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Dear Parishioners,

Now that the following has been announced to the priests of the diocese, Bishop McKnight has given me permission to share the following with you.

It is with sadness – tempered by gratitude – that I announce to you a change in pastoral assignment for our own Fr. Joseph Luzindana.  Effective this coming weekend, Father Joseph is being assigned as the “temporary administer” for a parish in another area of our diocese.  Full details of this new assignment will be released in next week’s Monday Morning Memo and I will share that information with the parish at that time.

Fr. Joseph has been a great asset to the Cathedral of St. Joseph.  I am grateful to call him a friend and brother.  His enthusiasm and zeal for the gospel is contagious, and I know he will do great things for the Kingdom of God in his new assignment. The good folks of the parish in which he will serve have no idea what is coming their way!

You’ll note that he is being assigned as a “temporary administrator.”  There is the hope that, after a few months away, he will return to the service of our beloved Cathedral.  However, there is also a chance that he will be needed in another area and will not return to our midst.  We will know more in the coming months.

This unexpected move will, of course, necessitate changes here at the Cathedral, especially as it pertains to the weekday Mass schedule.  To my knowledge, the Cathedral has never been a “one priest” parish for an extended length of time, but that is now the reality we face in the immediate (and potentially long-term) future.  In addition, your “one priest” juggles the vocation of marriage (together with parenthood) along with that of the priesthood. I don’t remind you of this to elicit any sort of sympathy, because Kerri and I knew full well what we were choosing when we entered into full communion with the Church and I pursued ordination.  However, I do remind you of it so I can ask for your patience as we transition to this new reality, be it temporary or permanent.

As you may recall, last January when Fr. Joseph went home for his visit to Uganda we instituted the “one priest” daily Mass schedule at the Cathedral for 5 weeks.  Beginning Monday, September 9th I am reinstating that schedule again until such time as Fr. Joseph returns or the Cathedral receives another associate pastor or assisting priest.

Beginning Monday, the daily Mass schedule will be as follows:

Mondays – No Mass

Tuesdays – 6:30 AM

Wednesdays – 8:00 AM (with school) Confessions – 5 to 5:45 PM

Thursdays – 6:30 AM

Fridays – 8:00 AM (with school)

Saturdays 8:00 AM (with Marian devotions and confessions following)

Our weekend Masses will remain unchanged.

I know this weekday schedule will be a disappointment to many of you.  I understand that.  However, I’m grateful that we did a 5-week “test run” at it last year and am appreciative of everyone’s flexibility and understanding.

As one who has served on the Priest Personnel Board for a number of years, I know firsthand that Bishop McKnight and his staff (the Personnel Board, the Vicar General, and the Vicar for Priests) are doing their very best to meet the needs of our entire diocese (not an easy thing to do).  Given the acute shortage of priests and several unexpected and unavoidable losses in our presbyterate, this sort of thing is the “new normal.” We should be actively praying for our diocesan leadership, as well as fostering new vocations to the priesthood – in our homes and families and in our parishes.

Brothers and sisters, we are truly blessed here at the Cathedral of St Joseph.  Blessed to have experienced the ministry of Fr. Joseph (and with hopes for his eventual return!) and blessed to be part of a growing and thriving parish.  Now is not the time to react adversely to changes we knew would be coming, but instead to give Almighty God thanks for the many gifts we’ve been given and for the opportunities we have to live as faithful disciples in His Holy Catholic Church.

Keep doing what you’re doing! Put your trust in Jesus…love God and your neighbor…live as active stewards…be patient with your pastor – and our great Cathedral will be just fine!

Please know of my continued prayers for all of you as we work together in the vineyard of the Lord!

With gratitude and affection,

Fr. Jones