My dear family in Christ,

 

As we all prepare ourselves for Thanksgiving, whether in preparing to travel or preparing to welcome family into our homes, I want to take this opportunity to express my profound thanks for the opportunity and blessing of serving as the Bishop of Burlington. Over the last four months I have had the opportunity of traveling to many parts of the state, and I have been overwhelmed by the prayerful support that I have received. Your support is a challenge for me to increase my prayers for all of you.

 

I believe we all know that we are facing many challenges as a diocese. The reorganization of the Ch. 11 process continues and will likely last for months to come. Our parishes continue to face a decline in membership and sacramental celebrations fueled by demographic shifts and other reasons. The number of priests available to serve our churches remains low and our seminarian count is very small. Yet in spite of these issues, I remain thankful and hopeful because “with God, all things are possible.”

 

Thus, I have begun a conversation with the presbyteral council about the need for us to engage, not just in a corporate reorganization, but a very dedicated spiritual reorganization. Beginning with myself and the priests who serve you so faithfully, we will be committing ourselves to increase prayer and sacrifices on your behalf, because I am firmly convinced that the greatest challenge we face as a diocese is spiritual, not material. We all need to learn to rely more and more upon the grace of God as we address our future. As we move into the new year I will be sharing more information on what this spiritual reorganization will entail, but, until then, if I may quote myself, we all need to become convinced that “God alone suffices.”

 

But for now, I pray your Thanksgiving Day is filled with many blessings and that those who will be traveling are granted safe journeys to and from their homes. Be assured of my prayers and I ask that your good prayers for me continue.

 

God alone suffices!

 

+John J. McDermott