South Western Newton and Benton Co. Pastorate

Dear Parishioners,

In this space today I am going to mention several items concerning our pastorate. First, I am very happy to announce that Veronikah Olvera has accepted the positon of Director of Evangelization. She was by far the best candidate in the judgement of the search committee. I look forward to working with Veronikah to enhance faith formation throughout the pastorate. I hope to introduce her at Masses in the next few weeks. Second, the Mass schedule for our pastorate will change as of the weekend of March 20-21st. Based on the conversations I have had with Parish Council members and others this schedule will better meet the needs of our pastorate than the one I made before arriving here. I realize that no schedule will please everyone. As of March 20-21 the schedule will be: Saturday – 5:00 PM Earl Park, 5:30 PM Oxford, Sunday – 7:30 AM Oxford, 8:00 AM Fowler, 9:30 AM Otterbein (will be livestreamed), 9:00 AM Kentland. ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL. There will be confessions from 4 – 4:45 PM in Earl Park and 4:30 – 5:15 pm in Oxford. Third, I do not know what we will be doing for the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Especially because we will not be able to have the Saturday Vigil Masses at the usual time, the schedule for Easter may be different. Fourth, a few people have suggested having regularly scheduled confessions in the churches which do not have them on Saturday afternoon. Although I am open to the possibility of doing that, I would encourage anyone who cannot come at the regularly scheduled times to make an appointment for confessions with Fr. Peter or me. We would be very happy to meet with you.

Fr. Richard Weisenberger