It surely has been a difficult year for all and the SMCPS. But let’s not forget to give thanks to the Creator for what we have on this Thanksgiving Day 2020; our families and friends, our freedoms, and our hope for a better future. We at the SMCPS are driven to believe that St. Michael’s Church…like the values and beliefs of this country…will survive and prosper. That makes this Thanksgiving especially poignant for all of us.

As we celebrate we are not unaware of new challenges. Unfortunately the Church has not been used regularly for any services for almost a year. More important, the SMCPS has not been able to discuss the past, present, and future of St. Michael’s Church and campus with the new Church Administrator Fr. Kevin Mohan. A dozen attempts to speak to Fr. Mohan on the telephone, through email, and personally delivered messages have been ignored. This speaks for itself and is a clear warning to the Atlantic City community from the Parish of St. Monica and the Diocese of Camden.

Since 2015 the SMCPS has been a close working partner with the Parish of St. Monica. Last spring without warning Dante Hall, the theater connected to St. Michael’s Church was offered for sale. We also know that the Diocese of Camden declared bankruptcy this summer due to a great extent on the sex abuse crisis.

Life goes on…and the SMCPS will continue to do as we have done - to find ways to preserve the 115 year old culture, history, and the traditional values that are embedded in the unreplaceable Renaissance brick and stone building we call St. Michael’s Church.

So let’s give Thanks for today and in continued hope for the future.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Bob Venafro
National Coordinator