Transition can be difficult especially when it comes uninvited. One might even feel helpless or abandoned in the face of an unwelcome transition. This is what I was feeling when over the weekend someone quoted a prayer from St. Francis de Sales:
"Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things;
And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you today and everyday.
He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."
This month I experienced the loss of a beloved pastor due to a mandatory retirement clause cited in Canon Law. Not being a theologian, I am not sure I totally understand the wisdom of removing a pastor, a founding pastor who has been here for 31 years, and forcing a vibrant individual into retirement. The year long process of watching him prepare to leave has been agonizing. Through it all, this pastor remained positive and committed to his vow of obedience to his bishop. I'm afraid I was not as committed to trying to understand the rationale behind such a move and I felt truly abandoned by the hierarchy of the Catholic church once again. I was thinking of myself and was not relying on all the great things this pastor had taught me over the years in his homilies and through faith sharing. I was committed to abandoning the ship he was leaving behind and I was certainly not going to allow myself to like the new guy.
Now about this new guy. I understand it is not his fault that the Diocese assigned him to replace my beloved pastor. And to be honest, I looked upon him as a car wreck looking for some place to happen. He was the complete opposite of the priest I had known as pastor during the past twenty-two years that I was parishioner. But what is it that compels me not to give up? What is it that makes me go to Church everyday and try to get accustomed to this new guy? Right now, I have no answers. I cry a lot. My heart aches a lot. Change is so very very difficult . But this Sunday at Mass, the new guy began his homily with . . .
"Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things;
And when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you today and everyday.
He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations."
Thanks new guy.
Wednesday's Child
2 comments:
change is very, very difficult -- i feel for you throughout this post; my first reaction being, with such a priest and religious shortage, why on earth force someone into retirement unless he is making serious judgment calls or egregious errors?
my second thought was, since i am also going through a transition with our senior pastor being terribly ill since February and the new monsignor being totally different and opposite. it is almost as if i am *afraid* to like him because he hasn't officially been named our other monsignor's replacement.
tell you what -- you pray for me and i'll pray for you :) we'll get through this together with the Holy Spirit...
Thank you ~m2~. We are trying to keep the faith and stay the course. Prayers will get us all through and I believe the Holy Spirit will direct us.
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