A Word From 

During the past few months, St. Joseph and St. Mary of Vernon Parishes engaged in the Renew My Church (RMC) review and discernment process. The Grouping Feedback and Discernment team (GFDT), which was made up of members from each community, met to review and discern how to respond to the call to renewal for the grouping’s parishes, including any potential changes to parish structures.

It is with a heavy heart that I share this letter. In reviewing the responses to the Synod question “What about the Church breaks your heart?”, I learned that the sexual abuse crisis has both directly and indirectly affected some parishioners. It breaks my heart to hear of this. I am grateful to those who shared their experience and pain. In response, the Synod team and I contacted the Archdiocese and have been in communication with them.

Dear Parishioners, Establishing Small Christian Communities has been my passion as a priest. It is what I did in Nigeria, South Africa, and at the various parishes I worked at in the Archdiocese of Chicago. It is also what I did my research on with the assistance of Community Psychologists at Vanderbilt University.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, One of the most important aspects of our ministry as priests is to be available to people, especially in times of sickness and death. Our presence with and anointing of the sick or the dying is deeply appreciated by families.

Fr. Trout offers his reflection on the Year of St. Joseph