For Heaven's Sake: Fr. Trammell's Blog

Thanks for a great Carnival!

2014-06-22T10:27:00.000-04:00

Family Time

2014-06-19T12:54:00.000-04:00

A sampling of my brother-in-law and my nephews enjoying the large playground on campus. Evidently I built it just for them with my bare hands.

Being with them reminded me how important family really is. This is why we founded Home Life here. Families that are loving and healthy prepare us for a happy and holy life!

Wednesday night at the Carnival

2014-06-19T07:36:00.000-04:00

Note the thermometer in the food tent. Thanks to all our volunteers, especially those who brave triple digit temperatures!

Carnival 2014!

2014-06-17T07:34:00.001-04:00

The Carnival has begun!

Happy Father's Day

2014-06-15T08:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day to all of the fathers of the parish. May St. Joseph intercede for you and guide you as you strive to be the leaders and protectors of your families.

And a special happy Father's Day to my own Dad. I love you!

Happy Summer

2014-06-13T09:21:00.002-04:00

Thank you very much for the magnificent going away that you gave me and Father Kimtis last weekend. This weekend we give thanksgiving for the end of the academic year for all our parishioners and the graduation of our 8th graders from the Academy. Finally, we begin our parish carnival! Happy summer St. Gregory's!

Congratulations to the Class of 2014

I'll flip the switch for the Carnival this weekend. Join the fun, June 16th - 21st!

Kindergarten Graduation

2014-06-09T08:53:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to some of my favorite students of the Academy on graduating from kindergarten. Aren't they cute?

Thank you

2014-06-06T09:14:00.002-04:00

Recently, Fr. Kimtis and I have heard many thankful and encouraging stories about our service to you over the years. I have been deeply touched by how Jesus Christ; working through the ministry of the priesthood; has nourished, forgiven, encouraged, taught, and consoled His people. Thank you for all of your kind words and your good wishes for the future. The Holy Spirit is certainly present here at St. Gregory's.

St. Gregory the Great Academy

2014-05-27T08:59:00.002-04:00

As we move through this Easter season, the end of the academic year is quickly approaching. This is a good time to evaluate how well your child’s school is partnering with you as parents in your role as primary educators in the Faith. If you are looking for a learning environment in which our Catholic faith permeates every class of every day, now is a good time to consider enrollment in St. Gregory the Great Academy.

Do not allow finances to be a barrier to learning more about the Academy; financial assistance is available. Contact the Academy Main Office (609-587-1131 or
sfurman@stgregorythegreat.org) for more information or to set up a tour. I believe sending your children to the Academy is an investment that will bear fruit as each alumnus takes what he or she learns here into living healthy, happy, and holy lives. Catholic education is an investment that lasts a lifetime!

Happy Memorial Day

2014-05-24T18:57:00.000-04:00

A heartfelt thanks to all of our veterans on this Memorial Day weekend. Please take some time out from barbecues, shopping, and being with friends and family to remember our war dead who made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard the freedom that we enjoy every day. God bless our country.

Congratulations!

2014-05-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

This weekend we had our final sessions of First Holy Communion. Our parish congratulates these boys and girls as they grow closer to Our Lord through receiving Jesus in the Eucharist.

Our parish also rejoiced in the ordination of John Isaac to the Order of Deacon on May 10th. As a Deacon, John will join six other men in our parish in serving all of us in this capacity. Our deacons are particularly bright and sound men. They are truly a blessing to me in my pastoral care for the parish. They assist with wedding and baptismal preparation as well as the celebration of those sacraments. They are heavily involved in doing wake services, assisting at funeral masses and doing the committals at the cemetery. All of this, in addition to their presence at Sunday masses and their involvement in their own respective ministries. Deacon John we give thanks to God for His call for you to serve at His altar. May Our Lord and Lady grant you and your wife Mary Ann many years of holy service!

Happy Mother's Day!

2014-05-11T19:29:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of our parishioners who perform the role of mother. A special greeting to my own Mom! I love you!

Deacon John Isaac

2014-05-10T13:37:00.002-04:00

Today I attended the ordination of Deacon John Isaac. I saw three of our own deacons and many parishioners in attendance. Here are some nice close ups of John and his wife Mary Ann. Congratulations to both of you. The parish gives thanks for you!

Try to attend the Mass of Thanksgiving for Deacon Isaac, Sunday May 11th at noon, if you can.

Priest Assignments

2014-04-25T13:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Parish Family,

It is with mixed emotions that I share a change in priest assignments for St. Gregory the Great Church, effective July 1, 2014. Fr. Kimtis, who has served as our Parochial Vicar for the past two years, with particular care for the liturgical life of the parish, will be assigned to Rome for studies in Canon Law. Fr. Kimtis has been a valued partner to me in his time here, serving as the second in command for our parish. I wish him well in his new endeavor and recognize his time spent studying will greatly enrich his future ministry.

His studies should last for three years, at which point he is expected to return to the Diocese of Trenton for another assignment. At this time, it is not clear if a new Parochial Vicar will be assigned to succeed Fr. Kimtis and, if so, who it will be. However, be assured that Fr. Vala and Fr. Jay Bowden will continue to serve at St. Gregory’s, while Fr. Mike Hall will continue his studies and maintain St. Gregory’s as his residence when he is in the diocese.

