What a joy it was to participate in the Ordination of our parishioner, Keith “Rusty” Skinner, as a Deacon, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola this past Saturday morning. Along with six classmates, Deacon Rusty entered into the ancient Holy Order of service to the Church. He now joins Deacon Lee Levenson and Deacon Bruce Turnbull in service to our parish. With Deacon Lee, he has been assisting in the preparation of adults for full reception into the Catholic Faith through the RCIA program, of which he was once a student. He will now take even a greater role of leadership in teaching, preaching and baptizing in our midst and leading people closer to the Lord. He has been preparing for this role through arduous study and a “hands on” practical application of all that he studied in the courses. On behalf of the entire Parish of St. Vincent Ferrer, I extend our congratulations to Deacon Rusty and his family!

Kit Johansen, a long-time active member of our parish and an employee of the Diocese of Palm Beach, (heading the Protecting God’s Children program) has graciously been serving as coordinator for our Religious Education program with our students attending non-Catholic schools. More recently, she has been assisting Sister Maria Gruszka in setting up this year’s PREP program, of which Sister Maria is the new coordinator. I’m grateful to Kit for all that she does in her volunteer work as teacher and coordinator of our Confirmation program for PREP, and I express my gratitude and that of many parents and students for all her work.

Thank you to all those parishioners who gave up last Monday night’s football game and also braved the rain to take part in our annual Blue Mass, honoring the deceased victims of that tragedy and the current men and women who serve out city in the face of danger every day. Thank you to our parish volunteers who prepared the Mass and the lovely reception that followed for those men and women. You understand the meaning of loyalty, service and devotion to one’s vocation to assist those in need.

Don’t forget that RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY is only 2 weekends away. I count on your support and participation for one hour of prayer and/or placard carrying from 2 to 3 that afternoon (October 2nd) on the corner of Linton Blvd. and Federal Highway. Help us to let people know that ALL life is precious, especially the life of pre-born children who need us to be their advocates.

Beginning this Sunday (September 18th), I will embark upon a long-awaited and well-earned two-month sabbatical (that does not include some vacation time that is still allotted me). Normally, such a sabbatical entails a time of study combined with rest. I’ve recently concluded the study program (approved and sponsored by our bishop), and will enjoy the “rest” part of my hiatus, travel (visit my uncle for his 95th birthday, briefly assist a bishop-friend, in need of some priestly manpower, spend time with a dying cousin), write, and read –things that seem to elude me in time while running a busy parish.

While rumors of this impending sabbatical were circulating for some time (as we had planned the possibility of a sabbatical before I celebrated my ruby jubilee in the Priesthood), it was only recently that our Bishop and I were able to firm up a time-frame and bring in a suitable two-month replacement.

During this time that I’ll be away, the Very Rev. Michael Driscoll, O Carm., a wonderful Carmelite working for many years in this diocese (and recently retired from pastoring St. Jude Parish in Boca Raton), will be the Administrator pro-tem (in charge) of our parish. He will be assisted by our capable Fathers Danis Ridore and Khanh Hoang, as well as Fathers Paul Hervey (a friend of mine who will be visiting from the west coast of our Sunshine State), and Jay Haskin (recently retired from the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont). Our three deacons will also assist as much as they can. Father Driscoll has just received a letter from our Bishop that appoints him to this post, with full faculties of a pastor here. He was gracious enough to accept this role so shortly after retiring from leadership of St. Jude’s Parish.

The rumors circulating before this announcement included commentary on the presumed state of my health and other ramblings that ran the gamut from A to Z. It’s amazing to see how many “physicians” (obviously unlicensed) we have in this area, whose musings on the state of my health were made without the usual diagnoses that generally precede such prognostications. My own physician says that I’m in excellent health and have good stamina for a person of my age; and I’m grateful for his capable assistance in keeping it so. I’m also grateful to the fine staff of our parish (church and school), who continue to work with such great diligence to ease the burdens that a twenty-first century pastor must shoulder in a dynamic parish such as ours. May God bless them and give them strength.

Very Rev. Canon Tom