From Father David…

With this farewell today, I thank you, my dear St. Francis Solanus Family, for two wonderful years! (While I hope many of you can attend the June 26 Noon reception so I can say goodbye in-person, I pray this bulletin notice reaches the rest of you.)

I feel I hit the Irish Sweepstakes by being sent here for my first assignment, where I learned so much about priesthood, and always felt your kind regard.

We have weathered a lot together in our brief time—including the transition from Franciscan leadership, to the changes brought by COVID. (I remember those early days of trying to learn names in such a big parish, with so many folks in masks, and how some of the ladies would then change their hair-color and hairstyles! Hehehe. Even now I don’t have all the names, but I remember the kindness and the smiling faces!) I will carry with me to my new assignment many treasured memories of this amazing parish.

I especially loved our liturgies, including the kids’ Masses, and getting to know our wonderful school leadership and dedicated teachers, our excellent parish staff, and my brother priests and holy deacons, including the dear Franciscans nearby. (A special nod of thanks to Fr. Arisman for his help along the way.)

My new address will be St. Elizabeth Rectory, 207 East Walnut, Robinson, Illinois 62454. I would love to hear from you with family news, and to stay in touch to the extent we are able. (I regret my new digs are rather far—four hours!—but we are always together in prayer, especially the Eucharist.)

May God bless you all, and may He keep you in His loving care. Please, please, pray for me and my new assignment, and know of my humble prayers for you.

Fr. David