I did not properly note the anniversary when it happened, but I have been Priest Administrator at Assumption for more than a year now. Amazing how time flies! When a priest begins at a new parish, lots of people like to give him the advice “Do not change anything except your socks for the first year.” Well, COVID-19 had something else in mind, apparently. There have been era-defining changes to our society in the last five months and those have certainly not left our parish untouched.
I have had plenty of parishioners and fellow priests express their regret that I had to live through such a crazy time my first year as a parish administrator, but I invariably tell them that I do not regret it one bit. Truly, I feel honored to have been your priest during this time. The Holy Spirit takes care of his church, especially during crises, and it was humbling to see him work, sometimes through me, oftentimes through others. COVID also stripped away so many of the mole hills that we all inevitably turn into mountains, and it was a deep blessing to be able to meet my new parishioners with fresh eyes and a renewed authenticity and to have them meet me with an equal freshness. And now we all have the opportunity to reimagine our parish together and nothing could be more exciting.
Thank you for your patience with, your care for, and your openness to me over the last year. I hope to have many more with you, just maybe with a little less plague going forward.
Fr. Moore 