Father Hathaway’s Weekly Column — May 29, 2022
NEW PRIEST ASSIGNMENTS
This time of year inevitably brings the reassignment of a number of priests in the Arlington Diocese. While bittersweet, these changes are part of the life of a parish priest as he assists the Bishop in the smooth functioning of the diocese. New assignments also help prepare parochial vicars (priests who assist the pastor) as future pastors by giving them experience with different models of parish life and organization. (See https://www.arlingtondiocese.org for the full list of assignments.) Two of those changes impact our Basilica family:
After four years of faithful service as parochial vicar at Saint Mary, Father David Dufresne has been reassigned as parochial vicar at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington. We will miss him dearly, especially his forthright homilies! But we know God has great plans for him and he won’t really be going too far away. A farewell reception for Father David will be held in the Basilica’s Lyceum Auditorium (313 Duke Street) after the 1 p.m. Mass on Sunday, June 26, which he will celebrate. Please join us to thank Father and wish him well.
Deacon Peter J. Clem, to be ordained to the priesthood on June 4, will be our new parochial vicar. His first Mass
here will be the weekend of July 2 and 3. In 2013, he graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in Communications. He then did a Year of Volunteer Service at All Saints in Manassas as a Youth Ministry intern. He made a consecrated commitment in Youth Apostles in 2014 and spent two years living in community while continuing ministry at All Saints before applying for seminary.
May God bless these two men during this time of transition. We are so very thankful they responded “Yes!” when Our Lord called them to the priesthood.
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD — May 29
Today, Sunday, May 29, we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, one of the great solemnities of the liturgical year. It commemorates Christ’s “going up” bodily into heaven, by His own power, in the presence of the Apostles, the Blessed Mother and His disciples, 40 days after His Resurrection at Easter (Acts 1:6-12). Where Christ went, body and soul, into heaven, the faithful hope one day to follow. May we always rejoice and be encouraged in that hope.
MEMORIAL DAY — May 30
Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, is a time to remember and pay solemn tribute to all who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Our Parish Offices will be closed for the day. We will have one Mass at 9 a.m. in the Basilica. (Due to construction at the school and its parking area, we will not have a Memorial Day Mass at the cemetery this year.)
SCHOOL GRADUATIONS
Friday, June 3, is graduation day for 79 eighth-grade students at The Basilica School of Saint Mary. Congratulations — you made it! Congratulations also to our parish CCD students and the many other young parishioners graduating from junior high, high school and college. May Your hand of protection be about them, O Lord, and may Your Word continue to be a light unto their path. Help them to make wise decisions and to always keep You first in everything they do. Amen.
FATHER JOHN O’FARRELL’S FIRST MASS
As you know, Basilica of Saint Mary parishioner John O’Farrell will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Burbidge at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 4 (watch it at www.arlingtondiocese.org). Father O’Farrell will celebrate his first Mass as a priest here in his home parish at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 5. A reception will follow in the Lyceum auditorium. Everyone is invited to the Mass and reception to celebrate the occasion with Father O’Farrell!