Jun 04, 2026

Greetings, 

This weekend is Corpus Christi Sunday, the celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ. For the Catholic, the Eucharist is the very source and summit of our lives. All that we have and are flows from Him and ultimately returns to Him. It is like the Mass from which we
are sent to live out the life of a saint and return to offer all that we have done. How blessed we are to be so familiar with the Eucharist as to find it common. We have this weekend to remember how incredibly extraordinary it is to have His presence among us, to receive Him and bring God into our very selves, making of us a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people set apart as His own. Happy Feast of Corpus Christi!

IN OTHER NEWS:

PROCESSION: There will be a Eucharistic Procession following the 9am Mass. Fr. Marcelli will be the celebrant of this Mass, which will be his final Mass as parochial vicar here at St. Sebastian Parish.

FR. MARCELLI: Fr. Marcelli came to us two years ago as a surprise gift. There were not enough priests to go around at the moment, and I was told that we would go down to one priest for at least a year. So, all kinds of plans were being made on how the parish would operate with half the priestly workforce. We were on the verge of implementing a plan when I received a phone call asking if I would be willing to give a priest who wanted to relocate to the diocese a chance. I said yes, sight unseen.

Typically, you have some kind of idea of the priest who will be joining you. The diocese is not that big that one isn’t at least aware of all the other men in ministry. But this was a priest not only from outside of the diocese, but who had been serving in the Navy, so there was no chance I would have run into him anywhere. So, I drove out to meet him and his dog Rover and immediately knew we were going to be just fine.

The deal was that he was only going to be here for two years, and then move to a second assignment for two years before being fully welcomed into the diocese. Unfortunately, those two years flew by. We have found him to be a good man and capable priest with a heart for the people, a good preacher of the Word, a steady friend and ready emptier of the dishwasher. Thank you, Fr. Marcelli, for your faithful and capable two years of ministry and service. Know of our prayers as you head north to Concord.

RECEPTION: There will be a reception for Fr. Marcelli following the two Sunday Masses this weekend.

FR. JOSEPH HO: As Fr. Marcelli is going out one door with his boxes, Fr. Joseph will be coming in the other with his! Welcome, Fr. Joseph! It is wonderful to have you back with us here again! I can’t wait to start serving with you as a brother priest! Fr. Joseph’s first Mass will be on Wednesday, June 10 at 8am.

OTHERS: Last Friday, Mr. Rohr told me he would be in on Monday to finish things up, and I suggested we save the mushy goodbyes until then. On Monday morning just before Mass, he sent a text “Weller and I are here for a little while,” but by the time I got out of Mass and rushed over, he was already gone. He sent news that he would be in contact “when he wasn’t so emotional.” Well, a fond farewell to you Mr. Rohr, and thank you for all you have done for us. Many blessings to you on this next part of your journey!

As I was walking out of the school, I ran into our new Youth Director, Mallory Palagyi, and our two summer interns, Abigail Hassenzahl and Mary Sborary . I look forward to introducing them to you in the upcoming weeks. Please keep your parish and her people in your prayers while we experience all these changes!

God bless,

Fr. Valencheck