1. Death of a Dear Friend: We prayed and we prayed but the good Lord has finally taken our dear friend, that good and faithful dead horse Petition. My sweet spouse and I are mourning his loss. Meanwhile, Fre3d Capra remains in a coma. We hope we never have to tell him about poor Petition.
2. Why? You might be wondering what brought on the demise our dear dead horse. Perhaps the following from the official Diocese of Arlington site will explain it all. Petition truly hoped that he would see the name of our Pastor on this list, but it was not so:
2017 Clergy Announcement
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, has announced the following clergy appointments effective Wednesday, June 28, 2017, except where noted differently.
Pastors
Reverend Brian G. Bashista – from Parochial Vicar at Saint James Parish in Falls Church to Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lake Ridge.
Reverend Edward R. Horkan – from Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Luray to Pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Luray.
Reverend Stanley J. Krempa – from Pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester to Pastor of the newly established Parish of Saint Bridget of Ireland in Berryville, effective July 12, 2017.
Reverend Bjorn C. Lundberg – from Chaplain at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries, with residence at Holy Family Parish in Dale City, to Pastor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester, effective July 12, 2017.
Reverend David P. Meng – from Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Lake Ridge to Pastor of Saint Timothy Parish in Chantilly.
Reverend Keith M. O’Hare – from Service in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic to Pastor of Saint Louis Parish in Alexandria.
Reverend Matthew H. Zuberbueler – from Pastor of Saint Louis Parish in Alexandria to Pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church.
Parochial Vicars
Reverend Milton R. Acevedo – from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge to Parochial Vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria.
Reverend Thomas B. Cavanaugh – from Parochial Vicar at Saint Theresa Parish in Ashburn to Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge.
Reverend Phillip M. Cozzi – from Parochial Vicar at Saint Timothy Parish in Chantilly to Parochial Vicar at Saint James Parish in Falls Church.
Reverend Alex Diaz – from Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish in Dale City to Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge.
Reverend Michael J.R. Kelly – from Chaplain at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax with residence at Saint Philip Parish in Falls Church to Parochial Vicar at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Fredericksburg.
Reverend Luis Quiñónes – from Parochial Vicar at Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria to Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish in Dale City.
Reverend Augustine Minh Hai Tran – from Parochial Vicar at Saint James Parish in Falls Church to Parochial Vicar at Holy Trinity Parish in Gainesville.
Special Assignments
Reverend Brendan W. Bartlett – from Parochial Vicar at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Winchester to Canon Law Studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., with residence at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Arlington.
Reverend Keith D. Cummings – from Parochial Vicar at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Fredericksburg to Chaplain at Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries with residence at Holy Family Parish in Dale City.
Reverend Stephen F. McGraw – from Chaplain at Christendom College in Front Royal to service in the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic.
Reverend Marcus A. Pollard – from Pastor of Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church to Chaplain at Christendom College in Front Royal.
Reverend Stephen J. Schultz – from Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge to Chaplain at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax with residence at Saint Leo the Great Parish in Fairfax.
Retirement
Reverend Gerald Weymes – from Pastor of Saint Timothy Parish in Chantilly to retired status in a private residence.
Newly Ordained Priests
Reverend Mr. Steven G. Oetjen – upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Saint James Parish in Falls Church.
Reverend Mr. Stephen M. Vaccaro – upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Nativity Parish in Burke.
Reverend Mr. Jordan M. Willard – upon ordination to the priesthood, to Parochial Vicar at Saint Theresa Parish in Ashburn.
Transitional Deacon Assignment
Michael J. Folmar – upon ordination to the diaconate, to All Saints Parish in Manassas, effective June 12, 2017.
Christopher F. Tipton – upon ordination to the diaconate, to Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, effective June 12, 2017.
Religious Personnel Assigned to the Diocese
Reverend James Puglis, T.O.R. – from service outside the Diocese of Arlington to Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph Parish in Herndon, effective June 10, 2017.
Clergy Personnel Assigned Outside the Diocese
Reverend William N. Serrano – from Parochial Vicar at Saint Bernadette Parish in Springfield to ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington, was effective May 15, 2017.
Reverend Jonathan St. Andre, T.O.R. – from Parochial Vicar at Saint Joseph Parish in Herndon to ministry outside the Diocese of Arlington, was effective May 18, 2017.
3. To Our Bishop – The Smell of the Sheep: You live in Arlington. You do not live in Rappahannock County – you have only been here once. If you had to attend (not celebrate) Mass here every week, you might know what “odours” are in the air here. So in the words of Pope Francis:
This I ask you: be shepherds, with the “odour of the sheep”, make it real, as shepherds among your flock, fishers of men. True enough, the so-called crisis of priestly identity threatens us all and adds to the broader cultural crisis; but if we can resist its onslaught, we will be able to put out in the name of the Lord and cast our nets.
There is a “crisis of priestly identity” here and the Sheep of Kephas and the Sheep in Exile will “resist its onslaught“.
The Sheep of Kephas 
Fathers Ferguson and Scalia, knowing full well the trials this once-vibrant parish has undergone, have turned their backs on St Peter Catholic Church. Clearly, the bishop doesn’t seem to care or is he even aware?
Incredibly sad.
St John Vianney pray for our priests.
St Peter pray for the Church.
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We have no special knowledge about the inner workings of the Chancery. Nevertheless, we do have some insights. We would not say that all at the Chancery have turned their backs on us. We suspect that the Bishop is aware, but he has just arrived in a diocese of 70 parishes and many problems. We recommend prayer, penance, fortitude, and perseverance. Meanwhile, we will do our best to ensure that the Chancery knows precisely what is happening at St. Peter’s. As you rightly say: St John Vianney pray for our priests. St Peter pray for the Church.
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Meanwhile St Peters is left twisting in the wind.
The horse beating picture is apt…except the horse is the parish. The rider…you fill in the blank.
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