It was a Saturday in September when my telephone rang. The call was anticipated but deliberately left unanswered. No way was I answering this call. I had been told that a certain Fr. Steiger would be calling to ask me to join him in discerning if God was calling me to ministry at Good Shepherd. Answering that call could lead to heartache as I would leave behind a ministry to and with those I loved. Eventually, the Lord (and Fr. Steiger) won out…thanks be to God and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fast forward to today and another calling and unbelievable heartache. I am announcing I am stepping away as Pastoral Associate. My life circumstances and that of my family have changed. My mom is 95 years old. My grandson, who is 7 years old, lives in Michigan. Mom’s is the voice of the elder. My grandson’s is the voice of the young. Yet they are saying the same thing: that they want more shared time, more shared presence. I want that too.
I am filled with gratitude to God (and Fr. Steiger for placing that call) for offering me shared leadership of such a marvelous faith community. Thanks also to Fr. Martin and Fr. Tim who have encouraged and supported me in my ministry. I am thankful to Fr. Ed, Fr. McHugh, Fr. Michael, Deacons Ed, Keith and Tom for living out their callings so well and influencing my own. My great appreciation to our Office Staff, Alice and Mary for so many years of shared service and sisterhood and to Phyllis and Allison for their enriching presence.
There are no words to adequately thank all of YOU through whom I have grown in faith and into the minister-servant and person that I now am and who make Good Shepherd Parish all that it is. This is such an exciting time in our Parish and I am happy to say that I will be remaining as a parishioner and am eager to see what the future holds for all of us. I invite you to join with me at the 10:30am Mass on June 11th in joy, thanksgiving, and in fellowship at a hospitality to follow. Please know that in my heart you are my family. Whenever I take leave of my family, I always tell them, “I love you beyond all words.”