Welcome our new pastor!

An Introduction from Fr. George

Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe that almost 34 years ago I came to Assumption parish in Fairport as a young parochial vicar (that’s the name we give to the young priest in a parish). It wasn’t my first assignment: Almost 37 years ago, after being ordained at St. Ambrose Church by Bishop Clark, I was sent to St. Mary’s Church in Corning.

At Assumption, Fr. Norris was the pastor, the new church had been open about three years (and yes the skylight in the center of the church leaked from the day the church was opened, but the carpet was green back in those days), and Fr. Charles Adams OFM was our senior priest in residence at the time. I remember so fondly those days working with
Fr. Norris and many of you who were around to remember Fairport back in those days.

When I left Assumption, I began my educational tour of duty, teaching High School with the Basilian Fathers, returning to become Pastor of the Church of the Epiphany in Sodus and St. Rose in Sodus Point. After that, I went to Harvard for my Master’s Degree and I came back to become Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca. Then I did a “two-for-one” when I was simultaneously Pastor of Blessed Trinity parish in Wolcott, Red Creek and Fair Haven, AND a full time grad student at Syracuse (Go Orange!).

When I had completed another Masters and a Doctoral degree, I landed a job at St. Bernard’s School of Theology where I taught for eight years, and served as President (while also teaching) for four more. While I was at St. Bernard’s, I had the honor of assisting Sr. Joan Cawley, SSJ, the Pastoral Administrator of Resurrection parish, providing all the priestly duties that you might expect, and where, up until Friday, I still have the privilege of presiding at all the weekday Masses. (And how our weekday Mass “gang” has grown over the years!) I’ve also been able to help Fr. Ed with the weekend Mass schedule when some other pastor had not already “booked” me to come to their parish to provide coverage. That has given me the vantage point of seeing, over the course of these twelve years, how many other parishes in our Diocese do things!

I remember quite vividly back in late February of this year when Fr. Ed’s retirement was announced and the diocese advertised the position of pastor. It got me thinking: “I wonder if the new guy will still want me to help at Resurrection and Assumption?” So, it was as far back as the cold and snow of winter that I decided I’d better talk to Bishop Matano to get his input. The rest, as they say, is history!

On the one hand, I am so thankful to be back full time at Assumption and Resurrection. It truly is comforting to know that there are so many wonderful people (some even 34 years young(er) looking than they were in 1984!). On the other hand, Fr. Ed Palumbos has done such a marvelous job for over the past 17 years at Assumption, and the past 4 at Resurrection, that it’s daunting to follow such a wonderfully talented and such a holy priest! But in a word, it’s thrilling to be back.

Please pray for me….and of course, you know I’ll be praying for you.
 
Rev. George Heyman