Judi Wilkinson, our Director of Religious Education, has decided to retire this year. Initially, she spoke of retiring this summer, but I asked her to remain until the end of September, so that we might not be rushed in our search to replace her, and that we might give her successor some time to shadow Judi and learn more about the job. She agreed graciously.

Judi has served this parish since 1991 (!), beginning her work during the pastorate of Father Pruett. She has served with four pastors, and has, in many ways, become synonymous with St. Eugene. She has been DRE longer than I have been a priest, and I’ve never known a time when she was not the religious education professional here. To say she will be difficult to replace is an understatement.

Judi’s bilingualism has been a particular blessing to our faith community. She has been a bridge between the Anglo and Hispanic communities within the parish, and her ministry is one reason why St. Eugene’s multiculturalism works so well. I also believe her compassion and advocacy for the children of the parish have been an extraordinary gift, reflecting well our core Catholic values. There are hundreds of young Catholics who might have fallen through the crevices of life and not received their sacraments save for Judi’s willingness to work extra hours to prepare them.

We shall shortly begin the search for a new Director of Religious Education and the planning for festivities celebrating Judi. I want her to know well our esteem and love for her. Her loyalty to the parish must be recognized, remembered, and rewarded. I promise to keep you posted on the details of this.

In the meantime, I hope you will keep Judi and her husband in your prayers. Though she will officially retire in a few short months, I doubt she will be idle.

We’re updating how we share news with you! 

Moving forward, the E-Pistle will focus on two weeks of key highlights and happenings at a time.

Our parish is vibrant and growing, with ministries regularly updating their pages with the latest news, events and opportunities to get involved. To help keep the E-Pistle concise and meaningful, we’ll now be linking to a parish-wide calendar for events happening beyond the two-week window. 

This change is part of our effort to improve your reading experience, encourage everyone to visit our wonderful website, and continue to be your go-to place for staying connected and informed on all things happening at St. Eugene.

With gratitude,

The St. Eugene Communications Volunteer Team:

Vanessa Smith

April Stuart

Kasey Holt

Avery Holt

Owen Canfield

James Yamamoto

Sharon Blakely

Fr. Jim Goins and Fr. Jerome Krug invite all new parishioners to a special Welcome Reception at the St. Eugene Rectory on Thursday, May 1 at 6 p.m. 

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet fellow parishioners, learn more about our community, and enjoy warm hospitality in a relaxed setting. The Rectory is located at 10716 Greystone Avenue in The Village. 

Please RSVP by Monday, April 28 by emailing manager@steugenes.org or calling the parish office at 405.751.7115.

St. Teresa’s Guild will gather for its End of Year Cinco de Mayo Potluck Dinner on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The event will be held at the home of Tresia Miller. All are invited to bring a favorite dish to share as we celebrate another great year together. For questions or directions, Tresia can be reached at 405.343.9646.