Diocese of Reno
* 290 S. Arlington Avenue * Reno, NV 89501-1713 *
Phone 775-326-9428 * Fax 775-329-6009 *
Office of the Bishop
With great energy and pastoral zeal Fr. Bill Nadeau has served the Catholic Church as a priest for well over a half century. His pastoral skills are evident in his leadership of parishes and in his outreach and care for people in a variety of situations. He is a priest well-read and his knowledge current, especially in matters pertaining to evangelization and parish life. He is exemplary in his willingness to think outside the box to meet new challenges. I know many more things could be said about Fr. Bill and I hope that you share your own comments with him. Mine are not meant as a eulogy (he is very much alive) but as a token of my appreciation for his priestly ministry.
As you know, Fr. Bill has recently requested that I accept his resignation as Pastor of St. Francis to begin a new phase in his life: retirement, to take effect November 30, 2019. For a priest, retirement does not mean ceasing to celebrate Masses and other sacraments. It is retirement from the burdens of administration and the freedom to pursue life-giving activities appropriate to the level of one’s health and energy. After serving well beyond the age when most priests and bishops retire, Fr. Bill has made this request which he has every right to do as he deserves retirement at this time in his life. I know he will be greatly missed at St. Francis but we wish him well.
It is not easy to fill Fr. Bill’s shoes and particularly at this time of the year outside the regular changes in appointments for priests that occur at the beginning of summer. With this in mind, I have decided to make the following provision for St. Francis Parish for the next seven months:
Fr. Chris Kanowitz is assigned full-time to serve as Parish Administrator pro tempore. Since Fr. Chris has been ordained for less than three years, Fr. Chuck Durante, in addition to his assignments as Vicar General and Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, is appointed Canonical Administrator, primarily to oversee and make decisions concerning the parish’s temporalities. Fr. Tom Nelson, Chaplain of Bishop Manogue Catholic High School, will continue to assist the parish on weekends.
This provision will take effect on November 30, 2019. The process for the appointment of a new Pastor for St. Francis along with other priest appointments will commence as usual in January to take effect July 1, 2020.
I have always appreciated the good will and gracious hospitality of the parishioners of St. Francis and know you will welcome these priests in the service of the parish.
In Christ,
