Goodbye and Thank You from Fr. Patrick

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I would like to offer my heartfelt gratitude as I step down today from my role as pastor of Nativity of Our Lord after over 15 years together. It has been my great honor to help lead the parishioners and students of Nativity to follow Our Lord ever closer. And what a great 15 years it’s been!

Thank you to the parish staff members, deacons, and my brother priests whom I have served alongside over this past decade and a half. Thank you and congratulations to Deacon Russ Kocemba, who is retiring himself from active diaconal ministry this month after almost 20 years of service, and over half of them at Nativity.  

And thank you to all the many, many volunteers who go above and beyond in order to make this parish the special community it is.

I would also like to offer my particular thanks to all who gave to the retirement fund that was presented to me this month on the occasion of the Picnic on the Plaza.  

Special thanks to the Men’s Club, NCCW, and Pastoral Council for their thoughtfulness in organizing it.  

I am humbled by your generosity and will be blessed by the gift for years to come!

Finally, please know of my continued prayers for all of you and your families; the parish leadership led by my worthy successor, Fr. Rolf Tollefson; and all Nativity parishioners who have gone before us. 

Perhaps we will see each other around in the neighborhood, as I’ll be moving just down the road to the Byrne residence at the University of St. Thomas’s south campus.  

Most importantly, may we all see each other again someday in heaven!

May God bless you this week and always.

Fr. Patrick Hipwell, Pastor Emeritus of Nativity of Our Lord

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A previous version was published in the June 25 parish bulletin