My family and I have been attending St. James at Sag Bridge since the 90’s and my husband and I since 2014. I can remember singing in the choir with my younger sisters when Janet Podczerwinski was just cutting her teeth on the Sag choir members, teaching and forming us into harmonies until our Christmas repertoire sounded like angels descending from heaven. My younger brother served Mass here back in the day, and currently my dad (Dr. Mike Haklin) trains the altar boys. I remember the grotto being built and the great horseshoe game of a hot summer picnic – it was a nailbiter until the very end! During Lent, I could count on some cold rainy weather when saying the outdoor stations of the cross with a good size crowd. I remember the changings of the pastors from Fr. Davitt to Fr. Bohula to Fr. Gleeson to Fr. Koys, as well as the wonderful priests who would visit or help out on Sundays, like Fr. Day. When recalling these memories, so many beautiful and dear faces come to mind, and it’s hard to believe it’s been a few decades since I’ve seen some of them.

What St. James means to me is a connection of the heart. First, to God’s Heart – it’s a parish that has been intent on keeping the Lord at the center, which is as it should be. Even when we all had disagreements on this item or that, it was at Mass that we could lose our differences and stay connected. The tabernacle has always been at the center of the sanctuary, as it should be, and has acted as a magnet for the hearts of the parishioners. St. James has been loyal to the authentic gospel of Christ and I cherish this little church on the hill, especially in our current time. The power of God – His Truth – is unapologetically centered here as a beacon to the world.

I am honored to be on the board of the Sag Bridge Mission Society. I hope to promote ideas and ways that will help the devotional life of our board members and parishioners. We can undertake all sorts of social projects and good intentioned activities, but if it is not rooted in Christ and rests on our own abilities, it will account for nothing. We must be a people with a strong interior life – that comes before anything else. Daily prayer in and out of church is necessary and downright vital. With this in mind, I am looking forward to where the Holy Spirit leads us in 2025!