Here are a few shots from Father Barnum's induction by Bishop Hurley as our parish priest.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Father Barnum's Official Induction as St. Mary's Priest
Here are a few shots from Father Barnum's induction by Bishop Hurley as our parish priest.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Welcome Fr. Matt!
On behalf of all of us at St. Mary's Pastoral Council, we want to extend our warmest wishes to Fr. Matt Barnum...our "New" pastor, and say welcome home to Muskegon's Mother Church. St. Mary has a long tradition of fine pastorship and has always been known as the center of faith for downtown Muskegon Catholics. Thank you for your ongoing and continuing support in serving our parishioners spiritual needs.
May God continue to Bless You and lead you in preparation to greater things...
May God continue to Bless You and lead you in preparation to greater things...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Up-date from Rome
The academic part of my sabbatical concludes in four
weeks. The classes have been varied in speakers and
different theological topics. A typical day has four hours
of class, although one day we went for almost six hours.
That was more sitting than most of us had done in a long
time.
In addition to classes we’ve had the chance to tour
many of the basilicas in Rome and fourteen of us
recently returned from eight wonderful days in the Hold
Land.
During the month of May, I will travel through some
of Europe and return to Muskegon on June 6. I may
seem somewhat confused during Masses on June 7 and
will consider it successful if I can remember which
language to speak.
The entire sabbatical experience so far has been
super. I wonder why it took me thirty years to do this.
The month of June will be spent wrapping up loose
ends in my roles at the parishes and preparing things for
Fr. Matt Barnum. It makes it easier to leave two great
parishes after an all-too-short stay knowing that Fr.
Matt’s arrival will bring many gifts from God.
I’ve seen photos of the latest windows installed and
can’t wait to see the progress by the time I return.
Thanks to Brian Powers and Terry Spyke, who have
been our main contacts with Pristine Glass.
I am looking forward to returning to Muskegon for
the month of June. But there is more to learn and see
before that.
Make the rest of Lent and Holy Week a special time!
Ciao!
Fr. Tom Page
weeks. The classes have been varied in speakers and
different theological topics. A typical day has four hours
of class, although one day we went for almost six hours.
That was more sitting than most of us had done in a long
time.
In addition to classes we’ve had the chance to tour
many of the basilicas in Rome and fourteen of us
recently returned from eight wonderful days in the Hold
Land.
During the month of May, I will travel through some
of Europe and return to Muskegon on June 6. I may
seem somewhat confused during Masses on June 7 and
will consider it successful if I can remember which
language to speak.
The entire sabbatical experience so far has been
super. I wonder why it took me thirty years to do this.
The month of June will be spent wrapping up loose
ends in my roles at the parishes and preparing things for
Fr. Matt Barnum. It makes it easier to leave two great
parishes after an all-too-short stay knowing that Fr.
Matt’s arrival will bring many gifts from God.
I’ve seen photos of the latest windows installed and
can’t wait to see the progress by the time I return.
Thanks to Brian Powers and Terry Spyke, who have
been our main contacts with Pristine Glass.
I am looking forward to returning to Muskegon for
the month of June. But there is more to learn and see
before that.
Make the rest of Lent and Holy Week a special time!
Ciao!
Fr. Tom Page
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Hello from Rome (and today from the Sea of Galilee),
It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to
inform the people of the parishes that in July a new
pastor will arrive at St. Mary’s and St. Jean’s.
First the good news: Fr. Matt Barnum, ordained
two years ago, will be coming to the parishes on
July First. He is young, bright, deeply spiritual and
energetic. He also speaks Spanish which, from my
perspective, is the main reason I began a
conversation with the bishop.
I was sent to Muskegon because I could “get
by” with a limited amount of Spanish for
Sacraments. It became more obvious as I spent
more months in Muskegon that my level of Spanish
was not and could not meet the needs of the
growing population of Spanish speaking Catholics.
Attempts to bring in a Spanish speaking priest on a
constant basis didn’t work.
So the bad news is that I will be leaving on July
First. I will be assigned to St. Jude Parish in Grand
Rapids. From the bishop’s perspective this will
also make it easier for me to be more involved in
ministry to priests in our Diocese, a role I have had
for the last dozen years or so.
We’ve made some significant progress in the last
couple years and with Fr. Matt coming, the best is
yet to come.
More details will follow. I wanted you to hear
this as directly from me as possible.
With prayers,
Fr. Tom Page
inform the people of the parishes that in July a new
pastor will arrive at St. Mary’s and St. Jean’s.
First the good news: Fr. Matt Barnum, ordained
two years ago, will be coming to the parishes on
July First. He is young, bright, deeply spiritual and
energetic. He also speaks Spanish which, from my
perspective, is the main reason I began a
conversation with the bishop.
I was sent to Muskegon because I could “get
by” with a limited amount of Spanish for
Sacraments. It became more obvious as I spent
more months in Muskegon that my level of Spanish
was not and could not meet the needs of the
growing population of Spanish speaking Catholics.
Attempts to bring in a Spanish speaking priest on a
constant basis didn’t work.
So the bad news is that I will be leaving on July
First. I will be assigned to St. Jude Parish in Grand
Rapids. From the bishop’s perspective this will
also make it easier for me to be more involved in
ministry to priests in our Diocese, a role I have had
for the last dozen years or so.
We’ve made some significant progress in the last
couple years and with Fr. Matt coming, the best is
yet to come.
More details will follow. I wanted you to hear
this as directly from me as possible.
With prayers,
Fr. Tom Page
Monday, March 16, 2009
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