Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I write this to you on the Feast of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of parish priests. It is a great joy to have been assigned here, to the Parish of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Our Lady.

For the past ten years, this parish has been considered by me to be my home away from home. Often I have come here
both to the Immaculate Conception Church and Assumption Church and have celebrated Mass in the summer, when on vacation, and occasionally on days off. Thus, for me, I have been assigned by Cardinal Dolan to a place I consider home and to people I consider my family already.

I look forward to working with you as a Parochial Vicar, that we might grow together more and more in our love for Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and strengthen each other in the task of building up the Kingdom of God.
I am deeply indebted to Fr. Eric Raaser for his support and friendship over all these years. He truly is a priest after the Lord’s own Heart! I look forward to working side-by-side with our new Pastor, Fr. Anthony Sorgie, another friend and
great priest.

May Our Blessed Lady lead us all to a more and more profound love of her Divine Son.

Fr. Paul Michael Waddell