Saint Sebastian Newsletter Summer 2009
Greetings From Father Valencheck
If you have not already heard, it is my pleasure and honor to announce to you that Saint Sebastian has been chosen to be among the parishes to receive one of the men who are to be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland this year! This past October 25th Bishop Lennon ordained into the transitional priesthood Deacon Kevin Eastabrook, Deacon Matthew Pfeiffer, Deacon Anthony Suso, Deacon Sean Ralph, and Deacon Christopher Trenta. On May 16th, after the imposition of hands by our Bishop Richard Lennon, they became members of the priesthood of Christ.
Beginning on June 9th, Fr. Pfeiffer will be calling Saint Sebastian home. His assignment with us is for four years. After years of study he began the more practical aspects of ministry during his deaconate year at Saint Rita. During this time he assisted at Mass, baptizing, preaching, helping couples prepare for marriage, and going about the other normal routines of a deacon. I hope you look forward as much as I do to welcoming him to our parish and having him “get dry behind the ears” in his priestly ministry and identity.
Father Pfeiffer, 29, grew up in nearby Holy Family Parish in Stow. He graduated from Hoban High School, attended the University of Akron, and contemplated a military career before going into the seminary. Not only can this parish provide him with much to chew on, but also he will bring us a wealth of experience and new energy. Please keep him in your prayers.
A son of the parish was also ordained at the same time! Fr. Trenta grew up at Saint Sebastian though he had moved in later years (he was a late vocation as was I) and so was a member of Saint Hilary and will have his First Mass of Thanksgiving there.
His parents Lou and Micki however are still very active members of St. Sebastian. His priestly assignment will be at Saint Mary in Wooster. They are in need of priests who speak Spanish there and Fr. Trenta has been working hard at his skills in Spanish, a service of increasing necessity in the diocese. Just as a side note, he also just happens to be my cousin! Please keep these men and all of the newly ordained in your prayers.
On a more somber note, this news also means that we will not be seeing as much of Fr. Yahner. Father has graciously offered his services over the course of my first year here at Saint Sebastian taking Masses when there were multiple Masses on a given day, on my day away, and on the weekend knowing how difficult it might be establishing one’s self as an administrator and being at the parish all by myself. I wish to thank him publicly for his support and assistance. We hope to still see him from time to time and wish him well as he moves on to other projects and offers assistance at other parishes that are in need.
God bless,
Father Valencheck
|
|
