Hello St. Richard Parish! I will be here in replacement ministry until your new administrator arrives in October. Some have termed what I will be doing as “babysitting a parish”. This is somewhat true; as a good babysitter I have all the important phone numbers to call if there are any problems or misbehaving. The staff is also working on converting the comfort room to be a “time out” room for all ages. (just kidding).
I was in a hospital recently (I am expected to live at least another 30 years) and had the opportunity to watch a documentary about the struggles of our brothers and sisters around the Middle East as I lay in bed. Compared to them, we have little to complain about in the upcoming mergers and groupings in October. Many of them have been cruelly persecuted for their faith (many martyred) and have lost their churches to bombings and vandalism.
All change can be difficult, but if we keep a perspective on the challenges the Mystical Body of Christ has faced over the ages, it becomes less daunting. Christ has promised to be with us until the end of the ages and his promises are true. Whatever comes we can be certain that we are never alone, the Lord is with us!