MESSAGE FROM FATHER ELLIOTT

It is hard to believe but here we are already in the Lenten Season; it seems to me like we just finished celebrating Christmas! The First Sunday in Lent we always begin with the Temptation of Christ in the desert. I am always intrigued by this recounting of Jesus’ interaction with Satan as the Evil One tries to dissuade Him from His mission. Surely he knew who this was? Didn’t he realize that Jesus Christ would never give in? Perhaps Satan thinks he can succeed because he is dealing with a human. This is the mystery of the Incarnation, God choosing to become like us in all things but sin, taking on our human nature with all of its weaknesses and foibles. Maybe the Evil One thought that he could win out over the human in Jesus, even though He remained God as well.

Whatever the case, this story gives me comfort because it reminds me that Jesus knows what it is to be tempted. He knows what it means to be hungry and thirsty. He knows what it is to be human. Though He never gives in to sin, all the same He can sympathize with us when we feel ourselves tempted to sin. These days the temptations tend to be more emotional than anything else: where is God in this pandemic, when can we get back to normal, am I ever going to be able to grab dinner with a group of friends again? It can be easy to give in to despair when it seems like there’s little light at the end of the tunnel, but Christ gives us hope. During these times I think often of Saint Thomas More’s letter to his daughter Meg: “Nothing can come but what God wills. And I am very sure that whatever that may be, however bad it may seem, it shall indeed be the best.”

Sometimes that can be hard to see in the midst of change. We have a vision of how things should be and when reality pushes against it, it can be hard to accept. There are changes coming to Saint Pascal through the Renew My Church process as you well know. A few weeks ago we published the official decree laying out the plan for our future. As of July 1st. we will be united with Saint Bartholomew and Our Lady of Victory as a new parish. The new name will be chosen in the coming months. Saint Bartholomew and Saint Pascal will serve as worship sites with Saint Pascal’s campus serving as the home of all parish records. Our Lady of Victory’s campus will move towards formal closure by no later than the First Sunday of Advent this year.

One major change for our parish is that we will be transitioning from having a Polish Mass to being a fully bilingual English and Spanish parish to better serve the needs of our local community. What this will finally look like is still being worked out, but it will mean at least one Spanish mass at this worship site. This will also require certain things of the pastor and any associates assigned to the new parish. In order to best serve the Spanish and English speaking parishioners of this new reality, it is important that the pastor be fully bilingual so that he can communicat>e with both groups and work to integrate the community more fully.

Because of this requirement, Father Mike O’Connell, pastor of Saint Bartholomew, has been named the new pastor of the parish to be formed on July 1st. I have known Father O’Connell for many years. He is a good man and priest with a lot of experience in the diocese. He also knows Saint Pascal well because of his close friendship with Father Paul. I think that this will put him in good stead to serve you all well. As we learn more details about the transition I will share them with all of you. I ask that you be as welcoming to Father O’Connell as you have been to me and I know that you will be.

When I learned that our new parish would be bilingual, I knew that that likely meant my time as your pastor was coming to an end. Though I love languages and learning them, most of the ones I know have long been dead! There aren’t many parishes speaking Biblical Hebrew or Koine Greek! I have accepted this new reality though I am very sad to be leaving Saint Pascal after four years. This has been my first assignment as a pastor, and it will always be a key part of my priesthood. You have all welcomed me with open arms, shown me compassion and love, forgiven me when I’ve made mistakes, and generally reminded me day in and day out why I became a priest in the first place. I love you all very dearly.

Change is difficult for all of us and I am not yet sure what the future holds for me. Over the next few months I will get a better idea of what assignments are available and complete the process of being assigned to a new parish or ministry. As I learn about that future, I will share the details with all of you. Please know that between now and July I will be as dedicated to being your pastor as I have been these past years. Though the pandemic has changed many things, we will still find a way to celebrate in one way or another!

May God bless you and keep you all the days of your life and may his peace be upon your homes and families.

In Christ,

Father Elliott