Texas Catholic Letters
August 10, 2007
Rev. Jeremy Myers
St. Mary Parish
Sherman, Texas
Dear Father Jeremy,
Thank you for the invitation to the groundbreaking for the new parish church. My wife and I enjoyed the ceremonies and the opportunity to meet many of your parishioners who have worked so hard to make the groundbreaking a reality.
The new structure, seating approximately 800, is a significant enlargement from the present sanctuary and represents quite a change, I might add! It was very appropriate to have the groundbreaking on the 101st anniversary of the opening of the current parish church and on the feasts of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary. And, to name the new church building St. Anne’s is wonderful. Your symbolic remark that the old and new churches will face one another as mother and daughter was perfect. I will hold that beautiful image in my mind every time I think of St. Mary and St. Anne.
The new church has been in the planning stages a long time and it is obvious that every detail has been addressed. I feel sure that the 15-month construction period will fly by and your parish will be in the new structure before you know it. The excitement was evident among your parishioners at the groundbreaking and none can be more committed to the completion of the church than Frank Ventura and Mark Deans who are leading the grant writing phase. It has been a pleasure to assist them.
Congratulations and God Bless. The Catholic Foundation looks forward to the dedication.
Sincerely,
Edwin M. Schaffler
President and Chief Executive Officer