February 22, 2021
Don Foree
Tiburon
Re “Parish series helping parishioners find the upside of lockdown,” Feb. 11:
In a recent article you featured the preaching series of our pastor, Father Gustafson. The article was interesting, but the final sentence stunned me. It read, “St. Hilary was one of those churches that was declining.” If that statement was referring to all the churches’ lack of services due to the COVID virus, I understand it, but if suggesting that the “declining” had anything to do with the steady, spiritual ministry of the church, I must strongly disagree. Under the exemplary pastorate of Father William Brown, the church was quite thriving. In particular, his preaching was intelligent, often filled with great humor, grounded in his own spiritual journey to which we could relate, and always drawing us to a deeper relationship with Christ. After all, it is in the daily and Sunday Mass and homily that the Scriptures come to life, and we parishioners are deepened in our spiritual lives. That was never lacking at St. Hilary with Father Brown as pastor. Perhaps an apology might be due to him.
I also wish to highlight the religious education evident in the weekly children’s’ Mass. The active participation of those kids is a joy to us seniors. It says the future of the church is in solid hands. Bravo to the teachers, staff and children of St. Hilary parish.
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