A note from Father Kessler

I am excited about my appointment to be the new pastor of Saint Bernadette parish.   I have gotten to know a number of parishioners and staff members from a year of teaching at Fisher Catholic High School, during my hospital visitations on Tuesdays, and when I have celebrated Mass at St. Bernadette over the past two and a half years while I have been pastor at St Mary in Bremen.   I hope we will get to know each other even better in the coming years.   During my time in Fairfield County I have come to appreciate what a fine priest is Father Walter and seen what a good job he has been doing as pastor.   It will be my job to build on the good work he has been doing.

But there is one thing I need to change even before I become pastor on July 14, the one thing that concerned Bishop Campbell when he appointed me to serve as pastor at St Bernadette while continuing as pastor at St. Mary in Bremen: it is the Sunday Mass schedule.   For the foreseeable future there should continue to be two Masses at Bremen and three Masses at St Bernadette.   But they can't be celebrated at the same time!   An adjusted schedule should take account of my commute time between parishes (in any weather) and my need to be around at least a bit after each Mass, to be involved with PSR in each parish, and simply to come up for air for a few minutes between Masses.   I also knew I could be available to celebrate Mass on Sunday evenings.

And so I consulted together with the two parish pastoral councils, presenting those principles and seeking their advice.   You could say that together they hammered out a schedule, but that doesn't do the process justice.   There was no hammering; there was an impressive spirit of cooperation with each other, with genuine concern for what would best serve the people of both parishes so that the people could in turn provide the best possible service to the Lord.   Everyone had a chance to speak up, and differences of opinion were expressed.   Consideration was taken of the distinct identity of the two parishes, the convenience for PSR at both, the likelihood of sustaining good attendance and reliable financial support, my own well-being, and the Mass times in other parishes.

Together the two councils came to a consensus on a schedule that I will implement from the very first Sunday I am pastor at both.  T he new schedule will start on July 18 and 19 with the new Mass time being:

• Saturday at 4 (with Mass at St Mary at 6pm) and
• Sunday at 8 am and 5 pm (with Mass at St Mary at 10 am).

I know that no schedule will satisfy everyone.   I count on the cooperative spirit and dedication to their parish of all the members of each parish.   I will have more work to do, but I believe it is manageable.   I will look at the results of the annual October count of the attendance at all our Sunday Masses and, if necessary adjust the schedules.   In the meantime, I ask your cooperation and your continued fidelity to your duty to attend Mass every Sunday.   And I ask your prayer for me and for the success of this new stage in the life of our two parishes.


God bless you.
Father Kessler

 

 

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