With gratitude to God and Fr. John Peter, and regret that his time at St. Joseph’s was only 18 months, I announce that Bishop Blaire has reassigned him to St. Frances in Riverbank, effective April 1. St. Frances has been limping along with only one priest for the last six months (Fr. Larry has actually been covering many of their Masses). Fr. John Peter will go to Riverbank, and Fr. Carlos Vega, recently arrived from Mexico, will replace him at St. Joseph’s. I invite you all to Fr. John Peter’s farewell party this Tuesday evening, which because of tight schedules must be somewhat brief. Our farewell begins with his celebrating of the 5:45 Mass on Tuesday, March 22. After Mass we will have food and drink on the plaza, along with some brief speeches by local orators. At 7pm, we will head into the church for Day Three of the Parish Mission with Fr. Bernard Marie. Thus, Tuesday evening will be holy: bidding farewell to a good priest, welcoming a new priest, and listening attentively to a third priest during our Lenten Mission. (Please make every effort to attend all of Fr. Bernard Marie’s Mission this week, beginning Sunday at 7pm in the Hall. It is for most of us the one time of the year we set aside a few hours of retreat time.) Fr. John Peter came to us from India full of happiness in September 2009. He quickly won hearts for Jesus with his gift of expansive optimism. No one has a broader smile than this young man. Another grace with which he has blessed us is his patient listening. Especially in the confessional, we note how he listens carefully, both to the penitent, and then to the Holy Spirit, before giving wise counsel. Every Tuesday he has shepherded a little flock of Confirmation students, and many more young people at St. Joseph's have felt his supporting spirit. We thank you, dearest Fr. John Peter, for coming to us, and we are happy you are not moving very far away. Please come to bid Fr. JP farewell on Tuesday, beginning with 5:45 Mass.