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

Fr. Thom has been a positive and engaging presence at Sacred Heart. As a parent of three children in Sacred Heart School, I hear regularly how much the children love Fr. Thom. Please reconsider this hasty decision to move him after only five months.

Please keep our Priest in Sacred Heart.!! He is very loved.

Fr. Thom is an exemplary pastor and a man of God. Bishop Zubik has made a horrible error in deciding to remove him and I beg hom to reconsider.

I am a parishioner, parent to 3 children at the school, regular volunteer at the school, coach, and active member of the athletic association. Every single time I have had the pleasure of interacting with Fr. Thom, he has been positive, upbeat, and interested in everything I have to say. His masses are engaging and make me (a Catholic that left the faith and came back) want to come back for more. My children don't whine about going to church nearly as much as they used to before he held mass. When I have volunteered at the school during lunch duty, I have seen him walking among the children and engaging with them and the adults. He is warm and an awesome presence to those around him. I cannot fathom why he would be removed from our community in such a sudden and completely unexplained way. Despite the short amount of time, he has already grown to be an important part of this parish's family and to have it ripped apart (again) with no explanation is simply unacceptable. Until adequate explanation is provided to ALL AFFECTED, he should remain with us as one of us. This kind of action makes me want to be leave again. Have we not learned anything from our recent problems?

Fr. Tom has instilled a positive spirituality at Sacred Heart, providing many opportunities for parishioners to deepen their faith. He models the positive attributes of the faith is what our parish needs.

As a 20 year parishioner and parent of two Sacred Heart students I am disappointed and disheartened by this unilateral decision that will negatively impact our church and school. Our family does not want Father Thom reassigned.

The church needs to come together. This is witnessed at mass and through this petition. Church is filled, children at in attendance and love going. What a difference... as with anything changebtakesbtome and yes we may not like the change in October but Father Thom warned our hearts and re- energized the kids to not think church is a drag. Please reconsider moving him.

I am in second grade. I want him to be there for my first communion. He makes going to mass so much fun.

I have just met Father Miller since being assigned to Sacred Heart and Saint Raphael Parish and all I can say is he is wonderful with the children and is a great person. He also has so many followers and has brought back so much life into the masses and church. This being said, Please rethink the decision and let him stay......

Fr. Thom has brought back a sense of warmth and hope long lacking in our parish. Meanwhile, the diocese continues to run its old playbook. This won’t stand.

Love having Father Thom at school. Best thing that has happened to Sacred Heart

Please don’t move Fr. Thom!!

I am an alter server and a student at Sacred Heart. It is always fun going to mass with Fr. Thom. I really want him to stay here with us. It will be sad to see him go.

Father Thom is the best! I was so nervous on my first mass of altar serving. He told me not to worry and that I would do a great job. Please don’t move him. Father Thom made me feel welcome the first time I stepped into one of his masses.

Please reconsider this decision and keep Fr. Thom at Sacred Heart.

Please don’t move Father Thom. He makes church fun. He’s the best minister.

Fr. Thom has been a blessing sent to us here at Sacred Heart. He is fantastic for our church, for our community and our school. My kids adore him!! He makes us all want to be better Catholics. At this time, with all that is going on with Catholic priests, we need a priest like him to keep us wanting to come back to church. I’m am so sadden to hear the news from Bishop Zubik. There is no good explanation for it. We will all fight hard to keep him a part of our parish.

Was graduated from Sacred Heart High '61. Our 3 older grandchildren are graduates of Sacred Heart Elementary we have 2 granddaughters attending S.H. Elementary at the present time. In attending mass at S.H., grabdchildren''s events w Fr Thom as celebrant or presenter, we have enjoyed his exuberance, zest & vibrant personality. His homilies are not only thought provoking, faith informative, but light heartened to keep one interested & wanting to hear more!! He enlightens Mass & ant service he celebrates. Let us NOT lose such a positive, bright light!!

The members of our parish need a clear reason as to why Fr. Thom was very abruptly reassigned. Transparency, especially now, is extremely important. Our parish has been through a lot of transition in the past year, and the parishioners and school parents deserve to know why these changes are being made.

I strongly concur with the initial statement. As a 33 year member of Sacred Heart, who has felt estranged from my parish for the past decade, Father Thom made me feel welcome again. I recall, when sitting on the Pastoral Council years ago, our then Pastor Bishop William Winter saying to us regarding a particular issue: "Look, this is your Parish. I'm just a temporary custodian. I'll support whatever decision you make." That was a Pastor - that was a Shepherd. Many I've talked to feel we have this kind of compassionate, caring, Christ-like leadership again. (I have not talked to anyone who is not a fan - ?) I pray for a decision that is best for all members of Sacred Heart Parish.