To All That God Will Do

Dear Sisters and Brothers –

Last weekend, we honored Deacon Eddy Gutierrez and the twelfth anniversary of his ordination to the Diaconate. In my remarks, I expressed our gratitude for his ministry to us. His homilies most often begin with a story from his family life and conclude with an insight into God’s immense love for us, an invitation to service, or a path to a deeper relationship with Jesus. His wisdom is borne of years of loving commitment as a husband, father, coach, and disciple of Jesus. Deacon Eddy has accompanied scores of women and men on their journey into our Catholic faith as a catechist for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). He has also walked with people as they prepared for marriage or baptized their children or buried their loved ones. Deacon Eddy, we are blessed by your faith, your love for us, and your ministry to us. We are grateful to God that you walk with us, and we wish you many continued blessings in the years to come. Ad multos annos!

I am very pleased to share with you that Fr. John McGarry, S.J., has been missioned full time to St. Ignatius Parish as Associate Pastor. Many of you know Fr. John already, as he has been in the weekend Mass rotation occasionally since last summer. Most of his 40-plus years of ministry have been in education, serving as director of campus ministry at Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, Loyola High School in Los Angeles, and Santa Clara University, as well as a member of the campus ministry staff at St. Ignatius College Prep. Fr. John also did two stints at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, the first as principal and the second at president. He spent 12 years in what we Jesuits refer to as “internal governance.” He was provincial of the former California Province of the Society of Jesus (He was the provincial who missioned me to St. Ignatius Parish 14 years ago!), and he served as the rector of the Jesuit Community at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley. A Jesuit and priest with vast experience, Fr. John is very happy to be missioned here at St. Ignatius, focusing on pastoral ministries: “I just want to be a priest at this time of my life.” Welcome, Fr. John, and we look forward to all that God will do for our parish through your ministry!

Have a great week!

Oremus pro invicem.

First photo: John McGarry, S.J. Jesuit High School
Second photo: Deacon Eddy Gutierrez. Nano Visser