After missing a Sunday Mass service two weeks ago, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church's pastor apologized to his congregation this week, saying he felt "humiliated" and "deeply sorry" for disappointing his church.
In a printed apology in the church's newsletter dated Sunday and an email to church staff, the Rev. Msgr. James Schillinger apologized for not showing up to Mass on May 26 and made reference to other, unspecified mistakes he said he's made leading the parish on Briarcliff Road.
From Schillinger's newsletter statement:
The pain and disappointment felt by our community is totally my fault because I failed to appear as scheduled for the 11:30 am Mass. I want you to know how very sorry I am.
On Tuesday, after everyone returned from the long holiday weekend, one of our staff members approached me and said that many parishioners were concerned for my well being. I am touched by that concern. Some had said that this was not the first time and that they were disappointed in that I seemed to show no remorse. All I can say is that I know all too well that this has happened before. And I assure you, I have felt humiliated and have been deeply sorry every single time.
The church community also received an email Tuesday from church staff that included a note from Schillinger saying that after meeting with the Atlanta Archdiocese he was leaving town to undergo an "evaluation/assessment." No additional details were given.
Schillinger has led the parish since 2002 and has overseen a transformation of the church and its 500-student, K-8 school, including the construction of an entirely new church. In one of his final acts in March, Pope Benedict XVI named Schillinger and eight other Atlanta-area priests Chaplains of His Holiness Mosignors, an honorific title.
But his time at the parish hasn't been without controversy. Schillinger rankled many school faculty, staff and parents in 2011 after former school Principal Tricia DeWitt resigned. Many parents said they believed Schillinger forced DeWitt from her post and publicly protested the pastor.