Dear Parishioners of St. Jude,
 
I wanted to send a note of gratitude for your kind words, cards, gifts, and a few thousand calories worth of baked goods last Sunday! I didn’t know about the reception until it was announced at the end of last Saturday’s 4pm Mass, so thank you to all those who helped organize it. It was very lovely. 
 
Parish music ministry has allowed me to be part of your weekly worship, as well as many important events in your lives, from weddings, to funerals, and even one quinceañera! It has been my privilege to share my music with all of you for the past eight years. And while I am sad to leave at this uncertain time of transition, I am excited about the opportunity to share my music with a new parish community. 
 
I wanted to thank in a special way Joanie Lahmon and Dave Sikorski for being my dedicated cantors for the entire duration of my time at St. Jude, to Chris Friis who recently began cantoring, as well as all the present and past choir members (including our Children’s Choir, many of whom are now much taller than me!), whose voices helped our congregation to pray twice, as St. Augustine said singing does. It has been a joy making music with all of them. 
 
St. Patrick Parish, where I will continue my music ministry, is in a small town about five miles east of Madison. It has around the same number of families as St. Jude, but its worship space is about onethird the size. If you find yourselves in the Madison area enjoying the local recreational opportunities on a weekend, please stop by for Mass. (The casino is a 12-minute drive from the church, so do with that information what you will!) You can reach me at the following address:
 
St. Patrick Catholic Church
434 N Main St.
P.O. Box 400
Cottage Grove, WI 53527
 
I wish you all the best as you become the combined parish of Holy Ghost, St. Mary Queen of Apostles, and St. Jude the Apostle. I am confident that this new endeavor will be one that strengthens the Catholic community in South Holland. Thank you all again for the privilege of making music with you.
 
Sincerely, Shawn Perkins