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SUGAR CREEK, Mo. — Parishioners of St. Luke Parish in Sugar Creek, Missouri, learned last month that their community would welcome a full-time priest of the eparchy to minister to them. The parish has not had a full-time priest since 2012. Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, made the announcement during his pastoral visit, April 6-8.The visit was prompted by the bishop’s desire to visit every parish of the eparchy and by the imminent departure of Benedictine Father Thomas Bailey, who served as sacramental minister for six years. Father Bailey was to leave at the end of May, in view of taking up the post of master of studies and, later, of spiritual director at the Pontifical Greek College of St. Athanasius in Rome.
The bishop also said the parish had to purchase a house to serve as a rectory. The parish did not have a rectory, as most of the priests who served the community previously had other housing arrangements.
However, since then, the parish has bought a house, located about a 13-minute drive from the church, to serve as a rectory, and Father Michael Lee, currently administrator of St. Stephen Parish in Euclid, Ohio, and Transfiguration Parish in Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio, announced his appointment to the Missouri church.
The bishop’s weekend visit to Missouri included house-hunting with the current administrator, Deacon Nicholas Szilagye, celebrating Great Vespers on Saturday, and celebrating Sunday Divine Liturgy; Father Bailey concelebrated.
Bishop Lach also baptized and chrismated five-week-old Astrid Zhanna McCann, daughter of parishioners Connie and Christopher McCann. This baptism was the bishop’s first in the United States.
A potluck was held after the liturgy, during which parishioners spoke with Bishop Lach, followed by a meeting, during which he shared his vision for the parish. He said parish size does not matter, but “vitality” does. He noted the many young people present and said they were the future of the church.
“Bishop Milan was intentional about getting to know the people he is spiritually responsible for here and conveyed he cares about us,” Anna Hicks told Horizons. “I am grateful to have him as our bishop.”
Ray James said his fellow parishioners “seemed encouraged and pleased with his talk and visit.”
After the visit, many parishioners committed to increasing donations to meet the costs of having a full-time priest.
Father Lee is expected to move to Missouri in mid-June. He is scheduled to celebrate his first Divine Liturgy at St. Luke Parish June 17.
Caption: Bishop Milan Lach, SJ, gives Astrid Zhanna McCann her first Eucharist at St. Luke Parish in Sugar Creek, Missouri, after having been baptized and chrismated, April 8. (Photo: Christopher McCann)
As published in Horizons, May 27, 2018.
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