March 11, 2022
Dear St. John Catholic Academy families,
I would like to share with you what I recently announced to the parish community: this summer, I will end my assignment as pastor of St. John. Though I had a term that went into 2024, there is a need for a full time faculty member and spiritual director at our shared diocesan seminary, St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL. I am only one of a couple priests in the whole diocese who has completed a certificate program in spiritual direction, so that makes me a good fit.
As you can imagine, I have mixed emotions about the change. I have been so blessed to be at St. John since 2016, and I am sad to leave this community. We have been through many joys and sorrows together, and you will always hold a special place in my heart. While I am sad to leave you, I think my priestly gifts and talents will fit well in seminary formation and spiritual direction. I have learned much during my time here, and I am excited to share my experiences at St. John with the seminarians I will teach.
I am happy to announce that Rev. Thomas Kennell will take over as Parish Administrator effective July 1st. Fr. Kennell is a priest of six years and is currently serving as a Parochial Vicar (i.e. associate pastor) at St. Ann Catholic Church in Gulf Breeze, FL (outside of Pensacola). He is excited to be assigned to St. John, and I am confident he will be a great blessing to you. He will also have the opportunity to “onboard” with me in April, May and June. So for three months, you will have two priests at St. John! I’m so grateful that we have this time of transition so that we can set everyone up for success during those three months of orientation. I intended to speak to the students myself at school Mass this past Wednesday, but the severe weather prevented that, so I will have to wait until the last week of March (when I return from a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul) to tell the student body.
Fr. Kennell will be at all Masses this weekend (March 12/13) to introduce himself if you would like to put a face to a name. He will officially begin his time at St. John on March 25 until he takes over July 1. We will be in touch about opportunities to welcome Fr. Kennell to the SJCA community. I have already invited him to the Sip and Support Spring fundraiser. Please keep Fr. Kennell and me in your prayers.
Fraternally,
Fr. Kevin
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