Our Pastor, Msgr. Scott Daugherty's Retirement

To The People of God of Saint Anne’s Parish and other Wonderful Friends:

Several weeks ago I announced my retirement date as the last day of June 2024.  That date has been moved forward.  Due to health reasons, and with the encouragement of my doctors, I will be retiring, after over thirty years as pastor of St. Anne’s Parish in Porterville, at the end of this November, 2023.  I am not yet in a health crisis, but not far away either.  For the good of the parish and the good of the Diocese of Fresno I feel it is better for me to “hand over the reins” now than wait for a crisis.  

There are those who have offered congratulations for this step of my life. My retirement is not to pursue a life of leisure, but to perhaps have opportunity to improve my health.  I will continue to reside in Porterville and be available for visits and to assist the new pastor as he wishes, as I am able.  If  I had better health and mobility I would not yet be retiring.  I neither celebrate nor lament this transition.  I have had a good run these past thirty plus years.  I have been blessed beyond measure as pastor of Saint Anne’s Parish, and over forty years as a priest.

My favorite movies are about baseball, Field of Dreams my favorite of all.  There is a line in the movie spoken by the lead male character in a conversation with a famous author:  “There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place - and the universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what's possible.”   The author, having moved past the time of his life in the 1960’s when he wrote that, shouted … “You’re from the ‘60’s … GET OUT OF HERE.”  I am not from the ‘60’s, but this is exactly what happened to me when I said yes to the seminary and priesthood.  This is why I get emotional every time I see this movie. To be honest I am sentimental and become emotional from time to time.

There is a retirement Mass (English / Spanish / Latin) followed by a luncheon scheduled for Saturday November 25, 2023 at 10:00AM, Holy Cross Church in Porterville.  The luncheon will follow Mass and take place on the Church plaza.  I hope you can join me.  God bless you. 
 

Msgr. Scott Daugherty