Dear St. Hubert Parishioners:
As I shared with you a couple weeks ago, my last weekend of preaching at all the Masses will be June 17-18 and my final day of service at St. Hubert will be June 30. I am honored to announce that the archbishop has assigned me as the new pastor of Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church and School in St. Paul, near St. Cate’s and St. Thomas in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood, effective July 1. The Nativity parish is about the same size as St. Hubert and has an only slightly smaller enrollment of students in their pre-K through eighth grade school.
I am pleased to announce that the archbishop has appointed my replacement. Father Ralph Talbot will be your new pastor. He will start July 1. I asked him to share a little bit about himself and here is his statement:
“’The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you’ (2 Cor. 13:13). I was born in Anoka, Minnesota. My four brothers and one sister live in Anoka. My mother died in 2005; my dad died in 2016. I attended St. Stephen Catholic School for grades one through eight and graduated from Anoka Senior High. I received my undergraduate degree in secondary education from St. Cloud State University and my law degree from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. I served as an Assistant State Attorney in Miami, Florida for 10 years, prosecuting all types of criminal cases. In 1998, I returned to Minnesota, entered the St. Paul Seminary at the University of St. Thomas and was ordained a priest of the archdiocese on May 29, 2004. I served as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Paul for one year, pastor of St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi for six years, and pastor of St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake for 12 years. My responsibilities in Mahtomedi and White Bear Lake included a Catholic school. In addition to my parish assignments, I currently serve on two archdiocesan committees. I am pleased to have been asked to serve as pastor of St. Hubert Catholic Community. I look forward to meeting you, learning the rich history of this parish, and joining with you to make the person of Jesus Christ known and loved.
Peace, Fr. Ralph Talbot”
In addition, Fr. Aric Aamodt and Deacon Pat Hirl are also moving on. While I cannot share yet where Fr. Aric is going, I can share that his last weekend of preaching at all the Masses will be June 25-26 and last day here will also be June 30. I am very grateful for Father Aric’s help these past five years. He has left a major impact on the parish’s youth ministry and liturgy departments. A replacement associate priest will be assigned here, but I am not allowed to share who that is yet nor his exact start date.
Deacon Pat accepted a job as a professor at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. His last weekend with us will be Corpus Christi, Sunday, June 11. He has been a stellar leader in men’s ministry and done many, many baptisms, and several weddings, too. Parishioner Greg Schultz will be assigned as our new deacon after his ordination in December.
It has been a blessing to serve all of you, and I am very confident you will be in good hands with Fr. Talbot, a very intelligent, seasoned, and quite articulate priest of God. As we get closer to June 30, there will be several opportunities to say goodbye. Watch Flocknote and our website for information about upcoming events for departing and incoming clergy.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Rolf Tollefson