Time for change
As 2018 marks the 23^rd year since Father Matthew O’Donnell became a priest. It also is his 6^th year being involved with both CSA (Catholic Student Association) on campus and the parish of All Saints Catholic Church. He has been getting to know students both on campus and in church. He holds a weekly Wednesday mass on campus and this week marked his last.
Earlier this month O’Donnell broke the news to both CSA and his parishioners at All Saints Parish. He explains his reasoning for leaving, “I am taking a sabbatical for health reasons. If anyone’s lived in the valley, they know that the valley air is terrible and it’s affected me so I want to clear up my lungs and feel better.”
O’Donnell goes on to say that he won’t be assigned to a specific church but instead “bounce around parishes and help in small ways.” He will be heading home to visit family and to travel a bit.
David Sandler (Senior and President of CSA) has been a part of the group for two years and has gotten to know O’Donnell over the years. He says “CSA has been an organization on campus for fours before father Matt, so it’s been a group for ten years.” He goes on to say that “It was Father Matt who really brought organization to CSA and he helped it become an actual group here on campus.”
To fill the shoes of O’Donnell will be tough but the priest that will take his place is definitely up for the challenge. Father Bill McDonald was the former lead teacher in a seminary in New Jersey, a former pastor at St. Stanislaus in Modesto, and will be the new pastor for All Saints for the upcoming year.
McDonald will be welcomed at the Parish festival, which will take place next month on the seventh. Sandler says that “It’s a great way to get to know the new pastor and new Chaplin for the church, so come to the festival and enjoy the festivities.”
The following are tips for Father Bill:
Matthew O’Donnell: “Be with the students, hang out with the students, listen to their stories, and be a part of their lives. I know he’s a great priest so I don’t have any worries.”
Maria Esquivel (Liberal Studies): “Love to work with the youth and be energetic.”
Barbra Harr (Pre-nursing): “Just to be open and…nice.”
Joshua Lesan (Psychology): “Be available for students and what they need, get involved, and just be there.”
David Sandler (Psychology): “Always be open to what the college students come with. Being in college ministry, you’ll see people across the board, some struggling through school, life struggles, to relationship struggles. So if you can lead us with love as our pastor, you can really change the hearts here.”
CSA will be having a Going Away Party for Father Matt this Sunday the 23^rd at 7:15 pm at All Saints Parish, 4040 McKenna Ave Turlock. Right across the street from the dorms. They normally meet Sundays at 7:15 after mass. There will also be an upcoming retreat coming up in November for all college students around the 11^th but a day is not yet confirmed.