The Rev. Peter DeBellis will soon be leaving Auburn to begin his new assignment in the southern California area. DeBellis has many friends in his hometown of Auburn, and he has done such a fine job serving here.

For St. Francis of Assisi parish, it is especially bittersweet; what an extraordinary blessing it has been for them to have a young man who was raised in St. Francis parish to return as the pastor.

They must be so very proud of him, and yet I know he will be terribly missed. I thought it would be nice to share with you his heartfelt farewell message of love and thanks as it appeared in the St. Francis of Assisi church bulletin on June 18.

“Last week at the weekend liturgies, I announced that I had received permission from Bishop Clark to leave and pursue the desire to work with those in need in the southern California area. As I have more information on the priest who will be assigned to our parish, I will let you know. But first, I want to thank all of you for your love and support during this transitional period. Your continual support of me and your willingness to share your priest with those in need is only a small reflection of your generosity and love for God, for his church and your faith.

I can not thank you for all that you have done for me; you have opened your hearts and your homes so that I have felt like one of the family; AND I HAVE! Now is the time for us to trust in God and his designs for our lives.

You know there is a lot of trusting in faith that I too must do as I make this move; otherwise it wouldn't be faith, would it? I have to trust that the new priest will bring his own gifts and charisma to the parish. I have to trust that you will welcome him and accept him and follow him as your new pastor.

I have to trust that the Parish Council and Finance Committee will help guide the new priest and this parish in the years to come. I have to trust in the people of St. Hyacinth's that they will welcome us and that we can work together to build a stronger and more vibrant faith community. I have to trust in the Holy Spirit, that he will lead and guide me.

In all of this, I am sure that the Lord; Father, Son and Holy Spirit will continue to be present with us in this time of transition. I want to thank Bishop Clark for his support, understanding and assistance in these endeavors.

And lastly, but not least, I want to thank all of you; especially your children, for the great gift of peace and joy that you all have given me ... and especially to the elderly and sick of our parish.

I know how much you have prayed for me, and I am eternally grateful. And I do and will always pray for all of you!

I would like to invite all of you to join me in a small celebration of thanksgiving for your faith and devotion to the parish and so that I may say good bye to you personally at a reception after the weekend Masses today and Sunday. Please come so that I may say thank you personally to all of you.

In Christ, Fr. DeBellis”

God bless you Father DeBellis, and thank you for all that you have done for our community. We will miss you and will keep you in our prayers always.

€ In other local parish news, we would like to welcome the newest members of the Auburn Catholic Community who were recently baptized.

They are: Connor Daniel Bellanca at Holy Family; Kylie Ann Deyo and Ian Scott Deyo at St. Hyacinth's; Kyle Jozef Denis Soroka, Vincent Alexander DeTomaso, Kaitlyn Grace Catalone, Olivia Rose Bennett at St. Mary's. The following children were baptized at Sacred Heart from January through May: Joli Dwyer, Kobe Hogan, Mason Porter, Jonah Wilbur, Noah Coleman, Ava Pinckney, Mason Deyneka, Owen Masello, Finley Hogan, Andrew Murphy, Juliana Darrow and Madilyn Masello.

Congratulations also to Our Lady of the Snow Parish in Weedsport who welcomed Alexander Joseph Moose and to St. Patrick's in Moravia who baptized Christopher John Conklin. God bless all of these little ones.

€ Congratulations are also in order for Erin Noga and Rob Harter who were married at St. Hyacinth's Church on June 3, and for Frank Golembeski and Milagro Circelli who will be married today at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Also to the following couples from the Good Shepherd Catholic Community who will soon be married this summer: Glen Kilcer and Maeve Gould, as well as Robert Dietel and Clara Norris. May Christ be with you all the days of your lives.

€ Summer time is here and that means parish picnics are starting to be organized. The following are just a few details about some of our local picnics coming up; St. Hyacinth's picnic is on from noon to 8 p.m. July 9 and music will be provided by Sound Playground.

The St. Alphonsus picnic is on Sunday, July 23, at Yawgerbrook Campground, and Sacred Heart parish will celebrate Sunday, Aug. 20. St. Mary's has chosen Tuesday, Aug. 15 because it is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which they will celebrate with Mass at the Owasco Fire House shelter at 5:30 p.m. followed by the picnic.

Holy Family will have its parish picnic on Sunday, Aug. 27 beginning with Mass at 11:15 a.m. and also at the Owasco Firehouse shelter.

€ St. Alphonsus will have a blessing of travelers and cars at all the Masses on the weekend of July 1 and 2 asking God to bless us with safe travels in all of our summertime adventures.

This is such a thoughtful way to begin summer vacations for everyone.

Have a nice week everyone and send me your good news. Remember God loves you so much.

“To love a person is to learn the song that is in their heart, and to sing it to them when they have forgotten.”

- Anonymous

Denise Bennett is a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Auburn. She can be reached at deniseb132@yahoo.com