8pm Sunday Mass Starts this weekend!

For your convenience, the 8pm Sunday Summer Mass is BACK at John XXIII!  Now you can spend a few more hours at the beach, pool or mountains, and still make Mass!

Daily Mass Cancelled May 25-28

A new rug in the Paulus Room and the Lobby will be installed next week, turning the center upside down.  We will need to cancel daily masses next week, May 25-28. We still need folks to help remove the rugs on Monday, May 25 starting at 10 a.m.

It’s Official: Fr. Eric New President of Paulist Productions

Greetings from New York City.

This afternoon at the Paulist General Council Meeting I was appointed President of Paulist Productions effective September 1, 2009.  Paulist Productions is the Film/Television/Internet ministry of the Paulist Fathers located in Los Angeles, California.  You can certainly get more information about the ministry at www.PaulistProductions.org.   I’ve been serving at John XXIII since August 2000 and I was hoping to serve two more school years. However, when this opportunity came up unexpectedly in March, it seemed like an excellent opportunity and I applied for it.

Also, at the same meeting today, Fr. Charlie Donahue, currently the director of campus ministry at the University of California/Berkeley’s Newman Hall was nominated by the Paulists to Bishop Stika.  God willing Bishop Stika will appoint him as my successor.  Fr. Charlie is originally from Long Island, New York and has a professional background in publishing.  He was ordained a priest May 2005. He’s 42 years old.  I believe he will be an excellent rookie pastor, and I trust you will all help show him the ropes.

The transition looks like this…   There will be a big going away bash on Thursday, June 25th from 6:30 p.m. until whenever.  My final weekend preaching and saying Mass  will be June 27/28. I will leave Knoxville shortly thereafter.   Fr. Paul (with the help of some visitors) will hold down the fort until Fr. Charlie arrives the weekend of July 25/26.  

As I have said to many of you, this is all very bittersweet for me.  I have loved Knoxville and serving at John XXIII and my heart will always be in Big Orange Country…  but knowing I can’t stay forever in the short term, I am excited about this new opportunity.  Let us pray for one another during this transition period and plan on coming together to remember all the good times we’ve had together.  AND for those students out of town, consider a mid summer’s trip to Knoxville!  I want to say good bye to you all in person if I can!

Sorry to all of you who were asking God for a different result… but as we pray all the time: His will be done.

First Communion this Weekend!

This Sunday at 9:00 a.m. four of our second grade students will receive First Communion.  They are ready to go.  Keep them in your prayers!

Paulist General Council Meeting this week

Howdy from New York!  I am here for the Paulist General Council meeting.  During this meeting we will be discussing assignment changes in the community.  Hopefully by this weekend I will be able to share with you if I will get a new assignment; and if so, who would come to John XXIII, pending the Bishop’s approval.  

Otherwise, the weather is cool up North, yet sunny.  I arrived in plenty of time for Mother’s Day dinner!

Summer Mass Schedule Begins Sunday!

With the graduating students departing on Friday, the 5:30 p.m. & 10:00 p.m. will end until  August 16th.  Starting Sunday, May 31 the 8 p.m. Sunday Summer Mass will begin until August 9th.  Happy Summer to all!