Fr. Lambert Assigned to Quincy and Fr. Patrick Assigned Here

by Father Joe

Fr. Lambert Assigned to Quincy
and Fr. Patrick Assigned Here

In case you missed the major news story in our parishes, allow me to quickly recap what I have announced in this column recently (and verbally at the Masses I have celebrated). Two weeks ago, we formally announced that Fr. Lambert would be receiving a new assignment this spring, after completing five years with St. Martha and St. Mary Parishes (longer than the average assignment for recently ordained priests). Last week, this column focused on the challenge that decreasing active worship in parishes is having on all church vocations, including holy matrimony, Consecrated Life (sisters/brothers), and Holy Orders. With the number of diocesan priests continuing to drop (and 40% of them in “senior priest/retirement” status), countries like ours now must rely on helpers from places in the world where the Church is stronger and there are more priests and religious.
Today, we recall that Fr. Lambert is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, and our Archdiocese is announcing that he will begin a new assignment at Divine Mercy Parish in Quincy on June 1. While he will be serving “only” one parish, that includes ministry in their three churches from the former Quincy parishes that merged in 2020: Sacred Heart, St. Mary, and St. Ann. If his new pastor agrees to adjust Fr. Lambert’s days off to coincide with his classes, this would allow him to continue teaching at Stonehill on the side. And for our parishioners who may wish to visit him, Quincy is a relatively short drive compared with other parts of our archdiocese!
As I mentioned last week, earlier in this assignment process I was guessing the chances of our collaborative getting a second priest were only 50/50... but thankfully that has changed. Our Clergy Personnel office has worked hard to find a priest for us, and I am happy to announce that they have found Fr. Patrick Chibuko from Nigeria to serve St. Martha and St. Mary Parishes as our next parochial vicar (associate pastor), also effective June 1. After a few years in Nigerian parishes, Fr. Patrick was sent for further studies in liturgy, then served as a professor and department head in the Catholic University of West Africa. He also helped establish an institute for Catholic evangelization in his homeland. After thirty years in academia and a weekend assistant in parishes, Fr. Patrick is eager to return to parish life full-time. Our parishes can now benefit from his varied experiences because he asked his bishop in Nigeria to allow him to help the Church in the United States as a parish priest.
We had started planning receptions in both parishes to celebrate Fr. Lambert’s time and ministry in St. Martha and St. Mary Parishes; however, he has requested to not have any parish receptions before his transfer. Therefore, please take advantage of Fr. Lambert’s desire to make his remaining Masses here the celebration of his time and ministry with us. You can do this by participating joyfully and enthusiastically in the liturgies (like he does), and by taking time to talk with him after the Mass has ended. We will publish his new contact information closer to when he starts in Quincy.

Glenna Butler
Former Staff Member and Vocalist at St. Martha,
Passes to the Lord

We just recently learned that Glenna Butler unexpectedly passed to the Lord a few weeks ago from a heart attack. She served St. Martha Parish for many years, both in the rectory and in lending her voice to praise the Lord in our music ministry. There will be a funeral and Mass for her on June 20 at 10am at St. Mary in North Attleboro. Condolences may be sent to her daughter, Cassie, at 5021 Robinwood Dr, Huntington Beach, CA 92649. May Glenna rest in peace, and may the Holy Spirit – the Consoler – be with her family and all those who love her. Amen.