Pastor's Letter and Announcement of Transfer -- May 16, 2021

Close to ten years ago at my ordination, I promised before God and his Church to respect and obey Bishop Rhoades and his successors, and now I must live that in an important way out of response to all God has done for me. After the great blessing of serving in this parish for just about five years, the bishop has asked me to prepare for a new assignment in Fort Wayne. Starting June 15th, I am to be pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish.

I did not expect this move, and I certainly wasn’t praying for it, but God has plans that are above and beyond our own. I went after Easter to a meeting with Bishop, hoping he was going to tell me that we are getting a newly ordained priest to join me at the parish, so I really didn’t see it coming when he asked me. And being the phlegmatic temperament that I am, meaning I am more “go with the flow,” I said “okay” long before I could really understand what I was thinking and feeling. If God made me different, I might have tried to run away like Jonah! But seriously, even when we know it is God’s will, that He is working through the bishop’s advisors, his own discernment, and especially his personal prayer on these topics - despite all of this, all change is difficult, and the bigger it is, the more complicated it can get. Over the past weeks, I’ve been processing through all the things that this change means: losing turf - this parish feels like home, and the new one will take a long time for that; losing attachments - I have great friendships in the parish, in all of South Bend, and definitely love working with my staff; losing control - I can’t help to see so much of our parish’s good work through to its finish, and have to trust in those who follow; losing future - I’m sure my calendar is going to be totally re-vamped for the Fall; losing structure - whole new routine… and who’s going to be my dentist? where will I cut my hair? which staff person takes care of what, etc.; losing identity - I’ll no longer be in the same role for all of you and for the high school, but at least I’ll still be a priest; loss of meaning - perhaps I’m not as “essential” to this parish at all, since God is going to use someone else.

All of these variety of thoughts have slowly come through my mind and at times pierced my heart over the past weeks of processing. But still I am actually hopeful and confident about this.  Why? I have been consoled by the Lord in some very important ways.

First, my confidence that God blesses those who bless Him. I would never have had the joy of priesthood and leaving a place that I have loved, if I had not been obedient to God’s will in the past, to not only be a priest, not only go where He sends me, but also to embrace the work of repeatedly offering myself to God’s people. *I admit, this is something that, sinner and imperfect man that I am, I have never done perfectly, but I have ultimately tried to be faithful to. And by the way, I want to apologize for any ways I have failed to love you the way God wanted me to. Any ways I have not been the priest and pastor I was called to be, I am sorry and I beg pardon from you and from Almighty God. *but back to God’s blessings: only by saying “yes” to God’s invitations can our life become an adventure. Otherwise it is simply self-creation, my own dreams, which are so much smaller. I am confident that God will shower down blessings on us for doing his will.

Secondly, I know that God is not done with His work. Just like this church is still being made new, so too is God doing that with this parish. Jesus says in John’s Gospel, “My Father is working, and so I am working.” He hasn’t stopped, and He isn’t far from this moment and this situation. He’s right in the midst of it. We need to cooperate with all the good that God is dreaming for this parish in the future.

Thirdly, I know we have been building on the right foundations. This parish is not all about me. Never over the past five years have I tried to make things reliant on my own persona or ego. So now that I am called elsewhere, nothing of that will crumble. We have been stressing again and again the truth that we must build our lives around Jesus, putting Him at the center, looking to Him and relying on Him to satisfy our hearts. This gives me so much peace to know that what we are doing will continue to grow and thrive in the months and years ahead.

I also want to thank you for the ways that you have been so kind to me. Thank you for your love, for your patience, and for your prayers. I ask also that you pray for your new pastor, Fr. Julius Okojie, who has been serving at Sacred Heart in Lakeville for the past few years. Love him the way that you have shown love to me. He has his own gifts, and a truly good priestly heart, and will thus be a wonderful pastor for you. Embracing him is a concrete way that we say “yes” with joyful receptivity to God’s dreams for our parish and our lives.

Lastly, this departure only makes sense in the context of the Gospel, of the Lord’s gift of Himself and the new life He has won for us. Jesus draws us into Himself, and He thus makes us one with each other as members of the one Body of Christ. God’s love for you hasn’t changed, and He is using this experience as another way to expand our hearts to be ready for the ultimate joy of reunion in eternity. Heaven is so close, brothers and sisters, and for those who are in Christ Jesus, “goodbye” is only temporary. I will see you in the Eucharist and we will continue to remain united in the bonds of Divine Love. Let us pray the prayer of St. Thérèse for priests, especially for myself and for our new pastor.

O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your holy love surround them and shield them from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen