Many of you, I know, saw the pictures on Facebook. St Ann’s Parish has moved the statue of St. Ann from the front of the rectory to near the front of the church. And that’s already prompted some of you to ask: “Wasn’t something supposed to happen with St. Ann and St. Boniface Parishes this summer? Wasn’t July the date for our upcoming linkage?”

Yes, you remember correctly! Our linkage was originally set for July 2025. But, because of some other situations with priests and parishes in the Diocese, that date was pushed out to October.

But that doesn’t mean we’re not working towards that linkage. A good thought and work happen behind the scenes.

Last summer, Pastoral and Finance Councils from both St. Ann and St. Boniface Parishes met to begin the process. (Remember, we’re linking, not merging! Each parish remains its own parish while sharing clergy.)

Through the winter and spring, representatives from both parishes (and, frankly, representatives from the various Sunday Masses celebrated in all three churches) met to create a new weekend Mass schedule. Those meetings were followed up by a joint Parish Pastoral Council meeting.

I’ve begun discussions with the parish staff at both St Ann and St Boniface. Some of that’s practical—how to create a daily Mass schedule, what programs can we share, how will we manage the day-to-day running of offices and staff responsibilities.

Next weekend, July 19 and 20, Father Dias and I will celebrate all the Masses at St Ann’s Church. We want those congregations to meet us, to have the opportunity to see what worshipping as linked communities might look like. In all of this, continue to keep our two parishes in your prayers. The psalmist tells us, “If the Lord does not build the house, the builders labor in vain.” Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to build up our Catholic community as we strive to work as one in the mission of Jesus Christ.