Dear Parishioners and Visitors,    

 I have had the pleasure of serving at St. Michael’s Parish in Oakville since late June of 2005. At that time the former Pastor Fr. Ted Slaman, who had served here for twelve years, and Fr. Gus Smith, a retired priest of the Hamilton Diocese moved to Most Blessed Sacrament Parish on Hamilton Mountain at the corner of Fennell Ave. East and East 37th Street.

Here is some of my history. I was born in Hamilton Ontario, October 5th 1945, the youngest of four. Our parents are both deceased. Our mother, St. Gerard Dunn (nee Grace) died in 1990, and our father, Stephen R. Dunn died in 1992. Eleanor my eldest sister married John Nespal in 1980 and lived in Oakville for several years before moving to Guelph. My elder brother, Fr. Steve C.P. is a priest in the Passionist Community in Toronto. Fr. Steve  collaborated with St. Gabriel’s parish in Willowdale Ontario as they built a new parish church which has received various awards for its ecological features and was dedicated in November 2006. Dervilla, my second sister, has never married and is retired from Banking after a career starting as a stenographer and completing her career as a supervisor in the Securities Division.
           
My family lived in the North End of Hamilton. Our home parish is St. Lawrence The Martyr. After attending St. Lawrence School, I went on to high school for two and a half years at Holy Cross Seminary, Dunkirk N.Y., and two and a half years at Cathedral Boy’s High in Hamilton, thus completing four years in five. I then went on to Resurrection College in Kitchener for four years and St. Peter’s Seminary in London Ontario for four years.
          
 I was ordained to the transitional Diaconate on May 8, 1971 and served in St. Eugene’s Parish in Hamilton. Ordination to the Priesthood was on May 13, 1972. I served as Associate Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Hamilton, St. John’s Parish, Guelph, Church of Our Lady, Guelph (while also being Chaplain for two years at St. James and Our Lady of Lourdes Junior High School and four years at Bishop Macdonell High; five summers at Camp Brebeuf, Rockwood); then Regina Mundi Parish, Hamilton.
           
Starting in June 1984, I served as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Hamilton until June 1992. I became Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Cambridge (Galt) in June 1992 and served until June 2004. I was on medical leave from June 2004 to June 2005.
           
The medical leave came about as a result of injuries from a fall in March 2004. The fall resulted in head and cervical spinal injuries that required physio, speech and occupational therapy and ultimately surgery to remove lamina from cervical vertebrae. I have experienced limited mobility and agility. My mobility was assisted by walker, rollator and cane. I remained in residence at St. Patrick’s until mid November 2004 and then continued in residence at Most Blessed Sacrament in Hamilton. Surgery on February 9, 2005 (Ash Wednesday) was successful.
           
I truly appreciate: - the skill of the medical profession (personal doctor, specialists, therapists and nurses), - the support of my sisters, brother and relatives, - the support of Bishops, Priests and Sisters, - the support of friends, parishioners and people of various Christian communities and other Faith communities who prayed for my well being. To all I say thank you and please continue your good work and prayers. Please be assured you are remembered in my prayers.

When I arrived at St. Michael’s the other staff members were: - Kathleen FitzPatrick as Pastoral Minister, Carol Norris as Secretary, Trish Wiencis as Secretary / Book-keeper, Fran Paret as Housekeeper, Bill MacDonald as Custodian and Paul McKay as Music Director / Organist. Carol become Secretary for Mary Mother of God Parish in September 2005 and Paul McKay resigned as Music Director in December 2009. Everyone else continues to serve the parish. It has been and continues to be a pleasure working with them and I look forward to continuing collaboration with them.

Since arriving in Oakville I have had a few other health challenges but they seem to have been addressed without serious side effects. To quote the neurologist who treated me in 2005, it appears I have arrived at the “new normal”. 
 

Since I arrived at St. Michael’s several priests have served with me. They are:

• Fr. David Weise served as Associate Pastor from June 2005 through June 2006 when he became Pastor of St. Gabriel’s in Burlington.
• Fr. Peter Meyer was Associate Pastor from June 2006 through January 2007 when he became Pastor of St. Patrick’s in Port Elgin.
• Fr. Malcolm Katzenberger in June 2007, then he became the Associate Pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Kitchener. 
• Fr. James McSharry was Associate Pastor from June through November of 2007.
• Fr. Raymond Peter, from Chennai in India was studying at St. Paul’s in Ottawa and helped out in December 2007 and from May through August 2008. Fr. Raymond has since returned to Chennai and is serving at St. Thomas Collegiate Seminary in Chennai.
• Fr. Cesar Giraldo, a priest from the Archdiocese of Medellín in Columbia came from All Souls in Hamilton as Associate Pastor with responsibility for the Hispanic Community of Oakville and Halton Region in April 2008 and continued serving St. Michael’s Parish and the Hispanic Community through April 2010. 
• Fr. Joe S. Selvanayagam, a priest from the Diocese of Jaffna in Sri Lanka and a student at St. Michael’s University College came to serve at St. Michael’s Parish in September 2008 while completing his studies. He continued to serve until late in December 2009 when he was asked to serve as Administrator of Canadian Martyrs Parish in Hamilton.
• Fr. Edgar Martinez, a priest from the Archdiocese of Medellin in Columbia arrived in April 2010 to serve as Associate Pastor at St. Michael's Parish and the Hispanic community of Oakville and Halton.
• Fr. Michael Anderson, who was ordained on May 1, 2010 for the Diocese of Hamilton, arrived in June 2010 ro serve as Associate Pastor at St. Michael's Parish.

           
Fraternally yours in Christ,
Fr. Robert K. Dunn (aka Fr. Bob)