My pastor is retiring

[tad]

Years ago, in a private conversation, my pastor confided in me that he had told me that if God would let him, he would like to be parish priest until the day of his death. Well, today we got a letter in the mail from him informing us that he would be retiring this June. He’s been very ill for a number of years and unable to fulfill a lot of his sacramental duties. Still, this is the man who heard my first confession, confirmed me, and fed me my first Holy Eucharist. He’s my greatest argument for apostolic succession.

I’m a little sad now. I know this day was inevitable, and because of his health I haven’t enjoyed serving mass with him or his spiritual direction like I used to. For years there, the liturgical life was pretty sweet. I loved being an altar server with him. It meant so much to me.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sounds like this priest is one of the Lord’s good servants if he made such an impression on you and probably also on others in his parish. Treasure your nice memories of him.
My hometown parish has gone through 4 pastors in my lifetime. I liked 2 of them but didn’t have anywhere near the experiences you did with yours.

 

[lilypadrees]

Our priest retired when he was 75. We later learned that the leukemia he’d privately battled for four years had returned. We lost him seven moths later. He was instrumental in bringing my mother into the Catholic Church. Not a day goes by that we don’t miss him.

Your priest sounds as special to you as ours was to us. Remember the good times you shared. Don’t let his retiring hinder you in your service to God and to the priest He will bring into your church after this one retires.

God has a purpose for us all.

 

[tad]

He was one of those men who were obviously meant to be a priest. My wife kept telling me that he was special. He’s been the pastor at our parish for 31 years. I think that’s kind of rare in the Church. I’m under the impression that the diocese moves priests around so the congregation won’t get too attached to them. My pastor was certainly very popular.

 

[tad]

My pastor is 88. I saw him on Saturday when I served a funeral. He looked really weak. I’m not sure if he recognized me. My parish has been in transition for a while now. Back when my pastor was healthy, Holy Week had a certain sweetness to it. I really enjoyed serving all those masses with him. I will remember the good times we shared.

My wife and I are kind of in a weird spot in regards to our parish. She gets claustrophobic at our church,and we both think it’s too noisy, so currently we’re sort of bouncing around. I’ve got a thread in the Sacrament/liturgy section called ‘Roamin Catholics’.