March 16, 2025

Dear Parish Family:

So … what were you doing five years ago?  Can you believe it has been five years since we all learned what COVID-19 was?  The word pandemic became part of our daily vocabulary.   The Coronavirus took loved ones, kept loved ones apart, and limited gathering with loved ones, even for funerals. Health and wellness, fear, uncertainty, isolation, disruption, and anxiety has had an impact and took it’s toll.  We prayerfully remember all those affected by the Coronavirus and all that surrounded it.  We hold them in our thoughts and hearts in a special way today. 

We learned what social distancing meant and how to use social media in a new way. We learned what a N-95 mask was,  how to unmute ourselves in a ZOOM meeting, and how to go to work and school online. We all became tech savvy very quickly.  On Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 11:30 a.m., we live-streamed our first Sunday Mass with people still in the church.  On Monday, March 16, 2020, we switched to total live streaming Mass each day from our chapel. We prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Stations of the Cross virtually. We made visits to our Glass Chapel, broadcasted a weekly talk show, and had curbside spaghetti dinners.   We made it through and are stronger for it.

Bryan Pritchard joined our team just three weeks before the COVID Shutdown went into effect. Bryan’s background in communications and media made our transition to “virtual church” seamless.  His creative and critical thinking guided us through very challenging times. His background in management and business brought us to a positive cash position. His ease in building relationships renewed a sense of community in our parish. Bryan has been instrumental in righting the ship at Good Shepherd. He has served and led with distinction and humility amid personal tragedy and loss.  Bryan retired from Good Shepherd in December 2023 to pursue a new business opportunity with his family.  Bryan graciously stepped back in last summer to help cover administrative and financial responsibilities during a change in staff.  True to form, Bryan has kept us on the right path plus leading new initiatives and strengthening current ones. 

Bryan’s family business venture is growing and needs him back fulltime.   In fact, the Pritchards are this year’s sponsor for our fish fry t-shirts.   We are thankful for all he has been and done for us. Bryan has been invaluable to Good Shepherd over the last five years. He will continue to be part of the Good Shepherd family. We wish him all the best!

Over the last several months, we have been reviewing our priorities, operations, functions, and what we need to do to keep Good Shepherd on a positive path forward and advance the ministry and services we provide. I have been working with a Human Resource and Management Consultant and will be able to announce our team structure next week. 

Grace and peace!

Father Neil Sullivan