On the Passage of Time & A Request to Help Us Dream - Feb 5, 2023
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This coming Saturday, February 11, the Diocese of Austin is celebrating a Mass at the Cathedral for Consecrated Life. This is to recognize and honor all the religious Sisters, Brothers and religious priests in the Diocese of Austin, including the Paulists. Since there is a free meal connected with this event I naturally signed up to go.
One of the things that they do at this Mass is recognize all the Religious who are celebrating anniversaries of their Final Profession as a Sister or Brother, or their ordination as a Priest. When you register you are to indicate if you are observing an anniversary like your 25th or 50th. I put down that I was not celebrating any anniversary. However, the Chancery called and said that according to their records I was ordained a priest in 1978. I said that is correct. Then they asked, “Well, then aren’t you celebrating your 45th anniversary of ordination?” I hesitated, pulled out the calculator on my phone, and yes it turns out that this May 18 I will have been ordained a priest for 45 years. I was shocked.
First of all, I don’t think of 45 years as a big occasion to celebrate. Twenty-five years, or Fifty years (like Fr. Bruce Nieli will observe this May) is a good reason to celebrate. But we don’t usually celebrate thirty-two or forty-one year anniversaries, and I think 45 is kind of like that.
Secondly, I could not believe it that I am already coming up on 45 years as a priest! When did that happen? Where did all the time go? Then I started thinking about all my priestly assignments and adding up the years: St. Nicholas Parish in North Pole, Alaska, Old St. Mary’s Parish in Chicago, Catholic Information Centre in Toronto, St. Andrew’s in Clemson, St. Paul the Apostle in New York City, Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in San
Francisco, and then over twelve years here. Yes, it all added up. I was surprised. How time flies when you are having fun! And for the most part, it has been fun.
Perhaps this also explains while I get tired a little bit more easily. Not as young as I used to be, but I am VERY grateful for a wonderful life as a Paulist priest. It has been challenging, exciting, interesting, surprising, deeply rewarding, but never dull. Well, maybe somewhat dull in the endless meetings that are part of modern church life.
I believe that whatever God calls you to will be likewise interesting, challenging to growth, and mostly not dull. I urge young people to not be afraid to respond to God’s call no matter what it is. You will not regret it.
Before I close, I urge all parishioners to respond to the request to fill our the survey for our Visioning Project at St. Austin Parish/School. As we are preparing to move into our new home in several months, we want to use this as an opportunity to renew, refresh and clarify our mission. What can we let go of? What can we refine and strengthen? What do we need to add? Your input is both important and appreciated. So please take a few minutes to open the link and fill out the survey. If you can't find the email we sent you on Tuesday, the link is at the button below. Many thanks.
God bless,
