From Our Pastor: A Reflection On A Year

Can you all believe it will be one year since we arrived this week? Seems impossible. I feel like I just got here, but also felt like home since day one. July 1 Fr. David and I celebrate year one here. What a crazy year it's been! Also, what a true joy it has been! I can't thank you for the immense welcome I have felt since day one as your pastor. Our parish is truly special and that is because of all of you!

We have accomplished so much, and we have been through so much. I am glad to finally see faces, so I can actually start learning names and being able to recognize everyone! I am so excited for all that we have been through together, and we have made it. It seems in really great shape. Our Mass attendance seems to be up from even our pre-COVID numbers. There is an energy and excitement, and we want to continue to build on all of that. I think we will end this fiscal year quite well but thank you to the PPP loan and a few generous large donations, including the $76,000 to magic match our ACSA goal. We only have $10,296.74 left to meet our match. We truly need this gift and this ACSA paid off. We are coming so close. What a way to end the year if we make it!!! We acquired the street between the school and church and are working feverishly to get that project started!!

We have had epic numbers of baptisms and funerals and weddings and confirmations and first communions and confessions, etc. We have had a connection to an ordination of a new young priest, Fr. Corey Bruns for Owensboro. This Saturday, June 26, we had the ordination of one of our very own, now Deacon Dennis Holbrook, who will also be assigned to us! There is just so much to be grateful for at St. Francis Solanus. And most especially I'm grateful to be your pastor and for you. God truly has blessed me and us as a parish this year. Truly looking forward to what is ahead!

Rev. Steven Arisman