New pastor takes the helm at St. Andrew’s

July 4, 2020  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

Rev. Jerome Mercure spent the past 14 years as pastor of congregations in Waterbury, Moretown and Waitsfield. Courtesy photo.

There’s much happening in the world, the country, and even right in downtown Waterbury and it was in the midst of a flurry of activity that an important transition happened this past week at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. 

After 14 years as pastor at St. Andrew’s along with its sister parishes of Our Lady of the Snows in Waitsfield and Moretown’s St. Patrick, Rev. Jerome Mercure departed his post for a new assignment in Franklin County. On Wednesday, July 1, Rev. Matthew Rensch was at the parish office answering the phone. 

Main Street construction is happening literally at the parish’s doorstep on South Main Street and several dozen children from the town summer recreation camp are bustling about using the St. Leo’s parish hall as their home base on weekdays.

In the midst of it all, Father Matthew -- as he would like to be called -- is settling into his new role. 

Mercure’s new assignment was just announced in June, so he’s had to bid many farewells remotely to the congregation members he’s gotten to know from baptisms to funerals for more than a decade. 

Despite seeing retirement on the horizon, Mercure was persuaded to take on a new assignment at the parishes of St. Patrick in Fairfield and St. Anthony-St. George in East Fairfield. In his June 12 message to parishioners, he said it was “with mixed feelings of thanksgiving, nervousness and anticipation” that he accepted the new position. 

The pastor noted how the personal change for him comes during an uncertain time with the COVID-19 pandemic, crisis in the country and churches slowly reopening. The circumstances didn’t lend themselves to long goodbyes. 

“I am relieved and glad to be leaving quickly and with no fanfare,” he wrote. 

He acknowledged the ups and downs of change -- anxiety of leaving what has been home alongside excitement for a new challenge -- and his connection to Waterbury and the surrounding communities. “I have no thought or hope that there could ever be any place greater,” he said.   

As the churches resume in-person services with attendance limited to adhere to public health guidelines, Rensch will get to meet his new congregations. 

Previously at Christ the King in Rutland, Rev. Matthew Rensch, has taken the new assignment closer to his hometown of Williston. Courtesy photo.

A native of Williston, Rensch comes to Waterbury from Rutland where he was Parochial Vicar at Christ the King Church and served alongside pastor Msgr. Bernie Bourgeois, who also has served in Waterbury. 

In his greeting to parishioners, Rensch said he grew up with five siblings including a twin, and they were home-schooled for part of their education. “My mom is a saint,” he said.

His undergraduate studies in philosophy were at Christendom College in Virginia, where he graduated in 2011. He attended seminary in Providence, R.I., and Rome, Italy.

In addition to speaking Italian, Rensch said he enjoys singing Irish music, basketball, and discussing philosophy, “especially that of St. Thomas Aquinas and C. S. Lewis.”

Perhaps with a nod to the youngsters attending summer camp on parish grounds, he added: “P.S. I hate glitter and I love ice cream.”