This will be Fr. Bobby’s last weekend at St. Charles. He will become pastor of St. Patrick in Arcola on Tuesday, June 16. Fr. Bobby has served at St. Charles since his ordination three years ago. He has been a faithful and hard-working minister both at St. Charles and in his duties as chaplain at Bishop Dwenger. I think that he will be remembered especially for his Bibles and Burgers events, his teaching in the school, and the countless athletic events and arts events he has attended with the Bishop Dwenger students. I will especially miss him in the sacristy and the rectory kitchen. His German love of good order has led to neat and decluttered spaces. All of the coffee cups in the rectory cabinets have handles facing neatly to the southwest. We will miss you, Fr. Bobby!
Last weekend’s ordination and First Masses were exciting, inspiring, and sentimental all at once. The call to priesthood has been a gift from God for our two new priests, and it has been a gift to our parish to take part in their formation. Fr. Noah has been assigned to the two parishes in Huntington, along with Fr. Tony Steinacker. Fr. Sam will be closer to home, serving at St. John the Baptist in Fort Wayne.
We received a surprise visit at the parish office last week from a member of Avalon Missionary Church with a basket of chocolates and a note that their church has been praying for our parish during the month of May. A beautiful act from brothers and sisters in Christ.
We have a new group in the parish, the “Visiting the Sick ministry.” Parishioners are paired with someone in a local health care facility and they make weekly visits, simply to visit. If you know of someone who would like a visitor, call Beverly Ade at 260-414-0559 or call the parish office.
Next weekend we will welcome Fr. Bob Bonnot, a priest from Youngstown Ohio, who will speak about Unbound. Unbound is a Catholic organization which pairs parishioners to sponsor a child from a third-world country. For many years I have sponsored a boy from the Philippines. We share photos and letters a couple of times of year and I contribute a monthly donation to help with his school costs. Please welcome Fr. Bonnot and consider sponsoring a child.
