Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Shifting winds blow in new priests

Father John Morgan to move to Boise Aug. 1

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Courtesy photo Father Jorge Garcia, center-right, stands with the ?transition team? from Our Lady of the Snows, in front of the new church under construction in Sun Valley. From left to right are Sister Arlene Ellis, chancellor for the Diocese of Boise; Hugh Blue; Carolyn Sessa; Parish Life Director Teresa Gregory; Father Jorge Garcia; Olga Maza Santos; and Peter Maier.

While waiting for Father Jorge Garcia to arrive in the valley, St. Charles Catholic Church in Hailey has been tended by an interim priest, Father Len MacMillan.

MacMillan is filling in until Garcia arrives on Wednesday, July 4. He will conduct his first services Saturday, July 7, and Sunday, July 8.

Father John Morgan, who served the two parishes in the Wood River Valley, was here for almost two full six-year terms. Morgan will move to Boise permanently Aug. 1. He will return to dedicate the new Our Lady of the Snows Church—being built on Sun Valley Road in Sun Valley—on Dec. 13 and for Christmas, said Parish Life Director Teresa Gregory.

MacMillan, originally an Idaho dioceses priest, most recently worked with Cross International, which works with the poor.

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"He's coming back to work in the diocese and came back early to work here," Gregory said. "His next assignment is with Holy Apostle in Meridian."

Garcia has most recently been serving in the towns of American Falls and Aberdeen, Idaho.

"He has been a priest for 21 years in Colombia and came to our diocese about six years ago," Gregory said. "People are just very excited to have him come."

He'll have a parish office at St. Charles, and that is a first for the parish pastor. He will be the Sacramental minister at St. Charles and will assist at Our Lady of the Snows on weekends. It's a similar situation to what Morgan's was before his retirement.

Garcia will be assigned for six years.

"The intent is that he'll be here for full assignment," Gregory said. "A priest with his amount of years has a choice to do a second term."