My Dear Parishioners,
 
Looking back at these four years here at St. Luke has been a true blessing.  It is with great appreciation that I contemplate what we together have done in and around our parish with the grace and blessing of the Lord.  Through your sacrifice and the advisement of many, I purchased the beautiful new rectory for the parish.  This home will stand as a legacy.  The work on the outdoor chapel continues and the worship space there is magnificent. To be able to celebrate ass in such a beautiful outdoor setting is indeed a privilege.  I am so proud of the work we have done with the church revitalization, the gorgeous altar, the beautiful ambo and all the furniture together with complimentary décor provides for our parish a sacred, beautiful, and joyful worship space for years to come.  Our bright airy welcoming narthex and beautiful meeting rooms provide space for our growing ministries.  It has been a joy to extend our daily masses, make Adoration a normal part of our routine, begin the Rosary Society and increase not only weekday but weekend mass attendance.  As a priest of 31 years with three parish experiences, I have been blessed by the collaboration and trust of so many people.  Your love for me and your willingness to support me, I will carry in my heart forever. 
 
As a diocesan priest, we take two vows.  A vow of chastity and a vow of obedience.  I have always found the vow of obedience more difficult because it means the priest, despite his own desires and preferences, understands that the needs of the diocese come before his own.  In early June Monsignor George Hundt, the pastor of St. Vincent Martyr was appointed to a new assignment.  The assignment is to be pastor of St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson.  This is an inner-city parish with a small and struggling school.  It is the last Catholic school remaining in Paterson.  Fr. George has many years of extensive experience in school ministry and hopes to spend his remaining years as an active priest revitalizing the parish and school.   St. Vincent is one of the largest in our diocese with a large and thriving school as well as vibrant CCD program.  Bishop and the senior priests of the diocese felt because of my 31 years of parish and school experience that I was the priest most suitable to fill this role.  I received a call from the Bishop asking me to consider such an appointment.  Following my vow of obedience, I followed through with much prayer, reflection, and conversations with trusted peers, opened my heart to the needs of the diocese, all the while praying for my beloved St. Luke Parish, which is an incredibly important part of my life.  On Wednesday, the 28th of June, I received a call from Bishop Kevin asking me to make my decision.  With obedience to my bishop and trust in the Lord, I agreed to accept the position at St. Vincent Martyr effective October 2.  I realize that this is a terrible shock to you my beloved parishioners having only been here four short but joyous years.  I had assumed, I would remain at St. Luke until my retirement and planned accordingly but God had a different plan.  During the next three months, we will continue to make our plans for the coming year so that our programs and ministries will continue with vibrancy and energy into the future.  As I often say, we are blessed with the staff here at St. Luke and I am happy to be able to leave St. Luke Parish on the morning of October 2nd a stronger, more vibrant parish in capable hands with a plan in place for the upcoming year. 
 
I have already spoken to the Bishop about my love for St. Luke and that I want the very best priest to continue the legacy of Fr. Peter, Fr. Mike and myself.  Let me assure you that there are kind, collaborative and if I may say excellent candidates filled with warmth and love, who we will recommend to Bishop to consider as the next pastor of St. Luke. 
 
It is very early days yet and I will keep you posted as the process begins.  Let us enjoy the next few months together and continue to pray for each other in the coming weeks. 

Fr. Owen