May 9, 2023

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

It is with mixed emotions that I let you know that I have been asked to go to St. Anne’s Parish in Lodi starting July 1st, 2023. God will always be with us. Change is for the good even though initially it is difficult to understand. Priests will come and go but God will never leave us, and the presence of God is most vital to the life of the parish and the church. God is in control. God “works all things according to the counsel of His will,” (Eph. 1:11) and we all need to believe that. This pastoral transition is not happening outside of the will of God. Let us all trust in Him always and especially during this transitional time.

 

I thank every one of you for your love, friendship, care, support and understanding. I learned so much from each of you. St. Patrick’s is like my family. Here at this parish, I have nothing but good memories.

 

Fr. Suresh Ery is a good friend of mine. We studied in the same seminary for seven years and have been friends for almost 25 years. He has been in our diocese for more than 8 years. He worked as a Parochial Vicar at Presentation Parish in Stockton and at St. Patrick’s Parish in Angels Camp. He has been the school Chaplin at Central Catholic High School in Modesto and is now at St. Joseph’s Parish in Modesto. He is a diligent and dedicated priest working with his parishioners and students and will continue the same for the people of St. Patrick’s.

 

Fr. Suresh is a wonderful priest and a man of God and will be a great spiritual leader. I am sure you will like him very much, and with your support he will do wonders leading you all to Christ our Savior. Please keep him in your prayers, welcome him warmly and extend your cooperation to him. 

 

Let us keep one another in our prayers that we may grow and walk in the light of Christ.

 

I will miss you, but you will all be in my heart as wonderful sheep of Christ for the rest of my life.

 

Prayers,

Fr. Banka