The first has to do with my academic work, which is part of my assignment. Based on the set of deadlines that I have currently, I will turn in my license thesis on February 28, 2020. In terms of writing, I am about halfway finished. Following completion, I will have to defend and revise it. I had planned to have completed the thesis by August 1 of this year, but unfortunately some misunderstanding about the topic I had begun researching caused me to have to start from zero in December of last year and spend about four months doing intensive research while still fulfilling my duties as pastor.
The second has to do with the planning for the upcoming diocesan pastoral plan. Although the diocese has told priests that 80% of us will have a new assignment come July 2020, I am hopeful that I will end up staying in Grant County. That said, the planning work that will go into Holy Family joining St. John in Hartford City and Saint Mary in Dunkirk in a new pastorate is significant. I plan to collaborate closely with lay leaders at Holy Family, the pastor at St. John and St. Mary, and his lay leaders in ensuring that this transition be smooth and positive. In addition, St. Paul needs to identify and hire a paid Evangelization Director in order to comply with the pastoral plan. Furthermore, Jordan's work this year with youth and young adults has pointed toward the need to have a paid youth and young adult minister. Obviously, raising money or finding ways to cut the budget in order to pay for these positions will be very important once we identify qualified candidates.
The third responsibility that I have right now that has not been one that the pastor here has had in previous years involves mentoring our seminarian, Jordan Boone, on pastoral year. I have known Jordan for more than twelve years. I have seen him grow from an awkward teenage boy to a confident and industrious young man. No matter how good the man be, formation for the priesthood is an exacting work. I take very seriously my obligation to help Jordan prepare for ordination during the year in which his formation has been entrusted to me. One of the big ways that I can live up to this responsibilty is by spending time with him--listening to him share the reationale for what he is doing, answering his questions, and explaining what I am trying to do as a pastor in these parishes.
My experience is that all three of these additional responsibilities has already enriched the life of the parishes and my own ministry as a priest. At the same time, they also mean that I will be less available in some ways that I would like to be or feel that I should be. I appreciate your prayerful support and understanding as I try to do the best I can as your pastor. It is an immensely rewarding job, but not an easy one for me.