From St. Mary Parish (Fort Walton Beach) to St. Mary Parish (Pensacola)
It has been twenty-eight days since I have arrived at St. Mary Catholic Church in Pensacola, and unpacked my running shoes and books. I’m ready for my second assignment — whatever Father Dominic Phan Sa needs me to do. I’ve been going to the nursing homes, visiting the elderly at the nursing homes, bringing the sacraments: anointing of the sick, confession, and the Eucharist.
It’s been a real challenge learning all the parishioners’ names but the people have been real nice about it. Sunday we had our parish picnic and I was put to the test of remembering as many as I could. Needless to say I needed some more practice of remembering who is who. At the picnic we had hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, and just about every kind of side dish you could think of. When it came to the sweets we had enough for everybody to enjoy.
We had games for all the different kids to play — volleyball, badminton, ultimate frisbee, horseshoes, and face painting for the younger ones. We had a great turnout of our church family at our annual picnic.
I have been saying Mass every day and preaching the word of God. The people have been very friendly and supportive in everything I have done here at St.Mary’s.
“The Eucharist, that which comes to us through the hands of our spiritual fathers, is considered to be the source and the summit of our spiritual lives. It’s the very reason we are Catholic, that Christ gave us this gift through the hands of our priest.” (Sacramentum Caritatis)
I am blessed to be here but I look to the future with confidence, that God will inspire me to serve the Church with love and compassion of Christ.
Father Bob Johnson, Sept. 28, 2009
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We enjoyed having you at the picnic, and truly are grateful that you are part of our parish. Thank you for serving us with such a joyful spirit. And for the record... you are doing just fine in the name department. After all, you have mine right and it's a mouthful! :)
ReplyDeleteFather Bob: My husband Bob and I are so happy to have you at our parish. We enjoy assisting you as sacristans at your Masses and please feel free to tell us of any changes you would like to make. We hope to keep you for a good while!
ReplyDeleteFather Bob - Those of us who regularly attend the 0700 daily Mass before going to work in the morning are truly blessed to have you serving at Saint Mary's. Honestly, you serve Mass with tremendous finese and piety and you look like you've been a priest for about 10 years. Your homilies are always informative and stimulating. You obviously put effort into making your homilies instructive and encouraging while keeping them concise for those of us who take time for Mass but ultimately face a race against the clock getting to our jobs. You really do not need to apologize for keeping us there for the homilies and do not need to promise to be brief. The finished product always conveys your concern for the folks going to work and athe care that you so obviously put into giving us an "allocutio" for a homily really goes a long way for me in putting the day in the right perspective. Thanks, Father Bob, and God bless.
ReplyDeleteI have just read through the last three blogs from the "new" priests. Each of the men write about a form of celebration or meal. How wonderfully Catholic! The relationships are fed, nutured and cemented at table - whether those relationships are with family as was Fr. Paul's, or with the larger parish family as with Fr. Bob, or in a working group as with Fr. Will.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing these expereinces with your diocesan family! We do all come together at the table of the Lord!