Pastor's Letter -- May 23, 2021

Different priests bring different gifts. The more I interact with other priests and pastors, the more I see God using us all in unique ways to build up the souls of His people, to tend and to guide His flock. One of the things that has been really impressive to me over the past weeks with the pastor of my new parish is his intercessory prayer for others. I have been regularly getting text messages from him that he is praying for me before the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist. He is a man of prayer and he shares that prayer generously with others.

It has an effect on me as well: as I write this I am sitting before the Lord Jesus in the tabernacle, asking Jesus to bless you all with the graces you need for following Him faithfully.

I have also been more and more impressed with the next pastor of this parish, Fr. Julius. We have met privately once and talked multiple times over the phone. He came this week to meet the staff and to get to know us all. We gave him a tour of the facilities. He has begun to transfer some of his belongings to the rectory to be unpacked in a few weeks (once I finally get started!). But above all, I can see that he takes his role as pastor seriously and wishes to learn about the parish and about the good work we have been building up in the past years. This is all very encouraging for me, and I am certain that he will bring his own special gifts to the parish.

Finally, one of the gifts I bring to you is a prayer that has been part of my life since my early days in seminary, thanks to a rector sharing it with me. It is a simple prayer to be guided by the Holy Spirit, who we remember above all on the great feast of Pentecost today - which was also the day I offered my first Mass as a priest ten years ago! (That year it was June 12th). It is my hope that this prayer will continue to be a source of growth for you as I go forth from this parish. If every priest leaves a blessing or two in your lives over the years, then these times of transition become a way to look forward in hope for the next good thing God will be doing. Praise the Lord!



Prayer to the Holy Spirit by Cardinal Mercier
"I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to all the noises of the world in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctuary of your baptized soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:

O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will. Amen.

If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity."