Happy 4th!

(last weekend)

The readings are really on point here!

The first is about Elijah passing off the reins to his successor Elisha. This past week I hosted Fr. Brad and talked at him for three days straight about the parish, the school, the Newman Center, the Thrift Shoppe and Food Pantry and everything going on in the Soo!

The Gospel: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
 but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
Don't get too comfortable in any one place! Haha, well- case in point here!

Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow
 and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”  

---So that’s it, when you get the call you’ve got to go! 

Jesus really doesn’t ask much of us- He asks everything of us!

But, He also gives everything- He is the source of every grace and blessing- so, it really evens out in the end.

The Psalm today:

If you've got the Lord, you've got enough.

. . . 

So this is my goodbye homily-

I’ve been tying up loose ends these past weeks and months- Before I go I want to say some things that should be said before leaving-

I want to say apologize if I’ve wronged any of you during during my time here-

After a few years as a public person you can build up hurts.

Sometimes I’ve hurt people because I’ve said the wrong thing or made the wrong decision, or I was brash or outspoken, or my focus or priorities weren’t where they should’ve been or even where I wanted them to be. I apologize if that was the case or if you were ever hurt by something I said or did, or didn’t do. 

Sometimes I’ve been hurtful because I’ve said the right thing, but it grated on you or hit the wrong note. In those cases I’m not sorry for what I said if it was true, but I am sorry for any time I spoke the truth in an unconvincing or unloving way! 

Also- I apologize for being such a DRIVER these past two months- I probably over-tapped you as volunteers for help around the parish! I wanted to race through and get certain projects done that I knew Fr. Brad wouldn’t be able to get to or prioritize for a few years if we didn’t do it now. 

We had a great cleaning bee last Saturday-!

I feel good about our new Food Pantry Endowment Fund- one visitor donated $500 last weekend, and the Knights of Columbus gave $3K from their pasty sales (they’ve been a great organization to work with, I encourage the men of our parish to join!)- 

I really want to leave this parish in good standing and a stable position.

Also along these lines:

I want to say that I forgive those of you who have been hurtful to me- at times not giving me the benefit of the doubt, or putting too high of expectations on me, or scapegoating me for things, or blowing me off when I hoped for your involvement; I forgive you for those times. And that won't be the first, second or third thing I think of when I think of the Soo. Dominant in my mind are the many things I'm grateful for!!

People have been so good to me- what a rich experience I’ve had here. Thank you for letting me walk with you, for inviting me into your lives. 

It’s been beautiful to meet you at the baptismal font and baptize your children and grand-children, 

to welcome you and your loved ones into the Church with Confirmation, 

to stand at the altar and witness your wedding vows, and the renewal of vow! 

Thank you for inviting me to the side of your hospital beds, and for allowing me to walk with you through the funerals and burials of your parents, spouses, children, and friends. Thank you for allowing me to be the person who would walk with you through the worst trials of your life, it has been such an honor to be the person you knew you could come to. 

Thank you for sharing joyful and happy times with me- for inviting me to be the first to meet your newborns, for inviting me around your dinner tables and campfires on the beach and in backyards, on your pontoons, your porches, your cabins. Thank you for Christmas cookies (so. many. Christmas cookies!!) and loaves of bread,  for sewing and mending my things and fixing my car and looking after me.

Thank you for letting me take the lead and for listening to my homilies, for going along with my ideas and daydreams for the parish- for trying new things and meeting new people. This has been an easy ship to steer, and frankly, a lot of fun!!

People have been so good to me here it’s embarrassing!

Being a priest is such a good life. Being a priest here has been a great life. 

I will always treasure my time here, and know that I leave no small part of my heart in the Soo!

As for me- I trust that these scriptures are true, if God led me here and it was so good, I have every reason to believe that He’ll keep leading me. I have loved it here and always will, but I’m ready now to say yes to what is next. 

Give a warm welcome to Fr. Brad-! He's a good friend of mine, and I can't tell you how happy it makes me knowing he's going to have a great experience here!

Help him fill the gaps in parish life I told you about a few weeks ago-! When he invites you to something, come! He’ll have new ideas and that’s good. A fresh set of eyes on the parish, the Newman Center, the school, the Thrift Shoppe and the Food Pantry is a good thing! 

When the Bishop comes to install him, please thank the Bishop for sending a good priest in Fr. Brad to our parish!

So.

Goodbye, 

-I love you-

and