Fr. Carter

Last week, Bishop O'Connell began a telephone call with Msgr. Gervasio by saying "Tom, I am calling to make your life a little more complicated." The call was not so much about Monsignor as another. The call was to inform him of his intention to appoint Fr. Todd Carter as Administrator of Holy Innocents Parish, Neptune, effective September 13. This great honor and duty Fr. Carter has accepted.

Due to the shortage of available priests, the bishop is unable to appoint a replacement for Fr. Carter. This vivdly "brings home to us" the challenges that the diocese is facing. This is why Faith in Our Future is such a serious process. This change will affect our own pastoral ministry and we will address this in the coming weeks.

We shall want to congratulate Fr. Carter on his appointment and for the confidence the Bishop has placed in him. Today we offer to him our profound thanks for his ministry among us from the day of his ordination...a ministry truly exceptional in its love and fidelity to the Church, its people, and in its witness of prayer. Our loss is great but it will be Neptune's gain.

In the coming weeks we shall arrange an opportunity for all our parishioners to thank Fr. Carter and to wish him well as he opens the next chapter in his priestly ministry! May Our Lady and St. Anthony accompany him down Route 33...to Neptune and his new flock!