Breaking news: Bishop presiding over mass this weekend
I just found out from Veronica, our parish secretary the Bishop Plouffe will be at all the masses this weekend. That’s good news, considering the mess that occurred the weekend after Fr. George left. The Bishop’s hand picked priest failed to show, and there was no representative from the Diocese to show support and ensure things got looked after. It’s important for the people of our parish to know we are supported by the Bishop, especially since this isn’t the first priest at St. Gerard’s to leave without notice.
My hope is the Bishop will, in addition to offering words of support and encouragement, plant the seeds for dialogue with parishioners. When your parish priest of 6 years just leaves all of a sudden, I think you deserve to know some of the circumstances. May he take time to listen and answer questions after mass, at least informally. Even better would be a time of questions right at the end of mass… any wagers on that one?
Unfortunately I’ll be out of town, in Sudbury ironically for a family trip, so I’ll need you all to be my eyes and ears. Please share your thoughts on the Bishop’s presence over the weekend by posting comments here. How was his visit helpful or not, did he meet your expectations?
No, there isn’t a plan yet for beyond this weekend that I know of. Veronica certainly doesn’t know.
Fr. Hamish apparently has jurisdiction over St. Gerard’s in the interim.
As a side note, I had expected a small committee of parishioners might be formed to deal with the current situation (remember, there is no Parish Leadership Team). I know my good friend Fr. Eric had made that suggestion but it appears the Bishop or Fr. Hamish has other ideas. Fr. Hamish is not allowing any meetings to occur at the parish at this time, outside of the regular parish activities, perhaps at the request of the Bishop. Is this another example of parishioners having no say in the affairs of their parish, or is it necessary prudence?
