My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you this holy day. The parable which we hear proclaimed in St. Mark ' s Gospel today speaks to our labor in the Lord's name. It is also the reflection of the priests who serve on the Priests' Personnel Board and who advise me on the spiritual and leadership needs of our parishes and recommend those who might serve as pastors or parochial vicars.
As they discerned with me these various needs, they recommended Father David Vivero as the pastor of All Souls Parish in Sanford. I accepted their recommendation. I also accepted their recommendation to appoint Father Tom Connery as pastor of St. Theresa in Belleview, effective July I. Father Connery knew he wanted to be a priest when he was in the seventh grade. He was first ordained a priest of the Salesian Religious Community on May 21, 1983. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Orlando in 1997 as a diocesan priest. His favorite liturgical season is the Easter season, particularly Easter Sunday. He has a great devotion to the poor and marginalized and is happy to know of the enormous outreach established at St. Theresa's . Father Connery is a tennis player, and has two dogs . He served as pastor of St. Peter Parish in DeLand . Of his priesthood, he said, " Being a priest is holding the key to the hearts and lives of so many people. You share their joys as in the birth of a child to the sorrow of burying a loved one. It is the stuff of life. It is like getting paid to spend time with God."
I join you in prayers of gratitude for Father David Vivero for his loving service to you, the holy people of God. ask that you welcome Father Tom Connery with the hospitality of Christ and assist him as he becomes a part of St. Theresa's community of faith. I ask that you pray for Father Vivero and Father Connery and for all the priests who serve within the Diocese of Orlando with such a generosity of spirit. l ask that you pray for me, your humble shepherd, that I lead God ' s people with His most gracious love.
Lord, may the of faith which we plant, spring up to glorify Your name.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend John Noonan
Bishop of Orlando