An announcement from Msgr. Francis V. Cilia on the Third Sunday of Easter
When I came to Saint Clare – in 2020, during the pandemic, I said that I probably would not leave when I turned 70, because you deserved a pastor who was here for a six-year term, as a minimum. I expected that, given my age, this would be my last assignment and that my next transition would be to retirement. But life is full of surprises. I learned on Thursday morning, a little over a week ago, that I am being assigned as pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, effective July 1. There will be time to say good-bye in the weeks ahead.
For now, we continue walking and working together. Our Pastoral Council and various parish committees are hard at work on our parish celebrations for this Jubilee Year of Saint Francis and our upcoming 250th Anniversary. I am certain that, together with new parish leadership, in particular, Father Mendie Nguyen, your new pastor, the year ahead will be one of the most memorable in the long history of our parish.
Currently, Father Mendie is parochial vicar at Saint Catherine in Morgan Hill. He and Msgr. Franciso worked together for some time down there. My goal, when I arrived, was to leave Saint Clare better than I found it. Only you – and time – will be the judge if I succeeded. Please keep me in your prayers these days and weeks as you will always be in mine.
Thank you for everything. May God bless you all.