Goodbye and God Bless You

08-19-2018Weekly ReflectionFr. John Granato

My Dear Friends,

I have been a priest in Torrington for seven years, five as your pastor. My predecessor, Father Tiano, was your pastor for seven years. For twelve years, there has been a sense of some stability. Father Tiano, of course, arrived in the midst of a storm. Beginning in 2006, after the three priests left Torrington, Father Tiano, Father Romans and Father Lavorgna took over, with Father Gustavo Lopez remaining behind to help with the Spanish speaking community. Eventually, Father Romans left and Father Carlson came in. Then Father Carlson and Father Lavorgna went from four priests to three.

I replaced Father Cretella. When Father Tiano left and I took over, Father Zack Pushpanathan joined as the third priest. Father Zack was able to help Father Carlos with the Spanish ministry. When Father Carlos left in January of 2014, Father Mathieu Isaac stepped in for six weeks until Father Zack returned from vacation and Father Carlos Piedrahita arrived. Once again, there were two priests able to minister to the Spanish speaking community. A few months later, Father Carlos left and Father Sullivan replaced him. Shortly after his arrival, Father Zack was moved and Father Diego arrived. When Father Jim was named pastor in Ansonia, Father William Agyemang arrived in Torrington. In April of 2016, Father Diego left and Father William and I served the cluster for seven months before the arrival of a permanent Spanish speaking priest, Fr. Carlos Zapata, in November of 2016. This was the team until last July when Father William left and Torrington now had only two priests to serve all of Torrington. Father Carlos and I have worked ver hard and every well together. He has been a good friend and good colleague, as was Father William. It has been a joy to live with Father William and Father Carlos these last few years.

In this time of twelve years, with all of the changes of priests, the one constant has been the Eucharist and the celebration of the sacraments. We have lost some of the attendance, through death and through people moving out of Connecticut. But every parishioner, and every Catholic, was well served by the priests, especially this last year with Father Carlos and myself supplying the ministry to our parish. No one was neglected, in the English speaking or the Spanish speaking communities. Father Carlos and I have worked hard to bring the four parishes together as well as the Spanish speaking parishioners so that everyone would know that we are in fact only one community; one community of faith with different liturgical languages. I have also tried to arrange for Italian speaking and Polish speaking priests when necessary for the parishioners who are more comfortable in those languages. Torrington might seem like a challenge to many priests and to many people from the outside, but I can honestly say that my time in Torrington has not been a challenge but an opportunity to minister to some wonderful people.

Change is difficult, but please understand that priests are at the service of the Archbishop. I will bring my talents and gifts to a new parish. I wanted to finish my work that I promised you for the last two years, finally being able to carry through with some much-needed projects. These projects will fall into the lap of your new pastor, Father Emmanuel Ihemedu. He will bring his gifts and talents to you now. He has done amazing work in St. Justin St. Michael in Hartford and I know the parishioners there are sad to see him go. But I know that you will welcome him with your prayers and your support. Remember that St. John Paul the Great is your parish and your home. You are the people of Torrington; the people who have made Torrington what it is and what it can be in the future. I will miss you, and I love each and every one of you with a pastor’s heart.

God bless you.

Fr. John

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