St. Dominic Catholic Church

Pastor's Corner

July 9, 2017

WELCOME FR. FRANCIS, FR. DOMINIC and FR. CASSIAN!

This Pastor’s Corner is a little bit late, and I apologize.  But this is a good time to introduce the three new members of the Dominican community – three refugees, if you will.

Fr. Francis Goode comes to us from the community we closed in Riverside.  He was ministering in a primarily Latino community, which is one of his great ministerial loves.  He just celebrated his 30^th anniversary of ordination and will be serving as my one and only associate in the parish.  Some of you know Fr. Francis from his time in Eagle Rock when Fr. Paul Scanlon was pastor, and I’ve already observed how excited you are to have him back with us.  I look forward to working and living with Fr. Francis, because of his good nature and easy laugh.  Maybe he’ll loosen me up a bit.

Fr. Dominic DeLay will be in and out of LA for the next year while he enjoys a well-deserved sabbatical after serving at the Newman Center at UC San Diego.  Sadly, the Dominicans have left that and other ministries in San Diego this summer, but I’m delighted Fr. Dominic has landed with us!  He will celebrate his 25^th anniversary of ordination in June 2018, so this is a special year for him, and I know he’s happy to be close to his alma mater, Occidental College.  Fr. Dominic is a wonderful singer and artist – with his art focusing on the production of films.  I am hoping he might be able to attend one of our Dominican Film nights.  I’m sure his insights would be fantastic.  Perhaps we’ll have Fr. Dominic join with his good friend Fr. John Paul Forte, Director of the campus ministry at the University of Arizona, to give us a concert!

Finally, Fr. Cassian Lewinski has arrived from the third community we closed – Berkeley, CA.  Fr. Cassian was pastor at my second assignment as a priest in Salt Lake City.  I have many fond memories of my two years there with him.  We were the only two in the community, and, fortunately, we got along quite well and worked well as a team.  Fr. Cassian has just retired and is looking forward to reading, reading and more reading.  I know he’s interested in having a book discussion group at the parish, because it’s even better to read and discuss! Just one thing to be aware of – never offer him food with even a hint of cilantro. 

I am delighted to live with these wonderful men, and I know you will give them a warm maligayang pagdating, benvenidos, and welcome.