St. James Catholic Church

Dear St. James Parish Family,

Blessed John Henry Newman, the English Cardinal, wrote that God chose men, as opposed to angels, to serve as priests and bishops so that the entire world could see that grace works through sinners, and transforms them. It is true, priests are human, or as the saying goes, all-too human! You will see, I am no angel. However, I do believe that God works through the priesthood in a special way, but also through each of us. The Gospels tell us about a very unusual and exciting God. God recreates us with grace, but shows his power over darkness by allowing broken human beings to be agents of the very change he works in us. How inconceivably humble, and how truly thrilling!

Each of us, in our respective vocations, are part of the new creation, a civilization of love, or as St. Augustine called it, the City of God. There's even a song about it! Perhaps you have heard it sung in Church? Let Us Build the City of God! I especially like it because the work of renewal isn't simply the priest's job, or your job, it is our job, together. Whatever challenges or blessings we face, we do so, together. So, I choose first, to introduce myself to you in this way, as someone sent to journey among you, and alongside you, beset with the many of the same struggles and challenges, just like anyone else.

And I am excited to be with you. I look forward to meeting you, and I hope that you will be patient with me. For the last eight years, I have had the privilege to be the pastor of St. Paul University Parish at Wichita State. Obviously, college ministry is very different from the normal rhythm of parish life. I hope to adapt; and as I am told, to do so with all haste, since school starts in less than two months. I can tell you, I am not perfect, but I will give you my all, everyday.

Before this, I was associate pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes in Pittsburg, and also St. Thomas Aquinas in Wichita. I love being a priest, and was ordainted on May 26, 2007. I take solace in sharing my ordination day with St. Philip Neri, a priest, who had a great sense of humor; and I was always told as a seminarian, "that as long as the Lord was willing, and the Bishop kept a sense of humor, indeed I would be ordained." What a great 11 years it has been! I hope for many more. Now, I have the privilege to be the pastor of St. James, a parish with a rich history, and a lot more history to make.

I attribute the discovery of my vocation to a good home, good parents, and many people who witnessed to me, throughout their life, mostly by example, the joy of the Gospel. Growing up on a farm, in Haysville (sadly the town is not named after me or my family) I learned to work, to value the importance of integrity, and to see things grow!

A person I admire most, and love to talk about, is Pope John Paul I (Albino Luciani). He was pope only for 34 days. The day after he was elected, he gave his first Sunday Angelus message. I would simply like to echo something he said: "I must seek to serve the Church. I hope that you will help me with your prayers."

God bless you,
Fr. John N. Hay