Meeting Fr. Christopher

My Dear St. Cyril Family:

What a Joy and Blessing it is for me to return to this Community as your Pastor. As most of you have heard, I served as Parochial Vicar to Fr. Mario here at St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish from October 1998 until June 2002 when I was assigned to St. Jerome Parish. Before being assigned to Fr. Mario and this parish in 1998, I had previously collaborated with Fr. Mario and Sister Rosalie in Vocation Ministry between 1992 and 1994. I always enjoyed working with Fr. Mario in building the Kingdom of God, and I feel richly blessed to be assigned as Pastor here as Fr. Mario enjoys his well-earned Retirement.

I understand that most of you were not here during my earlier years serving in this parish, so let me say a few things about myself. I was born on August 22, 1964 to Donald and Catherine Shackelford and I grew up in Ennis, Texas. I am the third child of six children born to Donald and Catherine. My father entered his eternal rest in 1997, but I am blessed to still have my mom living among us. I have four sisters, one brother, eight Nephews and Nieces, and I am awaiting the birth of my fifth great nephew/niece. In my personal time, I enjoy reading, traveling, researching family genealogy and spending time with my family.

I graduated from Ennis High School before entering Holy Trinity Seminary in 1982. As a seminarian, I earned my B. A. in English Literature with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Dallas in 1986. I continued my seminary formation here in Houston at St. Mary’s Seminary and received my Master of Divinity from the University of St. Thomas in 1991. I was ordained a priest on June 8, 1991. During these past 33 years of ordained ministry, I have served in a variety of parishes and ministry positions. I began serving as Pastor of St. Andrew Catholic Church in Channelview, Texas on October 1, 2003 where I have served until being named Pastor here at Cyril of Alexandria Parish.

This truly is a time of transition for all of us as Fr. Mario retires from his role as Pastor of this community for the past twenty-six years. My previous parish of St. Andrew is in transition as I leave that community after almost twenty-one years as their Pastor. As Fr. Tom begins as Pastor of St. Andrew Parish, he leaves behind the parish of Community of St. Patrick where he served as pastor for the past ten years. Times of transitions often include a sense of grief, anxiety and sometimes even fear. As we all journey through this time of transition, I assure you of my prayers for each of you and your families. Let us all keep Fr. Mario in our prayers, and I ask you to be patient with me as I try to adapt to this parish community which has undergone many changes in these past twenty-five years.

It truly does feel like I have “come home” as I return to this wonderful community. I noticed that my name is still etched in the cement of the entrance to the Church Rectory from 1999. No Welcome Mat was needed for me to feel at home. I am looking forward to meeting everyone in this community as we continue to grow together as the Catholic Community of St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish.