WELCOME LAURA KERR

I am very happy to announce that Laura Kerr has accepted my invitation to become our Organist/Choir Director, succeeding Joyce Chen who moved to Oregon over the summer where she accepted a professorship at Oregon University.  Many of you already know Laura, a longtime parishioner and accomplished pianist.  Many of you and your children have taken lessons from her over the years.  She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Tufts University and a Master’s Degree in Music for Piano Performance from Temple University as well as Suzuki Teacher Certification and a Dîplome de piano from the Conservatoire Américain in Fontainebleau, France.  Laura has also become quite accomplished in playing our new pipe organ under the careful tutelage of Gordon Turk, the Organist and Choir Master at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church right up the street here in Wayne.  You will often find her in our church exploring all of the stops of our new organ.  Laura had been the Organist at Holy Family Catholic Church in Manayunk and was, by far, the most qualified applicant when the position opened here this summer.

Of course, Laura wears several other hats in our parish.  She has been a mentor for our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) as well as the Coordinator of Evangelization for the past several years.  Laura has also been the accompanist for our school’s Christmas Tableau and Lenten Living Stations over the years.  We’re delighted that she is willing to put on another hat, accompanying us on the organ and piano as we sing our praises of God at our Sunday Masses.  Welcome Laura!

 

FAREWELL TO SR. KATHLEEN CALLAGHAN, SSJ

Our parish was blessed for over 15 years with the dedicated and vibrant service that Sr. Kathleen Callaghan, SSJ, offered as Coordinator of Parish Life and Ministry.  We were happy to have Sr. Kathleen continue to live in our convent after she retired from that ministry in 2016.  Over the summer, however, she moved to St. Joseph Villa, the Sisters of St. Joseph’s retirement home in Flourtown, PA.  Many of you did not have the opportunity to say farewell to Sr. Kathleen since you were away during the summer so I invited her to join us at a Sunday Mass and parish coffee but, in her typical self-deprecating manner, she demurred, saying, “You already hosted a reception for me when I retired.”  I’m sure you join me in thanking Sr. Kathleen for her many years of enthusiastic service here!  Please also join me in praying for her as she settles into full retirement.