I want to thank all of you for giving us a welcome to the parish this past weekend. Transitions are difficult but made easier by the kindness offered by many to help with the move. I would like to thank the Knights of Columbus from my previous assignment who hauled a lot of stuff accumulated through the years in a small trailer for free. I would also like to thank our staff for their generous help in getting oriented these first days. I grew up in the valley since I was eight years old, and I figure I spent most of my life in Idaho, about thirty years. But I never thought I would end up in a parish where my family lives!
I was raised in the valley and have been to the parish many times especially since I help with Cursillo in Spanish, and they meet once a month here. So, I was somewhat oriented with the parish but I look forward in getting to know the parish more in depth. I come with some experience from other parishes. I was a parochial vicar for five years, I've mentioned half-jokingly I was such a good parochial vicar they kept me in that role for five years. The last seven years I have been the administrator and then the pastor of where I now come. I am thankful to God for allowing me to be close to my family, and to be able to serve in a place that is very familiar and special to me. I hope the Lord will help and bless our journey together. I look forward in meeting the different parish groups, families, and individuals of our parish in the weeks to come.