Dear parishioners and friends,
Change always brings mixed emotions. Change, however, is a sign that we are alive. Our lives are a beautiful and inestimable gift of God's love. At the same time that He is Lord of life, He is also our Savior. One of the signs that we are in His love and sharing His divine life is the virtue of hope.
As all of us look to the changes ahead let us redouble our prayers for hope. It is always the key to joy in the Lord. Hope quickens our steps toward eternity and energizes us each day with grace to face the many challenges that simply come with committing ourselves to Him and to His holy will.
Our paths may be taking different directions in the days ahead, but we will as always be united in the one thing more powerful than the world and anything it may offer: the victory over the world which is our faith.
With heartfelt gratitude and love I thank you for your many kindnesses, your generosity, for the fact that you showed up, and above all for the most loving gift of your prayers. These and many other graces will sustain me in the days ahead.
Thank you also for your kind words, gifts and gestures on the occasion of my retirement party. It was another confirmation of the privilege and blessing to be among you and to serve you and your families.
Because of the wonderful things that the Lord has done among us here, which we were blessed to witness together and the beautiful memories of which we will always share, this parish will always be with me and I will never truly leave it behind though I may not be physically present among you as I was for 16 years.
Please pray for me and for one another. Please encourage each other always in the faith.
With much affection in the Lord,
No comments:
Post a Comment