Sts. Teresa and Bridget

Dear Parishioners,

Happy Pentecost!  This weekend we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at Pentecost and, by extension, upon each of us.  God's Holy Spirit is with us, and within us, both individually and as a community.  God will help us move forward with confidence and generosity.

This evening Archbishop Rozanski released all the final decisions regarding All Things New, including parish mergers and pastor assignments.  As you can imagine, this affects us.  Archbishop has decided to form an entirely new parish out of the former Saints Teresa and Bridget, Saint Nicholas, and Most Holy Trinity parishes.  (Saint Matthew has been merged with the former parishes of Holy Cross, Saint Augustine, and Saint Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist.)  The name has yet to be determined.  (Once I know what that process will be, I will let you know.) 

The Archbishop is appointing Father Mitch Doyen, currently pastor of Saint John the Baptist parish in Saint Louis, as the pastor of our new parish.  I know Father Mitch and he is an excellent priest who is deeply committed to social justice and is sensitive to cultural issues.  He will minister to our parish with zeal and he is very excited about coming here.  I'm also pleased to announce that Father Art Cavitt has been appointed part-time senior associate.  Father Cavitt will serve at the other newly-formed parish as well while retaining his position as head of the Lwanga Center.  I believe their start date is August 1, and so barring any changes, I will remain pastor until then.

There is still much to be determined, including the new Mass schedule and the primary worship site.  I will update you as information becomes available.  We won't know anything for at least a couple weeks.

If you want to read more about these decisions (and the decisions for other parishes and priest assignments), you can visit the All Things New website at https://allthingsnew.archstl.org.  The Archbishop's letter is below.  Please know I will do my best to help you through this time of transition.  It has been an honor being your pastor.

God bless,

Fr. Scott

 

 

ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. LOUIS Office of the Archbishop Cardinal Rigali Center  

20 Archbishop May Drive  

St. Louis, Missouri 63119 

p) 314.792.7841 

f) 314.792.7842 

www.archstl.org 

Solemnity of Pentecost 2023 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, 

This weekend the Church throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost, and so  commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, the foundation of the Church, and the  beginning of her mission to all nations and peoples.  

The mystery of Pentecost exhorts us to prayer and commitment to mission. The Holy Spirit inspires faith,  hope, and charity in the hearts of the faithful, and ennobles the numerous and varied ways of transmitting  the Christian message according to the culture and customs of all times and places. While giving us access  to communion with God in prayer, the Holy Spirit also prompts us towards service of our neighbor by  encountering him, by reconciliation, by witness, by a desire for justice and peace, by renewal of outlook,  by social progress, and missionary commitment. 

Almost two years ago, we as an Archdiocese embarked upon a strategic pastoral planning process, All  Things New. We prayed to the Holy Spirit for guidance, and we committed ourselves to you, the faithful  of this Archdiocese. An extensive process of listening was undertaken in all the parishes. Thereafter, I  consulted the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Council regarding every parish under consideration. I then spent  time in further prayer, study, and discernment, after which I reached the following decision regarding Sts.  Teresa and Bridget parish. 

Your parish, together with St. Nicholas and Most Holy Trinity parishes, will be merged to become one new  parish, effective August 1, 2023. The reason that forms the basis of my decision will be outlined in the  decree concerning your parish and will be published at allthingsnew.archstl.org by Sunday afternoon, May  28. Any member of your parish who claims to have been aggrieved by this Decree has the right to ask me  to change my decision. This request must be made in writing and postmarked no later than June 12, 2023,  to me at the Cardinal Rigali Center. 

In order to best provide for the needs of our local Church, I have decided to appoint your pastor, Very  Reverend Scott Jones, VE, as Episcopal Vicar for the Northern Vicariate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis,  effective July 1. I invite you to express your gratitude to your pastor for his dedicated service in your parish. 

Your new pastor will be the Reverend Mitchell Doyen and your new part-time senior associate pastor will  be the Reverend Arthur Cavitt. Please warmly welcome them, as well as the members of your new parish  family. 

Join me in praying for those among the faithful of the Archdiocese who will also be hearing challenging  news this weekend regarding their Parish. May the Holy Spirit draw us closer together as we rededicate  ourselves to new modes of evangelization and social outreach in breaking witness to our faith in Jesus. 

Sincerely yours in Christ, 

Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski 

Archbishop of St. Louis