On Sunday, September 20th, St. Anastasia Parish formally welcomed Father Brandon Artman as its new Pastor during his installation, marking a meaningful homecoming for a priest whose journey of faith and service had already brought him to Newtown Square earlier in his ministry. We asked Father Artman to share a few words about his journey to the priesthood and his return to St. Anastasia.
Coming Home to St. Anastasia
There is something special about returning to a place that has already been an important part of your life. When Archbishop Pérez appointed me Pastor of St. Anastasia Parish this past July, I was excited to return to a community that had meant so much to me during my earlier years as a priest. As priests, we never know exactly where our assignments will take us, or whether we will have the opportunity to return to a place where we have previously served. To be entrusted with the pastoral care of a parish where I already have so many fond memories and friendships is a blessing, and one for which I am very grateful.
I first came to St. Anastasia in 2020, serving as Parochial Vicar (Assistant Pastor) until 2023. During those three years, I came to know so many wonderful families and shared in the everyday joys and struggles of parish life. I never imagined that just a few years later, I would return as Pastor. It has been wonderful to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new parishioners and become involved once again in the life of the parish.
St. Anastasia has been part of the Newtown Square community since 1912. With approximately 4,000 registered families, ours is a busy parish, and there is rarely a day when something isn’t happening. At the heart of it all is our Catholic faith and our desire to help people come to know Jesus Christ more deeply.
That faith is lived out most especially in the sacramental life of our parish. Each day, parishioners gather for Mass to receive Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, drawing strength from His presence to live their faith in their families, workplaces and daily lives. Others come to Confession, where they experience the healing mercy of Christ as He forgives their sins and offers them a new beginning. We welcome children and adults through the waters of Baptism, where they become sons and daughters of God the Father and members of His Church. And when death comes, we gather with grieving families to commend their loved ones back to the God who gave them life, praying that they may enjoy the peace and joy of heaven forever. These are some of the most important moments in the lives of our parishioners, and it is a privilege to share in them as their priest.
Our parish school and Religious Education Program play an important role in passing that faith on to the next generation. One of the great blessings of returning to St. Anastasia has been spending time with our students, teachers and families. Whether celebrating school Masses, visiting classrooms or attending school activities, I enjoy being part of their lives. We want our children to understand that their Catholic faith isn’t something reserved for Sundays, but something that should guide the way they live each day. Our CYO program builds on that formation through athletics and service opportunities, teaching our young people good sportsmanship, teamwork and the importance of helping others.
Our parish is also blessed with many organizations and ministries that put our faith into action. Since returning, I’ve met with the leaders of our parish and school organizations, and I look forward to helping them continue to grow. Among these is our St. Vincent de Paul Society, whose members assist individuals and families facing difficult circumstances. Through our Caring for Friends program, parishioners prepare an extra portion of a meal, freeze it and donate it so that a homebound neighbor who might otherwise go without a healthy meal can enjoy one. Our St. John’s Hospice casserole collection allows parishioners to prepare homemade casseroles that are distributed to the poor and homeless in Center City Philadelphia. These are simple but meaningful ways that our parishioners live out Christ’s command to love and serve one another.
Our Bible Study is another opportunity for parishioners to grow in their relationship with Christ. As they open the Scriptures together, they come to encounter God through His Word and discover how He continues to speak to us through those same sacred texts today. It is an opportunity not simply to learn more about the Bible, but to listen more attentively to what God is saying to each of us and how He is calling us to live.
We are also working to create more opportunities for people to come together. Our growing High School Youth Ministry provides opportunities to build friendships and deepen faith. Our Oasis Program offers young people with special needs a welcoming place to enjoy activities, develop friendships and grow together. In September, more than 300 people joined us for a Phillies Watch Party, and recently, over 100 people brought their pets for our Blessing of Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. We’ve enjoyed movie nights, school celebrations, and other gatherings that bring parishioners and neighbors together. Sometimes the best way to build a stronger parish is simply to give people the opportunity to get to know one another.
I believe strongly that St. Anastasia should be an active and positive presence in the wider Newtown Square community. I’ve enjoyed meeting local leaders and strengthening relationships with neighboring organizations and faith communities. Recently, I had the privilege of joining our Jewish neighbors at Temple Sholom for their Rosh Hashanah observance. Our parish has been part of this area for 114 years, and I want us to continue being good neighbors, working together whenever possible for the good of the community we share.
As Pastor, I want St. Anastasia to be one parish, united in our mission to know Jesus Christ and make Him known to others. We cannot share a faith we do not first nurture in ourselves. The more deeply we come to know Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and the life of the Church, the better we can serve Him in the people we encounter each day.
I also want to extend a personal invitation to anyone reading this who may have grown up Catholic but hasn’t been to church in a while. Perhaps life became busy, you gradually drifted away or something happened that left you feeling distant from the Church. Whatever the reason, I hope you’ll consider coming back. You don’t have to have everything figured out before walking through our doors, and you don’t need to worry about how long it’s been since you last attended Mass. You are always welcome here.
And if you’re not Catholic but have wondered about the Catholic faith, I invite you to come and see what we’re all about. Join us for Mass, attend an event, introduce yourself or simply ask a question. We would be happy to help you learn more about what we believe and why our faith means so much to us. There is no pressure and no expectation that you need to make a decision. Sometimes the first step is simply showing up.
Returning to St. Anastasia has been a tremendous blessing, and these first few months have reminded me why I loved being here in the first place. I am grateful for the warm welcome I’ve received and for the many people who give so generously of themselves to make this parish what it is. I look forward to all that lies ahead as we continue to grow together in faith and service.
If you’ve never visited St. Anastasia, or if it’s been a long time since you’ve been here, I hope you’ll stop by. I’d love the opportunity to welcome you personally. God bless you and your family! NS Fr. Brandon M. Artman Pastor, St. Anastasia Parish