Dear St. Francis de Sales Parishioner:
It is exciting to welcome our new pastoral associate, Sr. Mary Ann Barrett, O.P., to St. Francis de Sales Parish.
Sr. Mary Ann was introduced to the parish during the May 1-2 weekend Masses where she delighted us all with her greeting in the three languages used by our fellow parishioners. This acknowledgment of our diversity is an indication of the rich experience Sr. Mary Ann brings to the pastoral needs of our parish.
Immediately prior to joining our parish staff, Sr. Mary Ann served in two positions in New Mexico that will have direct bearing upon her mission at St. Francis. She was a parish pastoral associate and directed campus ministry for the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
A member of the Marywood Dominican Community of Grand Rapids, Sr. Mary Ann taught in numerous Catholic schools in the Gaylord, Saginaw and Detroit dioceses. She has also served her community as the vocations director and entrepreneur and also directed the campus ministry at Aquinas College.
Since the departure of Sr. Ann last year, your parish staff has attempted to respond to parishioner pastoral needs in the areas of ministering to the sick and homebound, bereavement counseling and funeral preparation and support of the promising small Christian communities program of our parish.
While these efforts have been valiant, Sr. Mary Ann’s arrival will give them all the leadership and focus they need and deserve. She has already embraced these necessary ministries with an energy and enthusiasm I am sure you will soon experience as she becomes acquainted with our incredible Catholic mission in Holland and Zeeland.
Please join me in welcoming Sr. Mary Ann Barrett to St. Francis de Sales. Her telephone extension at the parish ministry center is 392-6700 ext. 104.
Sincerely, Rev. Charles Brown