By now you may have heard that Bishop Ryan has named the person who will succeed me this summer, the Very Reverend Matthew Pennington, pastor of San Agustin, Scotts Valley and Dean of the Santa Cruz Deanery. There had been rumors of this appointment, but nothing was firm until the personnel board meeting and Bishop’s decision on March 7. Both Matthew and I have reached the canonical limit of twelve years at our respective parishes.

 

I am very pleased at this appointment because our parish will be working with a young, hardworking, liturgically gifted priest. Because of his studies in liturgy at Notre Dame, he and his team present a liturgical conference for the Diocese every other year; John his percussionist brother, often participates in these creative and lively experiences. Matthew is also called upon to M.C. the Bishop’s liturgies as well as teach and lead workshops.

 

As anyone who knows me realizes I value humor highly. And I like my humor like my chocolate --dark, very dark. Fr. Matthew will not fail to shine in this area as well. I have never encountered him that I did not depart the meeting worm out with laughing. Thank God, he is not afraid to laugh at himself.

 

You are getting another reader in your new pastor. I sense Fr. Matt pays special attention in his choice of books to a study of how the culture is developing so that his preaching and presiding will affect people ‘where they are’. We also share a love of singing; alas, his voice is better than mine.

 

Fr. Matt should be arriving in the late summer and to the best of my knowledge I will stay on until then. [My term ends D-Day in June of this year.] I have not been told of my next appointment. I have asked the Bishop for an associate pastor position, hoping to avoid the pressures of a large parish and being ‘it’ in a small one. When that decision is made, I will inform you.

 

My sisters and I recently made a decision which will, I hope, maintain a connection with this lovely parish. We have decided not to rent my mother’s place on Monterey, but to keep it as it used to be, a vacation home for the whole family. Mama continues to thrive at Watsonville manor and enjoys visits from her friends in Capitola.

 

I checked the diocesan directory and discovered the only pastor who has stayed longer at St. Joseph’s than me is Msgr. Joseph Phelan—who stayed thirty years! I remember him well, preaching without benefit [or need] of microphone in the old wooden church across from Grady’s. Little did I realize I would succeed him one day. And little did I suspect Fr. Matt Pennington would succeed me. You are in for a treat!