St. John’s Youth Group sang Father Carpenter’s Notre Dame Fight Song and thanked him for all he’s done for them.
St. John’s Youth Group thanked Father Carpenter for teaching, youth meetings after Mass, and told him good luck at St. Sulpice.
Father Brian Carpenter is in Paris, France, training for a month in his new ministry with the Society of the Priests of St. Sulpice.
The former three year Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick’s and Blessed Trinity Parishes is in the Candidacy Program for diocesan priests called the Suplicans.
Founded in the 17th century in France, the society is the only society of diocesan priests in the world with the sole responsibility of educating, guiding and supporting fellow priests.
This ministry is considered a “vocation within a vocation.” Father Carpenter will be teaching courses to seminarians in the field of systematic theology using his licentiate degree. This is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational and coherent account of Christian faith and beliefs.
Father Carpenter’s decision came after several years of prayer on his part. Rochester Bishop Salvatore Matano approved his discernment request after praying over it in the past year. It is Father’s hope to serve the Universal Church by forming good and holy priests.
For three years in his second pastoral assignment, Father Carpenter served St. Patrick’s in Owego, St. Margaret Mary’s in Apalachin, St. James in Waverly, and St. John the Evangelist in Newark Valley.
Rochester Diocese Bishop Emeritus Matthew Clark ordained Father Carpenter a priest on June 6, 2009. His first assignment for three years was a Parochial Vicar at Peace of Christ Parish in Rochester – St. Ambrose, St. James and St. John the Evangelist.
Father Carpenter told the congregation he is thankful that they embraced him as their priest for the past three years. He told them he will be teaching se
Father Carpenter is a proud 1998 graduate of Notre Dame University.
Father Carpenter celebrated his final Masses in Tioga County that included farewell remarks over the weekend at St. James in Waverly and St. John’s in Newark Valley. What’s more, at St. John’s he renewed vows for Al and Flo Gillow on their 60th wedding anniversary.
Three “Farewell, Father Brian” receptions followed weekend Masses – an italian dinner after the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass at St. James in Waverly, a pizza party after the 11:15 a.m. Mass at St. John’s, and an ice cream social at 6:30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s.
St. John’s Youth Group showed their appreciation for Father Carpenter by singing their rendition of the Notre Dame Fight Song. “You taught at the school. At our youth meetings after Mass you always had time to chat. Thanks for all you’ve done for us. And good luck at St. Sulpice.”
On Tuesday Father Carpenter celebrated the last Mass for fifth grade students at St. Patrick’s School. Students felt they learned a lot from his teaching and showed their gratitude with mementoes.
The previous weekend Father Carpenter participated in the ordination of Father Mike Fowler by Rochester Bishop Salvatore Matano at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Rochester. He assisted Father Mike in his First Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday morning at St. Patrick’s Church.
Al and Flo Gillow had their 60th wedding vows renewed by Father Carpenter. He was the first priest to use an iPhone or an iPad screen as homily aids at Mass.
Father Carpenter thanked all who expressed support for him in his new ministry. He felt communicants from his four parishes had a positive impact on him as a priest, Christian, and as a human being. He said he is thankful his parishioners embraced him as their priest for the past three years.
On his return on Aug. 1 from Paris, Father Carpenter will be located at St. Mary’s Seminary, 5400 Roland Ave. in Baltimore, Md.
Father Carpenter elevates the consecrated host during the Liturgy of the Eucharist during his final Mass at St. John’s.
