Fr. Bill Wright, C.Ss.R. – 50th Anniversary

Dear Parishioners,
 
Summertime, baseball, hotdogs, weddings, ice cream, graduations, beer and wine. The list can go on and on, depending on your style/preference or likes and dislikes. All of those things listed above help us to describe or think about celebration. And, who doesn’t like to celebrate? We all like a good party. We all like to be around happy and joyful people. We all like to commemorate those important dates and occassions in our lives. And, why not?
 
This Sunday we celebrate priesthood. We commemorate 50 years of priestly committment by Rev. Bill Wright, C.Ss.R. and rejoice with him, his family and God in his service to the Church. You might not know him but I bet you know someone like him. Our parish has had so many young men leave from its pews and dedicate their lives to Christ by serving Him here in this diocese or around the world. We come together this day to celebrate God’s gracious love and His generosity in giving to us those men who serve. We thank God for his calling them and sustaining them.
 
In writing the above paragraph, I would be so deeply remiss and shortsighted if I didn’t mention also the many young women and men who have left these same pews to serve God in Religious life. Our parish has so generously given of its youth and future to the Church and we thank God and their families for their willingness to serve as well. God has truly blessed this parish of St. Alphonsus and I dare say, God will continue to bless us.
 
Hopefully, our celebration of this committment to serving God and his Church, will inspire to and encourage others to follow in his footsteps. Hopefully, as we commemorate this and other anniversaries during the summer, we as a parish rededicate ourselves to following Christ in his service no matter where and how that call leads us.
 
Thank you, Fr. Bill! Thank you, God!
 
Fr. Andy