He is fun and has a lot of good ideas. You will be very involved. 
Community Bulletin Board
What is our new pastor like? Here's what people from his earlier assignments are saying...
He is fun and has a lot of good ideas. You will be very involved.
---- Lauren Hyman
Member of St Thomas More Youth Group
Fr. Ralph is, to put it mildly, an Advent person. He celebrates the season
of advent until Christmas Eve. Somehow, his Christmas cards always
arrive Christmas Eve, not a day before. We tease him about his "purple
season" and he is a very good sport about it.
Fr. Ralph LOVES ice cream. It is his favorite food.
Fr. Ralph does not care to go on boats [if he can avoid it.]
He can take a joke [good thing since we pulled a lot of them on him through
the years.]
He loves to garden and has a green thumb.
He loves anything that requires him to be creative.
Lastly, he makes the best iced tea.
He loves to look at the ocean - but not be in it.
---- Mary Ann Garrett
Friend and former parishioner and catechist
Our Holy Redeemer, Freeport
The people of St. Brigid's should know that Father Ralph is one of the most
personable, compassionate and giving people I've ever known. His imprint is
forever a part of our parish and he will be missed. On a lighter note, he
has a wonderful sense of humor and is a technical wizard (computers,
photography, videomaking).
---- Ginny Watral A St. Thomas More parishioner, catechist and friend
Fr. Ralph loves being a priest, sharing his many talents and having parish be
"family". He's great at releasing your gifts as well...be prepared to be
involved!
He's quite innovative...once as a raffle prize he offered to cook & serve
(with youth ministers from the parish) a full course Italian dinner for the
winner & 6 guests at their home. He & his "troupe" arrived in full costume
even prepared to serenade us...what they didn't expect was that we (the
winner & guests) would be dressed formally in gowns & tuxes! A memorable
evening!
---- Barbara Eberst
Friend & Our Holy Redeemer parishioner who worked with Fr. Ralph in many
areas of parish life & RENEW 2000
Fr Ralph is kind and open. Bring him your ideas, and he will encourage and
help you to make them into realities. He has a knack for creating a
community, even a family, where before there might have been a parish!!
Be open to his way of ministering. Though it may be different from what you
have experienced in the past, Father Ralph will help to bring faith ALIVE. I
know that St. Brigid's has always been a strong parish, but Father Ralph's
twist on things will open your eyes, excite you, involve you, and make you
see why, through his travels from Seminary to priesthood, through RENEW 2000 and
personal contact, he is probably one of the most beloved priests in our
diocese. You would be hard pressed to find a former parishoner will a bad
opinion of him.
Don't be afraid to approach him!! He is very friendly. And bring him some
mint chocalate chip ice cream, at least that used to be his favorite!!
---- Theresa Duran
Our Holy Redeemer Parishioner --I worked with Fr Ralph on Antioch and Renew 2000
I returned to the Catholic faith after being away for many years because of
my conversations with Father Ralph. My husband was a lifelong Episcopalian and
he joinded our church in 1998 because he wanted to be a part of the
Catholic faith. This was due to Father Ralph.
-- Ellen Millar
--A parishioner of St. Thomas More and a RENEW 2000 facilitator
If you ever need someone to talk to or to just cry, too Fr.Ralph is a
wonderful listener, and he will go to a great extent to get you help in
any way. You are blessed to have him become part of your family.
---- Maria Culliton
Parishioner of St. Thomas More
He love's God with all his heart and all God's people. He is a tremendous listener. He knows how to solve problems based on God's word and his experience with lots of people. He loves homemade Italian food and blueberries
fresh, cooked and syrup. I will miss him but he had to move on and up. He is a very special "precious man" and my friend always...You must get a big garden also.. I hope you will all come to know real quickly, that I haven't said enough about him . Yes he is human, and he will have some off moments, but I never saw them....God Bless you All.....
---- Mary Carilli
St. Thomas More Parishioner
Be prepared - for only wonderful things. His energy level is passed on to
all who come in contact with him! Fr. Ralph has an incredible gift of
getting you involved before you even know what's happening!!
-- St Thomas More Parishioner
You are very lucky to be blessed with such a dynamic person as
your new pastor, our loss is your gain. We are privileged to have gotten to know
such a wonderful person. You are in for a wonderful spiritual journey, and
for many surprises. We really miss him, but we are happy for his
"promotion"!!!
---- Chris Weiler
St Thomas More Parishioner