Saying Goodbye to Fr. Tom

Ruthie 10 days old, and just this week with Fr. Tom

We have shed many tears in saying goodbye to Fr. Tom, he has been a part of our lives for so many years, that knowing we won't hear his voice regularly on Sunday brings sadness to our hearts.  Priests are given six-year term appointments, sometimes renewed, but rarely spanning longer than 12 years, and Fr. Tom has been at St. Louise for 12 years now.  He has been appointed to a new parish and St. Louise will receive a newly appointed priest later this summer, Fr. Gary, someone we anticipate to bring new ideas and life to our community.  This change is bittersweet for us, as Fr. Tom will forever have a special place in our hearts.

We are grateful for all the years Fr. Tom has served at St. Louise, he has been the leader of a faith community that truly drawn us in and has stolen our hearts - we think of our church as "home" - and can't imagine how the last six years of our lives would have been without his leadership.  Fr. Tom has seen us through personal challenges and faith formation, growth as a family, and he believed in us enough to bring out leadership roles within us.  I'll never forget the day Mark looked at me humbly saying Fr. Tom invited him to be on a leadership team at the church.  I'll never forget when Ruthie thought he was Jesus as a two-year old.  And I'll never forget when Ruthie's Kindergarten class led mass at May Crowning, when the entire school said goodbye (not an eye was dry).  And we'll most definitely remember his spot-on graceful (and often funny) sermons.  Thank you for all you are, and all you've been to us, Fr. Tom.  We will never forget you!