Last week, I shared how it was such a delightful surprise when His Holiness Pope Leo XIV mentioned in his first homily as Pope our parish patron, St. Ignatius of Antioch,
The Holy Father alluded to how St. Ignatius bishop and martyr presided in charity over the flock, and acknowledge how he as Pope is now called to preside in Charity over the whole Church as Pope and with his life.
To preside in charity. What a beautiful phrase for any bishop or priest to ponder. Leadership in the Church must always rooted in love. On Friday, I celebrated the 16th anniversary of my priestly ordination, and I took some time to reflect on how the Lord has called me to preside in charity in my various assignments, particularly these last six and a half years at St. Ignatius of Antioch
It was also edifying to witness the ordination of 8 new priests for the diocese of Cleveland, Saturday morning in the Cathedral. The bishop, the priests and deacons, and religious, their families and friends and fellow Catholics gathered to pray for these 8 men as they begin a new chapter of their life—as they are called to preside in Charity over those flocks to which the Bishop is sending them.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.
While I was down in Hocking Hills the week after easter, I received a call from the Bishop’s office. After consultation from the Clergy Personnel Board, the Bishop asked if I would be willing to be sent on a new assignment. And I said yes, of course.
So, on June 30, I will be relinquishing the pastorate of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, and will take up the pastorates of two parishes, on the east side St. Clare of Assisi parish in Lyndhurst and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in South Euclid.
Accepting the bishop’s request was not easy. Leaving you feels like breaking up a family, in a sense. But it isn’t. A pastorate is always temporary, but that doesn’t make it any less filled with love.
And Bishop Malesic has not left this great parish without a leader. He has named Fr. John Schneider as the parish administrator. Fr. Schneider will function as parish administrator in addition to his role as pastor of St. Thomas More Parish just south of us in Brooklyn.
Fr. Schneider is a very good priest friend of mine. He was there in Hocking Hills when I got the call from the Bishop’s office. And he volunteered his service to the Bishop to be sent here as administrator because he knows this parish to be full of life and faith.
And it truly is. We’ve had more baptisms than funerals so far this year. We have many vibrant ministries. We have some of the most generous parishioners in the diocese.. We have two million dollars in the bank. We have more students in our school than St. Thomas More. I think our roof has less leaks. We have a competent and dedicated parish staff. And some of the most beautiful liturgical music in the diocese, and an extremely well-organized and generous outreach to the poor of our neighborhood. This parish is a community of Christians who take seriously the Lord’s commandment in the Gospel today: “love one another. As I have loved you, so you should love one another”.
And Fr. Schneider will serve you well. Before coming to St. Thomas More, he was pastor of two parishes. He was administrator of my home parish, when his uncle, a priest, had some health concerns. He is a graduate of St. Ignatius High School and Notre Dame University. And, he grew up something like a mile-and-a-half down the street. He knows the neighborhood, he knows parish finances and administration, and most importantly he knows Jesus Christ, and loves and serves Him.
Trust in the Lord that the new leadership of St Ignatius will be sufficient for the needs of the parish. The Lord always provides for his people. Please pray for Fr. Schneider as he prepares to take up the reigns of St. Ignatius, and please pray for me, as I prepare for my new assignment on the east side.
I still look forward to being with you until the end of June. So, we will be together for the Eucharistic Procession and Parish Picnic on the feast of Corpus Christi, and we will have a reception after my final masses that last weekend of June.
Thank you for your prayers, your kindness, and your love these past six and a half years. It has been such a wonder and joy to see God working in your lives and in the life of the parish. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide each of us as we each seek to serve the Lord in charity, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
No comments:
Post a Comment