Father Park Reflection

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From Bulletin, Sunday, June 21

Dear Members of Annunciation Catholic Church,

The time has come for me to say goodbye. Goodbyes are often a difficult part of life and can be filled with many different emotions. As I write this letter, there is definitely sadness in my heart; sadness for leaving friends, colleagues, and the parishioners of Annunciation. There is also some excitement in my heart; excitement about what the Lord has in store for me in my next assignment. I am also filled with hope; hope for the future of Annunciation. I know there are so many wonderful people here and knowing that you are getting a great new pastor and principal, I am confident that our Heavenly Father has a good plan for this parish.

I would like to thank all the dedicated staff members I have had the opportunity to work with over these last five years. I am grateful for Deacon Sean Curtan and Deacon Jim Reinhardt, Jim Weiland, our former business administrator, T.K., our development director, Jessica Knutson, T.K.’s assistant, Jimmy Dunn, our long-time youth minister and now the director of outreach and community life, Bernie Gauthé, our outgoing youth minister, Helen Corkran, our director of pastoral care, Ashleigh Varley, our former director of pastoral care and evangelization, Nick Chalmers, our director of music and liturgy, Eli Pollock, our former director of music and liturgy, Alex Schindler, our lead musician for school Masses and the Sunday evening Mass, Chris Jordan, our organist, Nicole Bettini, our director of faith formation, Sister Sue, our former director of faith formation, Pam Peterson and Mary Grace Westman, our parish secretaries, Lisa MacKenzie, our accounting and HR specialist, and Steve Marple and Richard Johnson, our maintenance staff.

Along with the outstanding parish staff members I have had the privilege to serve alongside these last five years, I am also grateful for the devoted staff of our parish school. I am thankful for Jennifer Cassidy, our outgoing principal, and for all our teachers and school staff who pour out their lives for our students.

As I leave this parish, my encouragement to all the members of the Annunciation Community is to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is everything. He is our all. You have nothing to fear in giving your whole life to Jesus and His Church. If you continue to seek after Him—to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him—then all will be well. Please know of my love and affection for you and be assured that this parish community will remain in my daily prayers until the day I die. You all have taught me so much and it has been my pleasure to serve you these last five years.

I will conclude this letter with the prayer that St. Paul offered for the church at Ephesus, for it is my prayer for you as well:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine by the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

God bless you all!

Sincerely in Christ,
Father Brian Park

New mailing address and email address:
Father Brian Park
11300 FRANKFORT PKWY NE
SAINT MICHAEL MN 55376-4550
frpark@stmcatholicchurch.org