July 20, 2014
Dear Friends,
Summer
is supposed to be a time for slowing down to smell the flowers, and I hope it’s
that for you. If nothing else, the recent, uninterrupted stretch of
hotter-than-usual days should have forced a certain amount of slowing down!
Around here, however, things have been anything but slow. Active, I would
call them! And that’s especially true with regard to the comings and goings of
our staff. Some significant changes have happened or are about to happen and I
would like to share them with you.
In the first place, Lita McBride, our director of
Children’s Faith Formation, has made the difficult decision to retire after
leading that program for nine years. Lita will be missed! She has served our
children and their families faithfully and lovingly. Her deep faith and
prayerfulness are gifts that she has shared generously with the entire parish
but especially with our children. It’s no wonder that, under her leadership, the
program has grown and prospered. And while I find it difficult to see Lita move
on,
I am happy to think that she will finally have some time to slow down and take
care of herself. God knows she has earned this! Lita, our prayers accompany you
– along with our gratitude!
Stepping in to take Lita’s place is Brenda Bellamy who
served as Cathedral sacristan for a number of years until more recently when she
began working with the young children of school age who were preparing for
baptism and the sacraments of initiation. Brenda has also ably led our
Confirmation program for teenagers and adults. And while it’s true that no one
really replaces another, I am confident that Brenda, with her considerable gifts
for teaching and organization, will be a worthy successor to Lita McBride.
Caitlin Lanigan, who has been working with Patty Bowman in
social outreach and advocacy ministries for the past two years—and has
coordinated and greatly expanded our young adult ministry – recently took a
position with the archdiocese to direct their ministry to young adults. The
archdiocese’s gain is most definitely our loss but I think we should feel
complimented that they saw obvious talent and seized it! I am sorry to
lose Caitlin but I wish her well as she brings her great spirit and her
wonderful gifts for ministry to her new position, and I take this opportunity to
thank her in a special way for all she has done to breathe such life and energy
into our young adult ministry. What she has done in a short time is nothing
short of remarkable. We have yet to identify Caitlin’s successor.
Lastly, our associate organist, Clint Kraus, is leaving us
this month to begin medical school in Oregon. Apparently one doctorate was not
enough for Clint! For week after week for the past 17 years Clint has dazzled us
with his virtuosity and verve. Not only is he an extraordinarily gifted
performer and accompanist, he is also a brilliant improviser. Over the years,
Clint has also contributed significantly to our youth music program. It is
difficult to bid him good-bye but know you will join me in wishing him the very
best on this next lap of his journey.
Stepping into Clint’s place to assist our senior organist, Joseph Adam,
is Sam Libra, a talented young musician and organist who has
been serving as organist at St. Philomena’s Church in Des Moines for the past
two years. Sam is currently working on his Masters in Organ Performance at the
University of Washington with particular emphasis on sacred music and music
history. I am confident that Sam will be a happy addition to the staff of our
music department and that he will contribute significantly to the beauty of our
Cathedral liturgies. Welcome, Sam!
Father Ryan
