Dear friends in Christ,
On this Trinity Sunday – and during Memorial Day weekend – we give thanks and praise to the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – for all the blessings of our lives. We give thanks even for the challenges and difficulties, as God works through them to make us more faithful and loving.
One of the blessings of our parish is the wonderful work of three communities of women religious: the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Religious of the Assumption, and the Little Sisters of the Poor. I wanted to share some changes that will take place in those communities.
Sister Alice Daly has received an adjustment in her assignment from her IHM superiors. She will remain at Saint Francis de Sales and assume the position of Parish Services Coordinator, but will be stepping aside from her role as Director of Religious Education. I am grateful for Sister Alice’s work as DRE, and I am so happy that she will remain with us at DeSales, as she is such a beloved member of our community. Sister Christine Lamb, the superior of the IHM Convent, will be departing for a new assignment. I am happy to report that Sister James Kathleen Cofer has been appointed the new superior of the house. We thank Sister Christine for her great leadership, and we welcome Sister Kathleen in this new role. Finally, Sister Therese, R.A. will be returning to her home province in Paris next month. Thank you, Sister Therese, for the many ways you have enriched our community here at SFDS over the years! Au revoir!
One final announcement: at the beginning of Advent, we gave out Ignatius Pew Missals and invited parishioners to bring them back and forth during covid. Now that covid is lifting, the archdiocese is allowing us to keep hymnals in church again for use at Masses. If you are able to bring your hymnal back to church so that we can store them here and distribute them for Masses, I’d be very grateful!
May God be Blessed!
-Father Eric Banecker
P.S. Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) is setting up a Philadelphia chapter! Sign up here to learn more as they get started.