Dear Community of Saint Joseph’s;

 

When you hire a person to do a job you hope for the best.  You check references, you outline benefits, and you discuss goals and objectives.  However, all that is somewhat beside the point, when you hire someone for ministry.  In particular, the ministry of Director of Religious Education in a parish like Saint Joseph’s.  Because, in essence, you are hiring someone to love your children!

 

What exactly is the job description for loving children?  Well, if the person with the job is Sister Eleanore Maloney, then the first description must be selflessness.  In the three years Sister Eleanore has been serving our community she has put aside her own concerns for the well being the young people of our community.  Teaching classes, training catechists, having workshops, returning phone calls, preparing celebrations, strategizing solutions, and consistently finding ways to educate, nurture, support and bring faith into the life of the young women and men of this community. 

 

On this weekend celebration of her jubilee, we are acknowledging fifty years of gifts and graces Sister Eleanore has shared with the church and in a special way giving thanks for the three years she has given in love and ministry to Saint Joseph’s.   As this her last year with us we want to somehow find a way to say thank you to Sister.  It is rather difficult to find the exact words that can adequately express the enormity of our gratitude and appreciation.  Are there words that can reflect appreciation for the tasks of bringing God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Sacraments and the entire community of believers into the life of another person?  The only words I know are thank you:  thank you Sister Eleanore for loving us, thank you for giving your life in service, thank you for showing us the face of God, thank you for being a hopeful, friendly, welcoming, forgiving human being.  Thank you Sister Eleanore for changing our lives and blessing us with your wisdom and grace.

 

May God bless you with good humor and good health all the days of your life.  You will forever be our friend and a most beloved member of our family.

 

 

Father Matt Pennington

Pastor