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Dear Friends in Christ,
As we conclude the Octave of Christmas and our 140 th anniversary year – The Jubilee of Lourdes – I write to share some important news with you and to provide you with updates that are relevant to our shared life of faith.
First, this past Friday, December 29, 2017, Archbishop Bernard Hebda appointed me parochial administrator of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Northeast Minneapolis, effective February 1, 2018. This is a temporary assignment which will conclude no later than June 30, 2019. This assignment is in addition to my assignments as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and to the faculty of the St. Thomas Law School.
Notwithstanding the growth and health of Our Lady of Lourdes, I know that my multiple assignments as a priest have sometimes posed a challenge for our staff and parishioners. I would not have been able to take on this additional assignment were is not for the health of the parish, the commitment of our parishioners and friends and our excellent parish staff. As I explain below, I am confident that this additional assignment will not disproportionately affect my ministry as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
My new assignment at Sts. Cyril and Methodius is qualitatively different than my assignment at St. Boniface, which concluded this past October. First, unlike St. Boniface, this new assignment is not open ended but rather temporary – with a specific end date. Secondly, unlike St. Boniface, most of the Masses, sacramental, and pastoral needs of Sts. Cyril and Methodius will be served by a full time parochial vicar who also begins his assignment February 1, 2018. My duties at Sts. Cyril and Methodius will be mostly administrative and limited. Unlike my assignment at St. Boniface, I will not be shuttling between two parishes on Sunday morning celebrating back to back Masses. Sts. Cyril and Methodius is a growing parish which primarily serves Ecuadorian immigrants. I am excited to do whatever I am able to help serve the needs of this growing parish and to participate in the culture of encounter to which Pope Francis has called all Catholics.
Finally, I am happy to announce that due to additional gifts that have come in for the Lourdes Jubilee Fund, we are now able to complete our interior renovations, including the painting of our ceiling in a beautiful Marian/French blue. By going ahead with the painting now, we were fortunate to have scheduled our vendor, Paris Painting, at a time that worked for them while also ensuring that we would not impact our rather full wedding schedule. In addition, completing our renovations and painting in this time frame allows us to rededicate our newly renovated church on Sunday, February 11, 2018 – The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes!
In the next five weeks, the following final renovations will be completed: painting of the ceiling; new iconic art of The Four Evangelists and of St. Teresa of Calcutta; a new wooden pedestal for the Lourdes statue; new oak paneled doors to the sacristy; and church lighting that is both an enhancement and a restoration.
The scope of these final renovations and the scaffolding for the painting necessitated that we move all weekend and weekday Masses to Hofstede Hall for the next five weeks. This time will go by quickly and soon we will be worshipping together again in our historic and beautifully renovated church. I thank our parishioners and friends who have contributed to the Lourdes Jubilee Fund. Your generosity and commitment to Our Lady of Lourdes have been integral to the accomplishment of these important projects. I ask all parishioners and friends to pray for the success of these final renovations and for the safety of all workers. Lastly, I ask your prayers for me - that I would shepherd well this fine parish – Notre Dame de Lourdes.
With Gratitude to God and to You,
Rev. Daniel Griffith
Pastor