The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Many of you have seen Aaron Noll around the parish in the Fall during one of his ministry weekends with Holy Family or perhaps at RCIA. Well, we will all be seeing a lot more of Aaron in the coming months. Starting this week, Aaron will be full time at Holy Family Parish and School on what is called a Pastoral Year.

A Pastoral Year is an intensive parish immersion intern experience, where young men discerning priesthood in seminary participate in and get hands on experience in parish life. There are many reasons why men may have this experience. Some dioceses require this as part of their formation process. Some men need the experience to solidify their vocational call. Others utilize it as an additional experience to further form, shape, and hone their human and pastoral skills prior to the future ministry of priesthood. Aaron is hoping to strengthen his skills and ministry zeal. During this time, the seminarian steps aside from the formal academics of seminary life to live, pray, and minister in a parish with a priest and parish ministry team. This gives the seminarian time and experience to grow in their abilities to share the Gospel and serve the People of God. Aaron will be living with me in the parish rectory (so pray for him… and me! It’s been 12 years since I’ve had a housemate.). Just as Mary and baby Jesus welcomed the Magi into their home for prayer and worship, please help make Aaron feel like part of the Holy Family family, so feel free to invite him into your family & parish life. We are still working out some of the specific areas that Aaron will be focusing on, but I’m sure he will be involved all over.

Hello Holy Family Parish,
I am Aaron Noll, one of your seminarians in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. I will be at Holy Family for the upcoming year as a part of my continued pastoral formation. In this year I look forward to growing in experience of pastoral ministry in the context of a parish.

I am the second oldest of five siblings. My parents live in Bloomington Indiana as do my younger siblings.

I am originally from Columbus Indiana and my home parish is St. Bartholomew, also in Columbus. After high-school I went to Ivy Tech Community College and studied Paramedic Science. I was an EMT throughout my early college years and worked while taking classes and going to work in the ER and on ambulances. After spending a long amount of time in prayer and discernment, I decided to enter seminary. I began my studies at Bishop Simon Bruté College Seminary in the Spring semester of 2019. After 2021 I graduated from college seminary and began my studies of Theology at St. Meinrad. Thank you for welcoming me to the parish, I look forward to getting to know the Holy Family parish family.

On behalf of the entire staff of Holy Family Catholic Parish and School, we pray you receive the tremendous gift of gratitude and joy this Christmas (Yes, the season of Christmas is still going!!!). May your family be enriched and encouraged by the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. May you experience Peace this day and throughout the whole of the New Year. May you draw ever closer to Christ and His Church. Blessings and prayers for you.

May the Lord God bless you and yours this Christmas and New Year.

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Pray for us.

~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries

Holy Family Church

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The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

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