PARISH PRIESTS ON THE MOVE

Every year beginning on July 1, many priests of the dioceses of the country receive new assignments. I am not sure why July 1 is the official “Transfer date” but it is a time of joy, sadness and expectancy. In my own life the joy has always been related to the hope of new challenges, new people to serve and new opportunities to journey forward in faith. I have been transferred four times in the course of my priestly service with five different assignments. I began teaching high school, then was transferred to university teaching and administration, then moved on to Catholic Charities administration and then to Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary for teaching and administration and, finally, I landed at Saint Joan of Arc as a first-time Pastor. It is interesting to me that what has united these different ministries is the commitment to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and to the People of God. I never planned for any of them and was always surprised with joy and sometimes disbelief!

Of course, there is always a degree of sadness and loss that accompanies any change of assignments for priests. Familiar tasks, beloved people, challenges and successes are left behind for an unknown future. The human relationships that have evolved over years are now changed seem almost to and inevitably most slip away. New ones, however, soon are built and with them new challenges and different satisfactions. It is true that parish priests are in many ways the “spiritual fathers” of many children. Although not biological fathers, we have many opportunities to nurture, to mentor, to teach and to model Christian values and commitments. This entering into and out of the lives of individuals and families is very often a deep and profound experience. It is truly the deepest joy of the priesthood for me: the significant interpersonal relationships with which I have been blessed as a priest.

Here at Saint Joan of Arc, this July, our parish family will say “good bye” to Father Tomasz Bocknak and say “welcome” to Father Wesler Hilaire.  All of the good that Father Tomasz accomplished during his three years ministering among us is his lasting gift to us. All the ways that we have helped him, taught him and supported him with great love and affection, is our gift to him. We hope that he will never forget his formative years of the priesthood here among the families of Saint Joan of Arc. It is with sadness that we let him go but also with a genuine sense of gratefulness for his presence.

Finally, this July, we will welcome newly ordained Father Wesler Hilaire. Father Wesler is no stranger to our parish family since he spent his seminarian pastoral year working among us. Today, however, he comes as one ordained to listen, learn, serve and to lead by his word and example. We give thanks to God for a newly ordained priest through whom we can become more closely united to God and to one another. We, on our part, will help him to discover more clearly his gifts for ministry and we will share with him the wisdom and life experience of this wonderful parish family.

Farewells and welcomes are the dynamics of the parish priesthood. Amen.
– Msgr. Michael D. McGraw