A Message from the Pastor
Rev. Raymond Allender, S.j.
April 2019
My Sisters and Brothers,
Fr. Frank Buckley, S.J. used to love my image of St. Agnes as the "Jewel of the Haight." Yes, that is what she has been, is, and will be. This year we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of her dedication. If only the walls of this beautiful church could speak and tell us what she has heard and what she has replied through the years. How many words of grateful or maybe broken hearts have been spoken and what tender responses have our parishioners heard? Yes, through baptisms, weddings, funerals, world wars, and personal struggles, St. Agnes Church has ben a haven and refuge for followers of Our Lord.
One of the great graces in my own personal life has been twelve years of ministry in this jewel. The people have taught me what it means to be a friend and to be a priest. The inclusiveness we express – All are Welcome – is Jesus' message. The mercy we extend is God's essence. Whether it be the homeless, a sanctuary family or those excluded by culture or church, we welcome them with open hearts and hands. This is our mission always.
So, my sisters and brothers, let us continue to be Christ, to be a "Jewel in the Haight."
My Sisters and Brothers,
Fr. Frank Buckley, S.J. used to love my image of St. Agnes as the "Jewel of the Haight." Yes, that is what she has been, is, and will be. This year we celebrate the 125th Anniversary of her dedication. If only the walls of this beautiful church could speak and tell us what she has heard and what she has replied through the years. How many words of grateful or maybe broken hearts have been spoken and what tender responses have our parishioners heard? Yes, through baptisms, weddings, funerals, world wars, and personal struggles, St. Agnes Church has ben a haven and refuge for followers of Our Lord.
One of the great graces in my own personal life has been twelve years of ministry in this jewel. The people have taught me what it means to be a friend and to be a priest. The inclusiveness we express – All are Welcome – is Jesus' message. The mercy we extend is God's essence. Whether it be the homeless, a sanctuary family or those excluded by culture or church, we welcome them with open hearts and hands. This is our mission always.
So, my sisters and brothers, let us continue to be Christ, to be a "Jewel in the Haight."
Fr. Ray Allender, S.J.
Pastor
Pastor