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Dear Friends,
Words cannot begin to describe all the emotions I am experiencing right now as I leave you to begin my assignment as priest-secretary to Bishop Bonnici. There is simultaneous sadness about what I am leaving behind, but excitement about what lies ahead. The best I can come up with now is: “Thank you.” My heart overflows with gratitude for the kindness, patience, and trust you have shown me during these past nineteen months. I am particularly grateful to Fr. Gonyo and our parish staff for their willingness to support me in trying out my crazy, new ideas. It truly has been a privilege for me to serve you and to walk with you, as together we have become a community in love with the Lord and on fire with the joy of the Gospel. You have taught me so much about what it means to be a priest, to be a father, and I am forever grateful that Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Parish is my first assignment and gets to hold that place in my heart.
I would like to leave you with a few spiritual exercises. These are spiritual exercises that can last a lifetime, that continue to challenge me in my own walk with the Lord, and that can make our lives all the more joyful.
1. Always make time for prayer and your relationship with the Lord. I don’t mean just reciting a bunch of prayers, or the rosary, as good as those things are. Really get to know the Lord and allow yourself to be known by him. Make time each day to hear him asking you: “How are you doing today?” Then share your life with him. It will amaze you how you will find him present at each and every moment.
2. Find good friends who will challenge you to become a saint and who you can support in their walk with the Lord. This has been the greatest joy of my life – having friends to walk this journey with. Our society has way too much isolation and I think one of the sources of many of today’s problems is a crisis of friendship. Let’s be a community that fixes that.
3. Keep learning. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us: “You cannot love what you do not know.” Spend time learning more about your faith and about the world around you. You will be surprised the places you can learn something about yourself and God. Turn off the TV, put the phone away, and experience life, read good books, and learn something new.
In closing, I humbly ask that you please keep me in your prayers as I begin this new chapter of my life. May St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. John Fisher, and all the saints intercede for each of us as we strive to be missionary disciples and the saints God calls us to be.
Peace,
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