Miss-Delectable
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Praying for parish, deaf ministry
All are welcome at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Green Bay. However, on Sunday mornings at one service in particular, the deaf and hard of hearing are specially welcome. Father Guy Blair signs the message. It's something eight-year-old Michaela Kihntopf appreciates.
"It's sort of nice because now I can be a part of what everyone is saying," said Michaela.
Michaela is hard of hearing, and Monday evening she and her mother went to a prayer vigil at St. John's. The vigil was held while members of the parish council met with a representative from the Diocese.
"It's also very wonderful for us to be able to bring our younger daughter who's four as well who's hearing and she also gets the opportunity to learn sign language," said Michelle Kihntopf, Michaela's mother.
Father Guy Blair, who did not respond to our requests for an interview, is the priest at St. John's. However, the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay recently announced Father Blair will be pastoring St. Paul Parish in Combined Locks, effective this September.
"It's really a matter, not necessarily always of coming up with absolutely the best decision for a particular parish community as much as it is an optimal solution for all of the diocese," said Deacon Tim Reilly, Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.
Reilly also says Father Blair's appointment will place him in a larger, more centrally located parish.
"The decision of reassigning pastors is never easy," said Reilly.
"A move of the deaf community at this time would undermine and dissolve the very model that has been developed over these past four years," signed Jean Laux, a member of the St. John's Parish Council. "We look at this as a great opportunity for the bishop to show respect and continue to strengthen the faith of the deaf who have been neglected in the past by reversing this decision to uproot the deaf community."
While the Diocese is reporting a priest shortage, those at the prayer vigil are hoping the decision to transfer Father Blair will be reversed.
The Diocese says Tuesday it will announce who will replace Father Blair as the priest at St. John the Evangelist.
All are welcome at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Green Bay. However, on Sunday mornings at one service in particular, the deaf and hard of hearing are specially welcome. Father Guy Blair signs the message. It's something eight-year-old Michaela Kihntopf appreciates.
"It's sort of nice because now I can be a part of what everyone is saying," said Michaela.
Michaela is hard of hearing, and Monday evening she and her mother went to a prayer vigil at St. John's. The vigil was held while members of the parish council met with a representative from the Diocese.
"It's also very wonderful for us to be able to bring our younger daughter who's four as well who's hearing and she also gets the opportunity to learn sign language," said Michelle Kihntopf, Michaela's mother.
Father Guy Blair, who did not respond to our requests for an interview, is the priest at St. John's. However, the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay recently announced Father Blair will be pastoring St. Paul Parish in Combined Locks, effective this September.
"It's really a matter, not necessarily always of coming up with absolutely the best decision for a particular parish community as much as it is an optimal solution for all of the diocese," said Deacon Tim Reilly, Catholic Diocese of Green Bay.
Reilly also says Father Blair's appointment will place him in a larger, more centrally located parish.
"The decision of reassigning pastors is never easy," said Reilly.
"A move of the deaf community at this time would undermine and dissolve the very model that has been developed over these past four years," signed Jean Laux, a member of the St. John's Parish Council. "We look at this as a great opportunity for the bishop to show respect and continue to strengthen the faith of the deaf who have been neglected in the past by reversing this decision to uproot the deaf community."
While the Diocese is reporting a priest shortage, those at the prayer vigil are hoping the decision to transfer Father Blair will be reversed.
The Diocese says Tuesday it will announce who will replace Father Blair as the priest at St. John the Evangelist.