Dear Fellow Parishioners,

 I’ve always taken my vacation in July, the only full month of the year when our school is closed. Usually I delay my departure until after the July 4th weekend, so as to avoid holiday traffic.

This year, my long-awaited vacation did not go according to plan. A day or two before my vacation started, I slipped and fell in my kitchen, half-asleep in stocking feet at 5:00 a.m., like sailing across a darkened kitchen on a banana peel. I was on the floor for several hours before being taken to Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa for a week, and then for another two weeks at Petaluma Post-Acute Rehab on B Street. I did my therapy faithfully, and completed all tasks deemed necessary for release. The very first night back home alone, I fell again, this time in the shower. Without going into detail, this was a much more serious fall, with broken and fractured bones and extensive bruising. With the exception of single-footed hopping around, I have been mainly immobile for a month now, and may be so for some time to come. I spent almost two full days this week tracking down medical equipment. The four items I needed were a wheelchair, walker, Rollator (the souped-up walker with handbrakes and a folding seat) and a cane. I finally got them all.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!!” That punch line, first used in a commercial nearly 40 years ago, was about the first thing that came to my mind when I was unable to move. And my very next guilty thought was, “And I shouldn’t have made fun of that lady…!” (The power of advertising has insinuated itself into every area of life.)

My recovery will take some time. I am most grateful for the support provided by our dedicated associate Fr. Mauricio Rodriguez. We are also indebted to Msgr. Dan Whelton, Fr. Gary Lombardi (Pastor Emeritus of SVDP), Fr. Steve Canny (Pastor Emeritus of St. Joseph’s Cotati) and Fr. Michael Culligan (Pastor Emeritus of St. James Parish across town). I first met Fr. Canny nearly 60 years ago when he was the associate pastor here at SVDP from the mid-1960’s. All four of these priests have generously set aside well-earned leisure hours to help us in our time of need.

I am most grateful for your Masses, prayers, cards, expressed concern, flowers, best wishes, prayers and even meals. The support of community is perhaps the best medicine of all.

The 2026-2027 academic year has started, or nearly so, for our parish students, no matter where they attend daycare, elementary and secondary school, college or trade school. We remember not only these students, but also their parents and grandparents anxious for these young futures in the making, May Almighty God grant success to their efforts, and hope in all their new endeavors.

 Blessings, Fr. Bill Donahue