Dear Parishioners of Ss. Cyril & Methodius and St. Therese Parishes:

In the midst of everything we're dealing with, we were all surprised last weekend by the sudden announcement of your pastor, Fr. Alphonse, for personal reasons. Let me stop any false rumors that may have started – there was no financial malfeasance, there was no misbehavior with children, and he is not getting married. He remains a priest in good standing, and he is awaiting a decision about a new assignment which comes from the leaders of his religious order (the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales), not Bishop Bradley. He moved out of the rectory in Wayland and currently is living at the rectory in Hastings with one of his Fransalian colleagues.

I was just as surprised as you to find myself here last weekend to be introduced as the temporary administrator appointed by Bishop Bradley to take care of the parishes until a new pastor is appointed. I am a "fill-in." What I intend to do as best I can is take care of your pastoral needs and help you prepare for whoever comes. This period is a bit of a gift, because most of the time there is no "transition period" between pastors -- usually one priest leaves and the next day the new one arrives, and there's only time to change the sheets on the bed. I met with your parish and finance councils and school LCAB members last Wednesday evening to introduce myself and to offer my assistance (if they want it) to help with the transition. I will be here for the weekend and weekday masses, funerals and weddings, and special needs as they occur.

I won’t be here full-time, however, as I still have my other responsibilities. They include
1. My full-time position in the Diocese as the Advocate for Priestly Ministry and Support; in that position I assist priests with everything from continuing education to retirement, orientation for newly ordained priests and new pastors, mentoring, and planning annual events such as our priest retreat in Lent, the convocation in the fall, and celebration for priests' jubilees and for the deceased clergy.
2. I am also a canonist (canon lawyer, lawyer in church law) and work in the Tribunal. Recently our administrator went home to God, and so I am serving as a temporary administrator for the tribunal until a new administrator is hired.
3. I am also the cofounder and director for the diocesan Trauma Recovery Program – a free program for people in our diocese who experienced abuse or neglect during their childhood.
4. Finally, I am the Executive Director for a small nonprofit called Trauma Recovery Associates. We sponsor additional groups for trauma recovery for the community at large, as well as site-based programs in places such as the jail, the domestic abuse shelter, and a transitional home for women moving out of incarceration FYI we recently launched a new program called RENEW for people who are experiencing difficulty due to the pandemic and its effects. It is free, and available on our website at www.TraumaRecoveryAssociates.com.

Hay un programa que se llama RENOVARSE, y está disponible en español tambien. El programa en forma gratutia existe para ayudar los personas que sufren en consequencia del pandemia y sus efectos. Vaya al sitio del web www.TraumaRecoveryAssociates.com.

I tell you these things so you'll understand why I am not present at the parish all the time. I will be moving around between office, home in Battle Creek, two offices in Kalamazoo, and your parishes in Wayland and Gun Lake.

I ask God's blessing on Fr. Alphonse and all of you as we move through this transition.
Fr. Ken Schmidt