To the Editor:

On June 28, the annual Mass for the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul was held at the Oratory of St. Paul in South Colton. There Fr. Venette celebrated his last Mass for this area.

The church was packed with well over 100 people. After a prayer at the Sacred Heart Shrine, we all had ice cream and cake.

Father, you will be missed.

I will always remember the pancake breakfasts, St Patrick's corned beef and cabbage with live Celtic music, and of course homemade veggie soup. Yet, even more, I will miss your infectious smile and enthusiasm; your zest for fellowship and community.

I feel badly that you must leave under these circumstances, and I feel worse for those who never took the opportunity to get to know you and work with you.

Instead they took to social media creating an acidic atmosphere of bullying and character attacks. How very sad it is that this is the way those few get their way...shame, shame on them!

Peace be with you Father, and may your next Parish be a kinder, more Christian community.

Kathy Connelly, South Colton

Parishioner of St Patrick and St Paul