Last fall, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin appointed Father Mark G. Gadoury to serve as our new State Chaplain.
Many of you have heard by now that Father Joe Paquette has retired from his position as State Chaplain. Father Joe was State Chaplain for almost 20 years and was an exemplary spiritual leader and enthusiastic proponent of our Faith and of our Order. And, while he will be missed as an everyday leader of our State Membership, he will still be around as he loves the Knights of Columbus as an organization and as individual members.
Thank you, Father Joe, for your many years of service to the Knights of Columbus!
Father Gadoury is newly ordained to the priesthood, having received his ordination this past June 4th. Father Gadoury joined the Knights of Columbus while in Seminary and is a member of Lincoln Council #4005. He currently serves as the Assistant Pastor at St. Luke’s and at Holy Angels in Barrington.
Father Gadoury said that when Father Joe called him to tell him that the Knights had requested him to be their new State Chaplain, he immediately felt very honored to be asked. “I am more than honored and excited to be a part of this group of men and their mission, and look forward to the great work that lies ahead,” he said.
Father Gadoury said that throughout his time as a seminarian and now as a priest, he experienced firsthand how the Knights have been so supportive to vocations and the clergy. “And I witnessed throughout these past years the great charitable work the Knights do, not only throughout our diocese, but throughout the Universal Church — whether it be supporting life, families, the poor, vocations...the list goes on,” he said.
Bishop Tobin said in his appointment letter to Father Gadoury, “As you know, the Knights of Columbus is an outstanding organization of faithful Catholic men who love and support the Church and provide many important services to the broader community. I have no doubt that our availability and your ministry will be a great blessing to the Knights of Columbus and will help them to maintain a clear spiritual vision and to be strong in the practice of their Catholic Faith."
Thank you, Father Gadoury, for becoming our State Chaplain. We look forward to many years of your stewardship!
|