New Beginnings

When God closes a door... or in this case, opens a door I wasn't expecting. I was invited to interview for and then got the position of Director of Faith Formation/Director of Religious Education/Catechetical Leader II (all synonymous and interchangeable in the Diocese) at a new parish about 30 minutes east of Rochester. So yes, I have moved (again...) and have started a position with more responsibility in a wholly different kind of parish. Today was Day 4 at the new gig, and it was as chaotic and wonderful as could be. For now, I'm staying with friends until I get a place that suits me (hopefully soon!), so most of my things are in storage. It is, as you can imagine, very disorienting. But, it's good change, and I've felt that it was the right thing to do from the beginning.

So God opened this door and I was free to say no or to say yes. I said yes, but I do need more in the way of total surrender. Things at this parish are very different than they were in my last parish, in a million ways and for a million reasons. I'm letting go of things even as I take on new responsibilities and relationships. 

This was literally an answer to prayer. I prayed to God to send me on mission in a like-minded faith community where I felt respected and part of a team. This he has done. The person who invited me to interview is a very good and holy priest I've known from my last job, and we work together like bread and butter. The pastor is very different from my last pastor, most especially in the fact that he is from Kenya! But he, too, is a good and holy man and I look forward to getting to know him more.

I've started to meet the parishioners and volunteers, and will certainly meet more in the coming weeks. What a joy to serve God's people. But carving out a routine and a regular prayer life are essentials to my happiness and my ministry here. That will come in time, too.

Meanwhile, I'm learning my way around these parts, and hoping to spend much more time before the Blessed Sacrament when we move our parish offices into the rectory later this year. My office will be directly next to the sacristy, so literally steps from the Tabernacle. That will certainly help with the regular prayer time.

I'll be more regular with writing and blogging as I settle in (she writes hopefully). There are many other things to write about, after all.

Thank you for your prayers, and be assured of mine.

Mary Queen of Heaven, pray for us.