After 26 years as parishioners, Donna Menard and her husband, Rick, will be relocating to Rock Hill, South Carolina in early fall to live closer to their daughter Alyssa, son-in-law, Daniel, and their two-year old grandson, Noah.
“Leaving my ‘church family’ at Christ the King is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made,” Donna observed. With the help of our Pastoral Associate of Music, Justin Dery, who raised his own family in the South, the Maynards plan to register with St Philip Neri parish in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
“I am looking forward to joining this lovely, community-oriented parish but, with all due respect, for us there will be no replacing Christ the King,” Donna pointed out. “There are no words to describe what a privilege it has been to be part of a parish community that truly cares about each other and who are so committed to helping people in the community who really need the help to live a better life.”
Donna has been the consummate ministry volunteer.
She has been a Eucharistic Minister throughout her tenure as parishioner. For seven years, she was a Religious Formation teacher for students in grades two, three and five. She devoted several years as a student mentor in the Confirmation program. And she has served as discussion leader and program overseer for the Thursday Bible Study group discussions.
She has also devoted her Sundays either serving as a member of the “Set Up-Clean Up” crew for after-Mass coffee and donuts or traveling to Brookdale South Bay in South Kingstown, reading scripture, reflecting on the Gospel and providing the Holy Eucharist to both the assisted living residents and those residents in the nursing home wing.
Her fondest memories? “Two weeks after I registered as a parishioner, Fr Joe Creedan sought out my family at Sunday mass, introduced himself and welcomed us to the parish. Since he arrived, Fr Jared has been as accessible a pastor as anyone can imagine. Two wonderful priests reaching out to their parishioners . . . this is a special place!”