Hope in the Lord — Priest transfers call for great generosity

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz

Last week, The Record announced the transfers of priests that will take place on June 20. This year brings an especially large number of changes. These changes are occurring for clear reasons, but this does not make the changes easy for the priest (or pastoral administrator) or the faithful.

The changes emerge from a number of factors. Among the many reasons include the retirement of three fine pastors and the completion of another fine pastoral administrator plus the need to account for the call of Bishop Spalding to be bishop of Nashville and the sudden death of Father Larry Gelthaus. The anticipated ordination of five new priests, of course, is a welcome reality. In addition, we are blessed with priests who come from other local churches – a priest from the Archdiocese of Palo in the Philippines and an additional priest from the India-founded order of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate.

These changes bring the often difficult and emotional farewells to a beloved pastor who has served the faithful well and is called to begin again.  This deeply emotional time also involves beginning anew – parishioners welcoming a new priest and a priest coming to know, love, and serve a new faithful. Of course, the friendships that begin usually continue, but this does not shelter us from the difficulty and pain of separation and new beginnings.

In these circumstances, we ask for God’s grace for the virtue of generosity. This gift allows us to share the priest we have come to love with others and to welcome generously a new priest who is eager to serve. 

When priests are ordained, they accept a certain sense of abandon among the promises they make. In my 46 years as a priest, I have had to accept willingly many changes and, as I look back over the years, I recall with deep gratitude those faithful who have come into my life and whom I have served, befriended and cherished. This is indeed the lot and blessing of a priest. My pastor at the time of my ordination shared with me a different understanding of poverty. He stated priests experience poverty in a very real way when the bishop makes an appointment for the good of the Church that requires the priest to move to a new community to serve in the name of Jesus Christ.

As I recall my assignments, I am also filled with gratitude for the adventure of serving in so many places (places that I certainly did not imagine at the time of ordination), and I hear brother priests telling me of similar reflections.

I take this opportunity to offer deep thanks. I thank God for His hand at work in the challenging events that priest transfers create. I thank the priests who so generously agree to embrace these changes and serve the new community of faithful with love. I thank the faithful who also feel that pain of separation from a pastor who has become so cherished by them and who nevertheless give a generous welcome to the priest who will be coming to serve now and into the future.

This year, the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral was teeming with priests and faithful — standing room only. In the midst of the faithful immediately after the homily, I was privileged to receive the renewal of priestly promises.

I began by asking the priests assembled:

“Beloved sons, on the anniversary of that day when Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood on his Apostles and on us, are you resolved to renew, in the presence of your Bishop and God’s holy people, the promises you once made?” 

Then after the promises made, I conclude by addressing the holy people present: “… pray for your Priests, that the Lord may pour out his gifts abundantly upon them, and keep them faithful as ministers of Christ, the High Priest, so that they may lead you to him, who is the source of salvation.” 

And I add: “Pray also for me, that I may be faithful to the apostolic office entrusted to me in my lowliness and that in your midst I may be made day by day a living and more perfect image of Christ, the Priest, the Good Shepherd, the Teacher and the Servant of all.”

The entire Church assembly responds in full voice: “Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.” May these days also serve as days of grace, gratitude and generosity.

The Record
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The Record
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