An Important Announcement about Our Pastor, Fr. John Sassani

March 9, 2019

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Over the past several years, since Fr. John shared in a May 2017 bulletin that he has a progressive neurological disease that is not curable, you have probably noticed that he has experienced some challenges. Even with those challenges, he has been such a blessing, and we truly are so very grateful to have had him among us for so long. He has been such an enormous gift to our community since he became Pastor of Our Lady’s thirteen years ago and of the Collaborative five years ago. In addition to his time here as Pastor, some of you have known him from his days when he lived at St. Jean’s or through Cursillo or the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. His warmth, his wisdom, his deep faith and spirituality, his kindness, and his willingness to respond to the needs of those who asked for his help have touched countless people, as well as his humor, his preaching, his knowledge, his leadership, and his selflessness.

For that reason, it is most difficult to share with you that Fr. John’s disease has progressed to the point that it is no longer safe for him to live in a rectory. Accordingly, Fr. John’s family has decided to care for him. One of Fr. John’s deepest beliefs is that he knows he will be fine as long as he knows he belongs to Christ. What a shining example he is for us all, in sickness, in health, and in faith.

Due to Fr. John’s health, we are unsure at this time when and how we will be able to celebrate his years with us and to say, “Thank you!” We are working on this.

Our relationship with Fr. John continues. We will keep you up to date as we all pray for him and ask God to bless him during this challenging time. If you would like to send him a card, please send it to the office, and we will see that he receives it. May God continue to bless Fr. John and us all.

With love and gratitude,
The Collaborative Staff