Keep Father Thom Miller at Sacred Heart/St. Raphael Parish

I was at Mass when Fr. Thom invited those present to come up for a blessing of the sick and I watched an elderly person using two canes move slowly up the isle to be blessed. I saw people come up for confession who had not been there for a very long time who left with tears coming down their cheeks and smiles of joy on their face. I had never seen that before in our church. In my mind taking care of the spiritual and emotional needs of the parishioners is far more important than taking care of the money. His conduct will make the church come alive. Fr Thom is loved by his former congregation at St. Joe’s. He could not have been so bad if they follow him to us. Look at the number who support him in this petition. For those of you who think the Bishop will change, do you think this old saying is especially appropriate: “A snowball’s chance in hell”?

Father Miller had me listening to sermons, I mean really listening. I loved the way he gave blessings after mass and would stay to hear confessions. Please keep Father Miller at St. Raphael Church.

It was by chance that my husband and I were visiting the church (as our original parish had reduced mass offerings down to 1x per weekend) and saw Fr Thom perform a baptism. We had just had our baby a few months prior and I was struggling if I wanted to have her baptized based on current events within the church. Seeing him preside over that baptism, made me want to get my daughter baptized. We quickly joined Sacred Heart and scheduled her baptism. He is truly a gift to those of us that have questioned our faith as of late

Please don't take away this priest. He is a good one & as soon as we got to know him he reassigned.

Fr Thom is a Godsent to this parish. We want him to stay! His compassion and love of God shows in his every action. This parish has seen enough turmoil in the past few months! Please keep him here ...

Please stop messing with our priests.

Fr. Thom is a man with a true Christian spirit...while he may not do everything by the “letter of the law” you won’t find a more kind and compassionate priest

The Catholic church in our city is suffering greatly with the sex abuse scandal and with the Bishop's thoughtless transference of so many priests. Many people are leaving the church or will no longer donate their time or money to the church. So much of this loss can be attributed to the actions and arrogance of Bishop Zubik. Father Thom was a treasure at our St. Joseph parish. With the redistribution and relocation of priests in the Pittsburgh diocese, he was ripped away from our church family and dutifully answered the call to serve at Sacred Heart and St. Raphael. As I fully expected, I have heard nothing but accolades about Fr. Thom from friends at St. Raphael. Fr. Thom has been our Lord's most faithful servant and the epitome of a good and faithful priest. He does not deserve the treatment he now faces as the hands of Bishop Zubik. I urge the church leadership to either keep him at Sacred Heart/St. Raphael, or to return him to St. Joseph's parish. The church cannot expect to attract more good people to the priesthood, when they treat so poorly the outstanding priests that they have.

CUT THE POLITICAL CRAP AND KEEP THIS PRIEST.

Please allow Father Thom to stay at Saint Raphael Parish. Thank you.

Father Thom showed the people of St Joe’s over 15 years of dedicated service what an impact an outstanding priest can make to an entire community. He made Catholicism relevant and showed what good humor, love, humility and faith can accomplish. He was there for everyone from the youngest to the oldest and worked tirelessly as an advocate for children, the disabled, the poor. To many of us, he wasn’t just our priest, he was and still is our friend, our family. He also made us part of his family with multiple of his brothers and sisters and his beloved parents frequenting St Joe Masses. We would welcome him with open arms back to St Joe’s; it is heartbreaking to see or hear of what he has been going through in the last week and it is simply not right and very sad.

Please return Fr. Thom to St. Joseph Parish. He is loved and valued by all at the St. Joseph grouping. Plus after the display of disrespect that I witnessed at the 11:30 mass Sunday at Sacred Heart it is very apparent that they don't deserve or value such a beacon of God's love.

We are parishners of st Joseph parish. We loved having father Tom as our pastor. He brought a warmth & spirital feeling to every mass. He is a very holy & sincere priest. I pray that things work out for the best. We need more priests like him

The past several months have been an especially difficult and uncertain time for the catholic church and its followers. If there are to be still more changes and reassignments of priests, I ask that the Bishop and dioceses please give serious consideration to returning Father Thom to St. Joseph's.

The loss of Father Tom is just one more reason to distrust the institution of the Catholic Church.

If he is to not stay at Sacred Heart, please return him to his rightful home at St Joseph O’Hara

My family has greatly enjoyed mass with Fr. Thom at Sacred Heart! He is wonderful with my kids and always so warm and welcoming. Please keep him at Sacred Heart!

Fr. Thom is a warm and welcoming presence in the parish. I have seen him at both churches.

Please reassign him to St Josephs Ohara! We miss him!

Please send Father Thom back to St Joseph O’Hara or keep him at St Raphael’s. He is a bright light and what is desperately needed at St Joseph O’Hara. We miss him dearly!