Jeanne McFarlane Is Retiring Back to Wisconsin

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I come to you yet again with more news regarding personnel changes here at St. Anthony of Padua. This time, Jeanne McFarlane, the longest-tenured staff member at the parish, is leaving to return to family in northern Wisconsin.

For many of you, Jeanne was your first contact with our parish. She has greeted thousands of new parishioners, visitors, and workers as our front desk receptionist since the beginning of the parish. Jeanne joined our staff during the summer of 2006 and was on-hand Sunday, October 15, 2006 for our very first Mass at Centennial High School—which is also her birthday.

Over the years, Jeanne has become a fixture in our parish community. She has been with us through the ups, the downs, the happy moments, the sad moments, and the downright bizarre moments.

The lay employees of the Catholic faith are truly the unsung heroes of the faith. Every day the lay employees of the Church provide witness to our faith by working so diligently, patiently, persistently, and silently behind the scenes to run our parish efficiently and make our liturgies so beautiful and fitting for God. Without them, I have no idea where we priests would be.

For some of you, Jeanne was the voice you heard when anxiously calling the parish to schedule an anointing for your loved one about to depart life. For others, Jeanne was the person who took down the information of new parents excited to get their little one baptized. Jeanne collected the mail, managed our parish database, and provided me counsel on more occasions than I would probably care to admit. She was always there for me and for you in service for our Lord.

When I told her that I would be composing a letter, she begged me not to. She finally agreed after I conceded to talking about volunteerism in the parish.

Coming out of this pandemic, we are going to need a lot more help. As of right now, our parish is the fastest growing church in the Diocese of Las Vegas. We need help. We need volunteers to help as lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, ushers, greeters, and temperature takers. Once we get the go-ahead, we’re going to need volunteers to join our choirs, bring Eucharist to the homebound, feed and clothe the poor, and plainly just serve one another for the greater Glory of God. Many of our volunteers fall in the elderly category. We truly are in need for our Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z parishioners to step-up, if you haven’t already done so.

Barbara Sheehan will continue working at the front window, and Katy Moses will be joining her.

Please take a moment to join me in thanking Jeanne for her service to the people of God at St. Anthony and pray for her as she begins this next chapter of her life closer to family.

Thank you, Jeanne, for all that you have done in–service of your Lord.