5/31/2024 Email

By any measure, it has been a busy week.
For my family, we finished 7th grade for the final time. It was my third time (me, my daughter, and my
son,) and I never, ever want to do that again. Between trying to learn DNA replication in science, to
suƯering through Algebra that I know I took in high school, to the simple fact that being 13 just isn’t
that easy, I’m happy to be looking in the rearview mirror at whatever that was that we experienced
over the past 9 months.
But…it’s all good. My son is a happy, healthy boy with a passion for golf and a summer of it in front
of him.
For her part, my daughter came home from what can only be described as the best freshman year
anyone could hope for. We have a garage full of half-broken-down IKEA paraphernalia, bags of odds
and ends, and more water bottles than any well-hydrated person could ever use. The washer and
dryer have been chugging and spinning all week, in preparation for today…
…when she leaves for a summer job in Jackson Hole, WY. The dry run to Gulf Shores, AL, in April was
a success, I suppose, so she is driving with two friends to waitress for the next three months. (For
the record, I was outvoted by my husband and her about driving. Chopped liver, here.)
It is a busy time at the Diocese of Richmond, too. This past week, Bishop Knestout announced new
clergy and seminarian assignments, including four retirements. You can read about those here:
https://richmonddiocese.org/clergy-assignments-2024/
https://richmonddiocese.org/2023-seminarian-parish-assignments-2/
I know the people of St. Edward the Confessor, St. Thomas More, and St. Kateri Tekakwitha are
going to miss Fr. Don Lemay, Msgr. Michael McCarron, and Fr. Bob Spencer, respectively. And Fr.
Dan Clem has contributed so much to so many parishes, including Sacred Heart where he last
served as pastor, and the Portsmouth Cluster where he was serving as priest-in-residence.
Although we sadly see this chapter of their ministry come to an end, we surely know that our retired
priests serve our diocese in meaningful and vital ways.
We also excitedly celebrate what is happening this morning at the Cathedral – the ordination of two
men to the priesthood! No doubt you have heard about this in the Catholic Virginian or at your
parish, but in case you haven’t, here is a little bit about them:
https://richmonddiocese.org/hampton-roads-man-and-a-california-native-to-become-priests-forthe-catholic-diocese-of-richmond/
Whew, that was a lot. Thanks for reading to the end, and thanks for joining me in praying for our
priests who are moving, retiring, or just getting started. (If you would include a little prayer for my
daughter during her 32-hour drive, I would appreciate that, too!)
God Bless,
Margaret