“Farewell”to Father Frank
"Farewell"to Father Frank
Council: 334 - AUGUSTA
Project Description:
On a cold, snowy day in Winter 2008-2009, Father (Brother Sir Knight) Francis J. Morin was appointed Administrator of the newly-formed Cluster Parish of St. Michael the Archangel, centered in Augusta. For the next nine-ans-a-half years, Fr. Frank has led the Parish through many changes. Two of the worship sites were closed (St. Leo and St. Andrews).
He has seen many Parochial Vicars arrive, learn, and then depart to further their ministries in other parishes. The inspired leadership he has imparted to them has enabled them to spread the Good News to other Catholics, and encouraged many other young men to seek a Divine Vocation as their calling.
He has opened channels of communication and encouraged inter-faith dialog with the Jewish, Muslim, and Protestant communities in the greater Kennebec Valley. He has greatly influenced, and expanded the outreach of, the Social Justice and Peace Commission of the Parish. He has brought his experiences of his early ministries as a Mission Priest to Bolivia to the parish, where it has had an impact of the mandate to help those in need, regardless of locale.
Since he arrived during a snowfall, it is only fitting that the other end of the climatic spectrum be observed. A reception in his honor was held on the hottest day of the year (outside temperatures were registering near 100 degrees F!). The members of the staff of the Pastoral Center, along with other Parish groups and organizations, hosted the reception. Approximately 450+ family, friends, parishioners, and Clergy gathered to say “Goodbye,” “Adieu,” “Adios,” “Shalom,” and “Salem es Aleichem” to our dear friend, Brother Knight, Worthy Chaplain, and Reverend Clergy. He may be leaving us, but he will always be with us in our hearts, minds, and memories.
NB: Although he has officially “Retired,” he will still be actively serving the Diocese in his “copious free time.” He will be conducting Masses, in Spanish, throughout the State of Maine.
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