Very Rev. John W. Hanley, O.M.I., V.F. Pastor of the Parish of St. William, Tewksbury Massachusetts

The United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has announced the following staff changes at Saint William’s. Father John Hanley, OMI, after almost eight years as Pastor of Saint William’s, has been appointed Director of Immaculata Retreat House in Willimantic, CT. Father Andrew Knop, OMI has been appointed Pastor of Saint William Parish. These appointments take effect on July 15, 2011.

Fr. Hanley has also served for many terms as pastor of the Oblate parishes of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Conception – both in Lowell. Fr. Hanley was for many years the Episcopal Vicar for the Merrimack Region and currently is the Vicar for Vicariate II that includes the regional parishes of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Marguerite D’Youville in Dracut; Holy Family, Holy Trinity, Immaculate Conception, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Margaret, Saint Michael, Saint Patrick, Saint Rita in Lowell; Saint William in Tewksbury and Saint Mary Magdalen in Tyngsborough. In addition, Father serves as the Chaplain for the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH-Division 19) and as member of the Board of Trustees for Lowell Catholic High School and on the Board of Directors for the Franco-American School.

His current and former parishioners as well as his many friends in the area wish Fr. John well in his new assignment.

An exerpt from one of many columns authored by Fr. Hanley for the Tewksbury Patch:

The Cracked Pot

…Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots but, it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. It’s by dealing with our flaws and cracks in a positive way that we live as disciples of Jesus. In dealing with our flaws, we need to trust in God.

What are your flaws? How have you dealt with them/not dealt with them? Have the flaws in your life helped you to live as a disciple of Jesus?

Remember to appreciate all the “cracked pots” in your life! If it hadn’t been for the crackpots in my life, it would have been pretty boring and life certainly wouldn’t have been very interesting…

“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.”

Father John Hanley, OMI, is pastor of Saint William Parish

Learn more about the Immaculata Retreat House here.