05/30/2026
Pastor's Column: Solemnity of the Holy Trinity
Hi all, as most of you know by now, last weekend Bishop Mark announced that he’s asking me to take on a new full-time role in our diocese starting July 1, Director of Vocations and Director of Campus Ministry. While the Director of Vocations in the past has been a part-time role in our diocese, not surprisingly dioceses with someone missioned full-time to vocations (forming seminarians, walking with men discerning the priesthood, and spreading awareness of vocations) simply tend to attract more seminarians. Boston, for instance, has two priests assigned full-time to vocations and is reportedly expecting nearly 100 seminarians this fall.
When he approached me about this role, I expressed to Bishop Mark my concern that our parishes have been through a great deal of change and loss in recent years. I told him of the great things going on in our parishes, about the new families and growth in younger parishioners, and the need, if there was to be a new pastor, of someone who could help continue and sustain this growth. And so, it’s with great joy that I can announce that Fr. Stephen Yusko will begin his time as our pastor on July 1. He is a great priest, a man of prayer and will be a good shepherd to our communities. I encourage you to watch Bishop Mark’s video on our pages and to read this interview with our incoming pastor here: evangelist.org/news/2024/jul/17/vocation-voices/.
This change is perhaps a surprise to you, as it was to me. Perhaps you have some mixed emotions, as I certainly have. If you’ve found a home at our churches in the last few years – or well before – all those great things are going to continue and grow. I believe deeply in the beautiful call God has for our parishes and “the gifts and call of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Fortunately, we have some time together before July 1. In particular, I want to invite you to take some time together as a community on June 20 after the 4 pm Mass at St. John St. Joe’s and June 28 after the 10:30 am Mass at St. Mary’s. Those will be our last weekends together and I look forward to spending time with you!
In the meantime, let us lift each other up in prayer, entrusting ourselves to the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, her spouse, and St. John the Evangelist, her friend and adopted son. Into the future together with Christ!
