After more than 20 years of ministry in Vermont, the Province is concluding its service in the Catholic communities of the Diocese of Burlington at the end of June. Over those years, we shared the Good News with the parishioners of St. Peter (Rutland), St. Bridget and St. Stanislaus (West Rutland), St. Dominic (Proctor), St. Alphonsus (Pittsford), and Our Lady of Good Help (Brandon), along with the students and families of Mount St. Joseph Academy in Rutland. We are grateful for the many blessings the people of God have shared with us.

The friars celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving with Bishop John J. McDermott on June 17 at St. Peter Church. We thank God for the privilege of serving for a generation in the parishes of the Diocese of Burlington. Click here for photos.

Br. Maurice Moreau, our vicar provincial minister, served in Vermont for nine years. He gave the following remarks at the Mass of thanksgiving. 

This is my first opportunity to exercise publicly my duties in this new role as vicar provincial minister. Br. James Peterson, our newly elected provincial minister, was unable to be here tonight due to his commitment to the Diocese of Portland, Me., as he transitions out of the role of chancellor for the diocese and moves to White Plains, N.Y., to assumes the duties of provincial minister.

A little history on how we ended up in Vermont. It is befitting that we recall our “checkered” past. Twenty years ago, Br. Timothy Jones was vocation director and served on the provincial council when Br. Michael Banks was provincial minister. Brother Tim thought that if the Province of St. Mary is to be truly the New York and New England province, then we should have a friary in every state of the Province. Twenty years ago, Salvatore Matano was Bishop of Burlington and had the conviction that Vermont had become mission territory. At a meeting with Brother Michael and Brother Tim, Bishop Matano knew enough about the Capuchins to say to them, “Capuchins have a missionary charism, and if that is so, then the Capuchins should be here in Vermont.” He went on to say: “I will give you any parish you desire.” No parish was off the table. The newly renovated St. Peter Church in Rutland gained Michael Banks’ attention. (Brother Michael appreciates the clean and new.) Mount St. Joseph Academy, across the street from the church, sealed the deal for Tim Jones. And thus we came.

Br. Theodosius Corley was first Capuchin pastor of both St. Peter in Rutland and St. Dominic in Proctor. His associate was Br. Patrick Glavin, who was succeeded by Br. Raynold Thibodeau. Br. Thomas Houle succeeded Brother Ted as pastor both St. Peter and St. Dominic and was assisted by Brother Ray.

During Brother Tom’s tenure we took on the responsibility of St. Alphonsus in Pittsford, and Br. Richard Crawley became the first Capuchin pastor of St. Alphonsus. When Brother Richard departed, Br. Michael Ramos assumed the pastorship in Pittsford. However, for a time, after Brother Michael’s departure, Brother Tom was the only Capuchin living in Vermont, and with that, we relinquished the responsibility of St. Alphonus as well as St. Dominic.

When I arrived in Vermont almost nine years ago, the Capuchins assumed the ministerial responsibilities for Our Lady of Good Help in Brandon. I became the pastor of both Our Lady of Good Help in Brandon and St. Alphonsus in Pittsford.

Br. John Tokaz succeeded Brother Tom as pastor at St. Peter. During Brother John’s time, acquiring visas for international priests became an issue. While retaining his pastorship here at St. Peter, Brother John became the weekend help-out priest for St. Dominic in Proctor and the two West Rutland churches, St. Bridget and St. Stanislaus.

Almost three years ago, Brother Richard returned to Vermont and became the administrator of St. Bridget, St. Dominic and St. Stanislaus. And with John Tokaz’s departure, Brother Richard and I took on the shared responsibly for St. Peter. Now that is truly a “checkered” past!

There are a total of 12 friars who served in Vermont during our 20-year tenure. Some of them, in particular those mentioned above, spent significant time ministering here in the Rutland Deanery. Other brothers, such as Brs. Samuel Fuller, Victor Garcia, Timothy Jones, and Joseph Yakimovich, might have spent less time in Vermont, yet all have left their mark.

Due to a decline of friars in active ministry, we must depart Vermont. The past 20 years has been time well-spent. We all wish things could be different.

On behalf of the friars, I would like to express our grateful thanks to Bishop John McDermott, Bishop Christopher Coyne, and Bishop Matano. Through the years, your support, encouragement, and gracious understanding have not gone unnoticed. Both the Province and the Diocese of Burlington face similar challenges that need not be named; we know what they are. We the friars of the Province of St. Mary promise to keep you and the faithful of Vermont in our prayers, and we ask you do the same for us.

To the people we have served in the parishes of Our Lady of Good Help in Brandon, St. Alphonsus in Pittsford, St. Dominic in Proctor, St. Bridget and St. Stanislaus in West Rutland, and here at St. Peter, Rutland: Your gracious welcome and your generosity with time, talent, and treasure is remarkable. Your expressions of care and concern for each one of us will be remembered and always cherished. May God reward you for your faithfulness and love. Pax et bonum.