My Dear Friends in Christ,
In St. Luke’s account of the Holy Gospel, the evangelist quotes Our Lord as saying, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" (See Lk. 9:58). Since my beloved wife’s death and through my formation into the priesthood, I have adopted this passage as my personal motto. The death of the woman with whom – to use St. Paul’s expression – I was one flesh for 32 years, the absence of the person that God had chosen for that sacred union, placed these words of Sacred Scripture in my path like a GPS flashing and announcing: “REROUTING”! I was suddenly widowed. My life was radically changed. Without my wife, my home was no longer my home. God was telling me, “I’ve taken your wife to myself. I’ve taken your desire for your home. Become like Christ. Place your trust in me and lay your head where I direct you.”
Fast forward a few years and now as a priest the Holy Spirit gently nudges me to be more conformed to Christ. He marries me to countless beautiful people in two parishes and even beyond the confines of the parish as I shepherd, teach and sanctify them in Christ’s name. Once again, I am in love by God’s precious gift and at Christ’s command; but it is different. Like all Christians who come to realize that their home is not in this world but in Heaven above, I learn that the parish priest strives to never forget that his assignment among the people he grew to love is transitory; the sojourn is short. He never fully unpacks his bags. He never lays down his head in comfort. Nonetheless, he leads, he blesses, he consecrates, he loves. His love is not perfect, but God is tirelessly at work refining that. In the refinery, the Master -- in His Divine wisdom -- Who knows exactly the needs for the salvation of all, takes away the loves of this mortal life to which hearts are directed. Sometimes He takes a worldly comfort or pleasure. Other times He takes a wife. Still in other instances He takes a priest or a parish (or two). If you desire to be like His only begotten Son, he will take your home, leaving you no place to lay your head. In the end, He will take each of us so we might lay our head on His breast for eternity in Heaven.
Bishop DiLorenzo has determined that I will be transferred to Saint Anne in Bristol effective July 1. Fr. Mark White will be transferred to Saint Joseph and Saint Francis of Assisi effective July 1.
Please be assured of my love and prayers for each and every one of you! It has been a blessed sojourn!
In Christ,