Dear Parishioners of St. Rita’s,

By the time you receive this letter, I will be away for a short time, but my heart remains firmly with you—especially now, as you learn the difficult and sorrowful news regarding the future of St. Rita’s. I want you to hear directly from me, with honesty and with the love I have for each of you.

For canonical reasons, St. Rita’s will not be formally closed. The church itself will remain a sacred place, honored and preserved. However, Bishop Walsh has determined that regular Sunday and weekday Masses can no longer be offered here. Instead, St. Rita’s Church will be used for special celebrations—baptisms, weddings, funerals, and, when possible, the feast day of St. Rita. I know this is a profound change, and it will touch each of you in different and deeply personal ways.

For many of you, St. Rita’s is the only parish you have ever known. You were baptized here. You received your First Communion and Confirmation here. You were married here. You buried your loved ones from this church. You have prayed in these pews through joys and heartbreaks, through seasons of hope and seasons of loss. This sacred place holds your stories, your memories, your faith. To see its life change so dramatically feels, in many ways, like losing a part of yourself.

I understand any anger, disappointment, or heartbreak you may feel. I feel it with you. I have loved being your pastor, and I have cherished every moment of walking with you in faith. Please know that this decision was not mine. I was not part of the committee that made the recommendation, nor was I involved in the final decision. Bishop Walsh accepted the recommendation because of the very real shortage of priests in our diocese—a reality affecting many parishes, not only ours. In obedience to my bishop and in fidelity to my priestly promises, I must accept this decision, even as I grieve with you.

These are difficult days. I will not pretend otherwise. I do not want to minimize the impact this will have on many of you. But please remember that all the people of St. Rita’s and St. Philip’s have been ONE parish family for a very long time already.  That has not changed.  The main difference is that now we are being asked to worship and to grow our Catholic faith from the same parish building instead of from two.

Still, change of this magnitude is painful, and it will take time—real time—for hearts to heal and for acceptance to grow. My prayer is that, in the spirit of true Catholic Christian faith, we will eventually find peace, even if that peace comes slowly.

What I ask of you, from the depths of my heart, is this: do not walk away from the Eucharist. Do not let this transition separate you from the Mass, from the sacraments, from the community of faith that has sustained you all your life. While there are several nearby churches where you will be warmly welcomed, it is my sincere hope, desire, and prayer that you—who have been our sister parish for so many years—will choose to make St. Philip Neri your spiritual home. We will welcome you not as guests, but as family, as fellow parishioners.

A parish is a building, yes—but it is also a people. And you, the people of St. Rita’s, remain the Church. You remain the Body of Christ. You remain a community bound together by faith, hope, and love. That does not end with the change of a schedule or the loss of regular Masses. The spirit of St. Rita’s lives on in you.

Please know that I am praying for you every day. I will continue to walk with you through this transition, and I will be here to listen, to grieve with you, and to help you find your footing in the days ahead. You are not alone. You are loved. And God, who has carried this parish through so many generations, will carry us still.

With deep affection, sorrow, and hope,

Fr. Ken Pastor