My column this week is mostly the items I mentioned last week except for two updates.

September farewell. Most of you have heard by now that I am being transferred to Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in Cumberland, Maryland. I am being assigned as Senior priest/parochial vicar. I have been here at St. John’s for 12 years, I arrived in September, 2010; it’s been a wonderful experience and quite frankly, I am sad to leave. Regarding my farewell Mass, nothing has been planned yet but I will definitely keep you informed. I will give you my new address closer to my departure. I have two months before I leave, so let’s continue to enjoy each other!

Father Tom Betz, who many of you know will be the new pastor of St. John’s and Holy Redeemer Chinese Church.

Debt payment. Two weeks ago I sent a check to the Archdiocese in the amount of $100,000.00 toward our debt pay down. We are now at $696,036.00! Thanks to everyone for your contributions toward this effort to get us to this point.

Two reliquaries are still available to be memorialized:

• the reliquary for St. Padre Pio ($119.95)
• the reliquary for St. Theresa of Calcutta ($74.95)