Dear Friends in Christ,
My name is Father Jeff Rott and I am your new parish priest at St. Raymond. Archbishop Perez has entrusted me to serve this historic community as we rely graciously on God's providence together. I look forward to ministering to you and with you and have much to learn about your wonderful community. I was ordained in 2009 and served as a parish priest at SS. Simon and Jude in West Chester, St. Jude in Chalfont, St. Laurence in Upper Darby and Epiphany of Our Lord in Plymouth Meeting. I was also the chaplain to Pope John Paul High School in Royersford.
I was born in Auburn, New York, the same town where Harriet Tubman spent much of her life and ultimately was laid to rest. Most of my childhood years were spent near Syracuse New York and I eventually moved to Collegeville during my Junior Year of High School. I attended Bloomsburg University and earned a degree in accounting and worked in the field for 3 years prior to entering the Seminary.
I have had the privilege of visiting many sacred sites in our Catholic Tradition including St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, and Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. I had the privilege of celebrating Mass on top of Mount Calvary in Jerusalem at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
As a seminarian, I served at St. Martin de Porres Parish from the summer of 2006 to the spring of 2007. I enjoyed the prayerfulness of the community every Sunday at the 10am Mass during that year. I know that you will welcome me with that same spirit.
Over the next few weeks there will be many opportunities to get to know each other including two upcoming chances to connect. On Wednesday, July 6th you are invited to the rectory for coffee and donuts following the 8 AM mass. We will also gather for Hospitality Sunday after the 10 AM mass on July 10th.
If you would like to make an appointment to meet with me, feel free to send an email. Please keep me in your prayers as I begin serving this wonderful community.
God bless,
Fr Jeff