actions every day. Moloney visits our parish school every day and refers to the students as his buckaroos. Noel follows up with some patients after theyre discharged making visits to their homes or visiting families after a patient has died. A nice bottle of winemaybe a fine porta 12-year-old bourbon. Fr. Parker, for everything you do. Fr. How rude of these people who rarely come to church, I thought. He is our priest, and we all love him. Our vocations have increased since hes been at our parish. He cares for everybody even if theyre sick and wounded, poor or rich, tomboy or princess, or loved or hated. Mark Borkowski. Father is also responsible for bringing the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist to our school. Zbigniew Grankowski has touched our lives at St. Barbara in Dearborn and St. Cunegunda in Detroit in so many ways. His sermons touch the very core of our hearts. We appreciate the many ways Archbishop Vigneron helps us to be better Catholics and grow closer to God. No. We are grateful for the time and patience he devotes to our Catholic Church. He is the pastor of St. Barbara in Dearborn and St. Cunegunda in Detroit, who calls his parishioners my beloved and is beloved by his parishioners. 9 likes, 0 comments - Carina Fraser (@that.catholic.widow) on Instagram: "Yesterday I spoke to the priest who married Keegan and I about how honouring Keegan as my husband." Carina Fraser on Instagram: "Yesterday I spoke to the priest who married Keegan and I about how honouring Keegan as my husband could still play a role in my life as a widow. There were two dominant responses, each at about 40 percent of the total. He is present in his parish. They run the St. John Capistrano Youth Foundation in New York City, and the newly dedicated Our Lady of Hungary Chapel in Washington, D.C., was Fr. As a St. Mark Parish member for almost 40 years, I have experienced, firsthand, the service of numerous priests. Zbigniew as our pastor. Fr. Fr. I appreciated everything he has done for me. I want to wake up with you in the morning and go to sleep with you wrapped around me in a cuddle at night. Bonnie GarofaloSt. Isaac Jogues, St. Clair Shores. Joe will become a lot taller. He has his face painted at our festival, keeping the children enthralled, and dances the polka with the grandmas. I am a parishioner of St. Mark Parish in Warren. As a member of the former Our Lady of Lourdes Church in River Rouge, which went through an extremely painful merger process with St. Francis Xavier Church in Ecorse to become St. Andre Bessette Parish, I am convinced that God blessed us by sending us Fr. Joe provides hope that working together, we can bring about Christs kingdom. Weve only been members of our parish for three years, but weve noticed a vibrancy that I havent seen for a while in churches in this area. Thank you, Msgr. He also knows every single students name at OLV. Are you ready? That statement was proven to be true when we were informed that our much-loved pastor, Fr. Priests are indeed a blessing to our Church and our congregations. Mary ShackettOur Lady on the River, Marine City. Jim graciously agreed to come out of retirement nearly two years ago from Florida to be our pastor. Stanleys homily again! We love him because he loves our children and knows how to reach out to the young. For example, you can expect to relocate every two to three years. As a spiritual leader, Fr. My family and I would like to thank Fr. Brian Chabala at St. Irenaeus Parish in Rochester Hills, speaks to us from his heart. Theodore Parker of St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Detroit. Im here to be your waiter. Just transpose that to be servant. He cares deeply about his parishioners, which is evident from the amount of time he spends getting to know each one. When you need help with bills, he is there to give a helping hand. As a small thank you, we'd like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). The past year was a difficult one for our family. Fr. Moloney also oversees the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, yet he always has time to care for his flock. He is a loving and caring priest with a heart of gold. 6 Ways To Support Your Parish Priest 1. The enormous amount of time that it must take for Father to prepare for the childrens Mass at Christmas is very appreciated by many. Fr. He has enriched my life and his familys lives. He stressed the importance of families holding on to their traditions and values. He owns everything. Stanley came along. While our parish was experiencing a traumatic crisis in pastoral leadership last fall, Fr. Despite his incredibly busy schedule as pastor and vicar, he clears time to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation on a request basis. And so, while there are NO words to convey our gratitude to Fr. You don't even have to say "Father bless," just get ready to "catch the blessing" and he'll know what you're doing. Besides encouraging us to smile every week, Fr. I thank my Fr. He is patient with people, watches out for us, and teaches us to pray for protection from evil. Our first meeting was about my baptism and becoming Catholic. Stanley, we thank you for everything you bring to us in your teachings and your wise words. J.J. Mech, was to become the new pastor of two parishes in Detroit along with being named the rector of the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit. Father knows his people and exhibits pastoral charity that is essential to priestly credibility. Fr. He was our pastor for eight years. I admire my priest very much, and I wonder if that's okay or if I might slip and fall in love with him. No. Zbigniew, besides being my pastor, is my spiritual father. In short, the priest falls in love. When the typical lay person meets a priest, they perceive him first and foremost as a "celibate" and have an internal dialogue that goes something like this: "Is he really celibate? We often come to admire and feel close to people we work. Pauls amazing costumes! 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