In addition, after serving for five years as your Pastor, I have asked Bishop O’Connell to assign me to a six-month sabbaticalto complete my thesis defense for a Lictentiate in Sacred Theology in Moral Theology at Catholic University of America, as well as finishing my Masters in Educational Administration at Monmouth University. As part of the sabbatical, I am pleased to be taking up residence in Monmouth County, near where I was raised. Experience has told me that in sharing this news, I need to make it clear that there is no personal crisis. I simply feel that this is a good moment for me to take time away to study and rest. When I return from sabbatical, I entrust myself to God’s providential care for my next assignment.

Fr. Michael McClane, Parochial Vicar of St. Paul’s in Princeton, will take over the role of Administrator of the parish on July 1. I know Fr. McClane fairly well since we studied together at Catholic University, and I’m pleased to tell you that you are getting a terrific priest and wonderful person as your administrator.

It has been a great honor to serve you. I am especially pleased with the care given to our liturgy; your service and outreach in our community; our vibrant faith-formation programs; the dedication of our parish leadership and staff; and the excellent Catholic education offered at the Academy and in our Religious Education Program. Most importantly, I have been blessed to share in your baptisms, weddings, funerals, First Eucharists, Confirmations, confessions and anointings for the past five years.

My role as Pastor of this family has been the greatest privilege of my life. I feel that we have achieved much together and I leave a great parish to continue to grow with all of your help and support. I apologize for any lack of zeal in my ministry that created obstacles to the spiritual growth of anyone I was to serve. Above all, please know that I love this parish and each of you deeply.

The trustees and parish staff will be planning a joint farewell for Fr. Kimtis and me in early June. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

Change is never easy. I acknowledge that there will be some anxiety and disappointment and, hopefully, excitement about good things to come as well. Please pray for all of your priests. St. Gregory the Great, pray for us!

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Ian W. Trammell

Prayer Shawl Ministry

2014-04-24T16:25:00.001-04:00

I made a visit to our Prayer Shawl Ministry today. Each of the shawls and blankets are handmade by the ladies in the group while they pray the rosary and offer other prayers for the comfort of those were sick or lonely. I was impressed by the quiet care of that these ladies give to those in need in our parish and beyond. What a wonderful example of the care and concern for our brothers and sisters.

I even got the gift of the little bunny pictured. Thank you for including me, ladies. If you know how to crochet and are interested in joining this group, please see our website for more information.

Easter lambs

2014-04-19T18:08:00.001-04:00

What are the chances that hours before the Easter Vigil I went to go pick up some fresh eggs and cheese for the Easter feast (Pasch) from a farm in Lawrenceville and I found two baby lambs? I named them Kevin and Tom after our own Fathers Kimtis and Vala. I am investigating Hamilton's livestock regulations to see if we can bring them here! :-)

Sacred Triduum

2014-04-18T17:44:00.002-04:00

My experience of the Sacred Triduum has been deeply moving. I find that my prayer has incredible depth. I am so very blessed to have my mother here with me and other family and friends coming to celebrate Easter. May each of you also experience this depth of emotion and fullest of faith in these days. I love you all. Happy Easter!

Living Stations of the Cross

2014-04-17T18:05:00.002-04:00

This morning I attended the living stations of the cross produced by our Academy. It was a truly moving experience. I'm so very proud of all of the students who participated. Thanks to Father Kimtis and the seventh grade Academy teachers for all that they did to make it possible.

Chrism Mass

2014-04-15T06:49:00.002-04:00

Last night your priests attended the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral. We renewed our sacred promises and assisted as our Bishop blessed the sacred oils. From this the Mass takes it's name, as the sacred chrism is consecrated. Our own Nancy Breeze brought up the oil of the catechumens. Thank you for all your support for your priests as we serve you.

Palm Sunday

2014-04-12T15:34:00.005-04:00

As we celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, my hope is that every family enters deeply into the mysteries of our own redemption. Immerse yourself in these sacred rites.

Campus improvements

2014-04-11T07:39:00.001-04:00

Let there be light! We have been able to complete all of the projects that we started this week including replacing all of the lights in the church, pouring concrete, and grading the driveway in back of the Academy with fresh asphalt millings.

Special thanks to the Bottoni company for all of their work with the concrete. We really appreciate it!

Campus improvements continue

2014-04-09T06:43:00.002-04:00

Another project is to smooth the rear driveway behind the Academy with these hills of donated asphalt filings thanks to Mr. Tim McGough.

Sidewalk repairs underway

2014-04-08T14:07:00.001-04:00

This is a very busy week here on campus. There are great men removing and pouring fresh concrete in advance of Palm Sunday. It was a tough winter but we are keeping the campus beautiful and safe.

Clerical collar for deacons

2014-04-01T11:13:00.000-04:00

Bishop O'Connell has communicated that from now on permanent deacons may wear a clerical collar when doing their diaconal duties. Deacon Andy is the first of our deacons to present himself in a Roman collar. You will notice that they wear a gray clerical shirt with a small cross and red stole on it.

Doesn't Deacon Andy look handsome?

Holy Spirit guide us!

2014-04-01T06:11:00.001-04:00

As I was driving around Monmouth County's shore area today during my day off, I came across this private residence. Holy Spirit guide us, indeed.