Note from Seminarian Jeff Craig

To the Parishioners of Our Lady of Fatima, St. Frances Cabrini, St. John the Baptist, and St. Titus:

Words cannot express how thankful I am for you and for your generosity over this past year.  You all have been such a blessing in my life.  It has been an honor to serve you as a seminarian.  I also want to thank Father Martin, Father Joachim, and Father Thomas.  How blessed we are to have three wonderful priests and a great administrator in Father Martin in our parish grouping!  I will always be grateful for them for showing me what it is to be a priest that is dedicated, selfless, and always committed to doing what is best for the parish.

When it comes to thinking about the priesthood, many talk about the tremendous sacrifices a priest makes.  While this is true, it is also true that no matter what vocation one is called to, whether that is priesthood, religious life, single life, or married life, one makes great sacrifices!  No one is exempt from having to make sacrifices.  That is Christian love!  While I have learned a great deal about the sacrifices of the priesthood over this past year, I have also come to recognize the many blessings of the priesthood.  The opportunity to encounter God through the celebrating of the sacraments with the community is certainly a treasure.  Another blessing is the chance to serve, converse with, and encounter God when serving and talking with you.

Another blessing is the continual inspiration to grow in relationship with God through prayer and holiness when witnessing your deep devotion to prayer and desire to grow in holiness in each of your own individual lives.  Therefore, every moment that I live out my vocation to the priesthood is an opportunity to grow closer in relationship with God, and in countless ways that is because of you!  I want to thank you for helping me grow closer to God and for helping me in desiring to become ever more of a servant to Him and to you.

It is hard for me to ask any more from you than what you have already given me, but I ask for one more thing.  I ask that you please pray for me.  Pray that I become more loving and giving like Our Father in Heaven.  Pray that I may become more like Jesus so as to endure the challenges ahead in trust and confidence.  And pray that I may follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that I may be open to all that God asks of me in the future.  I promise to pray for the same for you.


Peace,
Jeff Craig