FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:
As most of you know, at the Masses last weekend it was announced that effective this July 1st, Bishop Jaime Soto has assigned me to serve full-time on the faculty of St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park. As I noted in my remarks last weekend, it was a surprise when Bishop Soto first called me almost a year ago and asked me to spend a day each week at the seminary. As sometime happens, what is talked about as an idea becomes something more when it is put into practice. In my case, the seminary asked me to teach a course, or actually two courses. Initially, they wanted me to teach a course last academic semester and another one this semester. When I explained to the seminary folks that my planned sabbatical in the fall would make it difficult for me to teach a course in the fall, they asked if I could still teach a course this semester. Since there are normally two classes of 75 minutes each week for the 3 unit course that I was asked to teach, it was decided that I would teach one of the twice weekly sessions in-person and one by teleconference. Thus, the idea that Bishop Soto initially had in mind that I would spend one day a week at the seminary evolved into spending one day at the seminary, plus a part of another day teaching, plus the amount of time needed to prepare the lectures for each class time. Fortunately, during the first three weeks of my sabbatical I was able to live at the seminary and begin to do some reading and planning for the course that I am teaching this semester.
By now, I am already six weeks into the semester. The class that I am teaching is called “Theological Anthropology” which is basically a course on grace. The course explores how we are created in grace, how that grace was lost through original sin, how we are redeemed in Christ and how we will be in heaven. I teach virtually on Tuesdays and in-person on Fridays. In order to miss the freeway traffic, I have found the best time to drive to Menlo Park is in the evening. Thus, I usually drive there on Thursday evening after my day off, spend Thursday night and all day Friday at the seminary and return to Vacaville on Friday evening. I don’t like being away from St. Mary’s for two days in a row every week, but I know that the parish is in the good hands of Fr. Joseph, our excellent staff and our many generous volunteers.
This July will be a transition for all of us. I feel so blessed to be here at St. Mary’s. You are very loving, faithful and affirming. When I was preparing to go on sabbatical last August, I realized that I was feeling anxious because I did not know how I would do without being able to be with you on a day to day basis. One of the things I learned when I served as the Vicar for Clergy for four years, was how much parishioners love their priests, despite our many weaknesses. This is a beautiful thing. Even though we are far from perfect, you support us through your faithfulness and goodness. I have certainly experienced your love and support here.
Bishop Soto knows that we have a vibrant parish and he has expressed to me that he plans to appoint a pastor who will keep all the good things going that we have going. Hopefully, within a couple of months, we will know who the next pastor will be. In the meantime, we can pray that God’s will be known and carried out. We can trust that as long as we stay faithful and obedient to God, God will bless us beyond measure. I have always believed that and have experienced it a number of times throughout the 24 years of my priesthood.
May you have a blessed week.
In Christ Jesus,
Father Berg
