Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am writing to inform you of some upcoming changes in our staff here at the parish, this time in reference to our clergy personnel. We have already begun to enjoy the blessings of Fr. Marcin Nabozny's ministry here at our parish, and we are thankful for his pastoral presence and the missionary spirit that he brings to his priestly work. However, the benefit of the addition of Fr. Marcin is not, and was never intended, to come without related changes.

Specifically, I am tasked with bearing the news that last week we were informed that Fr. Ethel Anarado will be moving to a new assignment in St. Catherine of Sienna parish in Franklin Square. This assignment is to begin on October 14th of this year, unless circumstances dictate the need for him to move earlier. Fr. Ethel has been a member of our parish community since the Summer of 2015. We have been graced to experience the joy and humor that exudes from Fr. Ethel. He has shared his knowledge with us through his preaching and teaching. We have experienced God's mercy through his work of anointing and hearing confessions. Families have encountered the grace of God in crucial moments of their life, as he celebrated baptisms, funerals, and weddings. Fr. Ethel's commitment to his sacramental ministry has certainly enriched our community with an abundance of God's blessings. And his work of counseling parishioners has brought great peace to those going through trying times. Yet now we reach a point where we must try and return some portion of the love he has shown us, as we ask God to bless him generously as he moves forward to this new assignment. I do invite you to find ways of personally sharing your gratitude with Fr. Ethel for his ministry here at St. Joseph. While we undertake the call of the priestly office out of a desire to serve, looking for rewards that are only found in heaven, there is still tremendous encouragement when we are able to know that our sacrifice has borne some fruit.

I must also share with you another clergy personnel change, and that is in regards to our other associate, Fr. Francis Samuel, OIC. Fr. Francis is currently in the process of transitioning from full time parish work into his next phase of ministry, which will be conducted in "retirement" (one can not truly retire from being a priest!). Although we do not know the exact details of Fr. Francis' future, we do believe that some steps will take place near the end of this month. Being a member of a religious order, it has been recognized that the wisdom and experience of Fr. Francis, along with his spiritual insights, could greatly assist his community through his abiding presence among them. That is to say, we anticipate that at some future time Fr. Francis will go to reside with other members of his religious order as he moves into retirement. More specifically, plans are being worked out for Fr. Francis to reside at St. Ignatius Loyola parish in Hicksville, where Fr. Shibi Pappan, OIC is administrator. Fr. Francis has been a member of our parish community since June 26th 2002, which is a long time for a priest to serve in one specific parish here in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The spirituality of a religious order priest brings unique gifts to a community, and we have been richly blessed to receive from these gifts for such a long time. His peaceful, humble, and wise spirit leaves a mark on all of us. We give thanks to God for all of the sacraments he has celebrated, sacramentals and blessings he has performed (especially blessing animals on the feast of his namesake!), for his preaching, writings and teachings, and his priestly presence throughout these 18 years. I ask you also to find ways of personally sharing your gratitude with Fr. Francis for his ministry here at St. Joseph.

Of course, it normally would be fitting to have a public display of our gratitude at some type of event, but given our current precautions regarding the coronavirus it is not prudent to do so at this time. The three of us have spoken, and it is our plan to have some gathering in their honor in the future, once the threat of infection has been minimized. That is why I ask you, again, to please find personal ways of thanking these two priests for bringing the sacramental presence of Christ, the Good Shepherd, here to us in different ways.

Finally, in a public, yet personal way, I would like to thank Fr. Ethel and Fr. Francis. You have both been very generous with me, aiding me as I tried to find my way around this office of pastor at a young age. You have shared the treasures of your priestly experience and fraternity in an unfailing way. We have been able to share the crosses and resurrections of ministry together in some profound moments. And, as we underwent the trial of quarantine together, we literally depended on each other to survive: caring for one another in those exceptionally uncertain days. I thank you both for the ways you have enriched my life in our two years together here. Ecce quam bonum et quam decorum habitare fratres in uno (Psalm 133:1).

Sincerely,
fr. Jason