Parish Message for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Dear Parishioners,
I write to you today from my little corner overlooking the crossroads in my lovely New York as I am in the midst of preparing for a wedding …
There is a song by the Puerto Rican artist Hector Lavoe titled ‘Todo Tiene Su Final’ (Everything Has Its End). Unfortunately, this Message also has to reflect about an end as well.
This Cardinal has asked me to be the Assistant Priest at the Parish of St. Joan of Arc, Highbury, beginning at the end of October. Although I am saddened by the fact that I will have to say goodbye to all of you here, both locally and virtually, I am comforted to know that in the past three years I have managed to know so many of you and shared an experience in the growth of faith with you.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank you for your prayers and support during these years. As mentioned in many Thank You speeches, the list is long and I am afraid to forget to specifically include someone. I thank you, from the parishioners whom I have greeted outside the doors when Mass finished on both weekdays and weekends, at the school, or in any circumstance (and, yes, even having my name shouted on the street or from a car); the patience of the sacristans, servers, and choir; the even greater patience of the catechists, teachers, and organisers for any visitation, committees, or events; and even a greater (and heavenly endowed) patience to Fr. Peter and Debbie, who have moulded me in my first three years of priestly ministry.
I know that any transition is difficult, but we do these things with the assurance of faith that we persevere in what we do or say because of our redemption in Christ. St. Paul sums it up in last Sunday’s Second Reading: ‘none of us lives for himself, nor dies for himself. If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Either in life or in death, we belong to the Lord’ (Romans 14: 7-8)
I am sure that you will happily welcome Fr. Antonio and that he will be a great priest of service for you – a beacon of faith, hope and love for all of you in the parish.
I understand that COVID-19 has changed a bit the way we will interact with each other, but I am sure we will find a way to say goodbye. But not to worry, I am still around for another month when I come back from New York.
Pray for me as I pray for you always.
In Christ,
Fr. Carlos