A message from Father Zachary

Thursday – October 27, 2016.

Dear OLPH Family,

Cordial greetings to you all!

I hope you are all doing very fine and the Fall season commenced well for everyone. I hope too that this year’s FAIR was a great blessing to OLPH.

It is almost 3 months since I was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and what I can so far say is that the Gift and Ministry of the Priesthood is something not just AMAZINGLY PRECIOUS but also TRULY AWESOME! As Fr. Kyle has probably shared with you all, after my ordination, it took more than a month for me to celebrate with family and friends this gift. I can’t help but say that I am so, so, so proud that a big part of being able to celebrate this gift came from my beloved OLPH family. I thank God for each of you every day.

I reported to my place of Priestly assignment on the 18th day of September, 2016 and it is now about a month and a week since I joined this parish community consisting of about 16000 registered parishioners. The Parish serves 8 active Mission Churches where my pastor and I try our best to bring to them Mass every Sunday. We try to cover 2 each Sunday with the goal of reaching all of them at the end of month.

I know majority of you will find it interesting to know some of the things that I am involved with as part of this first assignment of mine in the parish: Apart from celebrating daily Masses at the main Church, the Ministries that keep me busy in the parish are: Chaplaincy to about 11 schools within the parish (2 of these schools are universities; about 5 high schools and the rest are primary schools). Apart from schools, I also offer chaplaincy services to 2 nearby hospitals, where for the most part I celebrate the sacrament of anointing.

Once a week, I offer Catechesis on various topics over our local Catholic Radio. Every Thursday, I also offer catechesis at the Main Church to more than 150 Catholics and non-Catholics.

I also guide and ensure proper liturgical celebrations and devotional practices at the parish.

Apart from the above mentioned ministries, I have also been asked at a diocesan level to help our diocesan parish choirs with chaplaincy and guide them to do better in their music skills and ministry.

Thanks to you all as always and know of my continued prayers for you. Best wishes for a peaceful progress of the Fall as well as a nice transition into the winter season.

Many Blessings!

Fr. Zachary