|
Farewell message from Deacon Taylor Fulkerson, S.J.
With both sadness and gratitude, I say goodbye to St. Patrick and Our Lady of Guadalupe. It has been a privilege to serve these parishes over the past six weeks, working alongside my Jesuit brothers as well as the many dedicated people who faithfully serve this wonderful community.
A new chapter of studies awaits me in New York, but I leave carrying with me the experiences and blessings of this summer in Milwaukee. You will remain in my prayers, and I kindly ask you to keep me in yours as well, especially during this important year of preparation for priestly ordination.
This week we celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius grew up as a typical nobleman in late medieval Spain. He was a knight, educated among the elite and deeply concerned with honor. His vocation was sparked when a cannonball severely wounded his leg. During his long recovery at his family's home in Loyola, with little to distract him, he reflected on the course of his life and came to realize that God was calling him to something greater.
What followed was a lifelong search for God's will, marked by experiences of trial and error, years of study, and opportunities to teach others what he had learned during his recovery. The fruits of that journey were and continue to be extraordinary: the Spiritual Exercises, which train the soul just as an athlete trains the body, and the Society of Jesus, a community of men committed to helping others through preached retreats, spiritual direction, the education of young people, direct service to migrants and refugees, and missionary work in some of the world's most challenging places.
Let us give thanks for St. Ignatius and for the many people who have followed in his footsteps drawing closer to Jesus through the Spiritual Exercises, seeking Christ in service to the poor, or dedicating their lives to the Lord's mission.
Omnia ad majorem Dei gloriam — Everything for the Greater Glory of God!
| 
