Dear Parishioners,
Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to those who have made a significant impact and difference in the lives of our Parish Community and Pastoral Team. The Book of Ecclesiastes states so eloquently the feelings I am experiencing as I write this note, “There is an appointed time for everything and a time for everything under the heavens… a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.” Even though I don’t want to be far from embraces, I am faced with the reality that there is always a moment in time where members of our Pastoral Staff inevitably decide to retire.
As a parish community, let us give both Deacon Charles Corbalis and Carol Thornton a warm embrace and farewell as we celebrate their five years of pastoral service to our community on Sunday, October 3rd , at St. William’s 11 AM Mass. We ask that you join us, either during the Mass or after the Mass to thank them for the fruit of their faith-filled vision and evangelical zeal.
Deacon Charles served as our Pastoral Associate and utilizing his corporate skills, helped spearhead the historic parish merger. He will be remembered in a special way by those lives he touched through RCIA and Baptismal Preparation. Deacon Charles and his wife Linda will now begin their retirement in Boise, Idaho where they will be able to enjoy being grandparents and spend time with family and friends. Although retired, he will continue his Diaconate ministry at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Idaho.
Carol served as our coordinator of Liturgical Services and Ministry to the Sick. She brought with her many years of pastoral service and will be remembered quite fondly by all those who worked with her in the many liturgical ministries she coordinated. Carol will be retiring from her full-time job to spend more time with her husband Don, the family, and friends. Even though she is ‘retiring’, Carol intends to volunteer at her local parish and occasionally here at our parish as well.
As we celebrate the retirement of Deacon Charles and Carol please be sure to drop by this Sunday and thank them for their years of dedicated service to St. Nicholas & St. William Parish community.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. John
P.S. Don’t miss our Marian retreat on Saturday morning with Fr. Joe Kim (September 25 beginning with the 8am Mass at St. Nicholas Church). Those individuals who have been participating in the 33-day personal program are welcomed to join us at the 11:00am Mass at St. William next Sunday, October 3 to publicly consecrate or renew their consecration “to Jesus through Mary” with your fellow parishioners