23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - September 4, 2011

When Bishop David Thompson ordained me to the priesthood on July 10, 1993, he assigned me as parochial vicar to Cathedral Parish and as the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies. More than just a joyous memory was serving as MC for the Dedication of St. James some 16 years ago. I left that experience of this community and those I worked with planning the Dedication Mass with awe for the hospitality and sense of community I felt during that wonderful time. I even said a prayer that God bless me to be pastor here! It took 16 years for Him to answer that prayer, and that he did! I am so excited to journey with all of you as your pastor beginning Monday and serve Coastal Carolina University as the Catholic Chaplain and Campus Minister.

Transitions are never easy for anyone – priest and parishioners alike. But the kindnesses already afforded me make me feel so welcome! First I want to thank Fr. Rick for his 16.5 years of leadership with a wonderful clear vision, especially about what it means to be a loving community and to serve the poor and those in need, as well as to thank him for preparing a wonderful binder of things to help with the transition. I also want to thank Glenn Bond for taking me around in June to look at houses and for working so hard to close on the house I am moving into now. Likewise, I want to thank Paula Loehr for her hard work behind the scenes in this process of buying the house and for working so hard with her husband Tim and son Mike in organizing help to unload all of my stuff, in assembling book cases, shelves, buying supplies and helping me to unpack my things into my house. I thank Joe Sandoli for his hard work moving me, assembling and installing ceiling fans and lights and all that he has done. I so look forward to working with them, Kathy, Paullette, Sister Ana Gema and all of the pastoral staff here. I thank Kathleen and Laurie Bond, Berri Lowman for their hard work unpacking things for me. I am deeply grateful to my brother Knights of Columbus for the back-breaking work of unloading the moving truck into Glenn’s garage, reloading my things and unloading them into the house. I was amazed to see them at work! Having had 3 surgeries on the same shoulder tendon, they probably single-handedly spared me a 4th surgery! I will probably never catch up writing thank you notes for all the items donated to the house. Be assured of my heartfelt gratitude! I love the lawnmower – too bad I had cut half of my yard before I realized it was a self-propelled! I want to thank the Caballeros ahead to time for agreeing to do the difficult and time-consuming work in the hot sun of putting up a fence around the backyard of my house in the very near future.

It is difficult to know what to say in brief comments such as these about our future together. I think today’s readings speak so nicely about what I hope we continue to be for each other as community and as we grow together in ministry and in our relationship with Jesus Christ. “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another!” Jesus spells out for us the other important component of thriving as a Christian community. If someone sins against you, go and tell the person the fault between you and him or her alone. Putting these two well-connected ideals of being community and being in relationship with God and each other, we are to love in word and action, and we are to seek healing for injuries to heart and soul. Being proactive in ministries to those in need and loving with each other make for an atmosphere where the love of God is diffused to all we encounter. Not holding on to hurts, not gossiping about and doing character assassinations of others, talking WITH others rather than ABOUT others, asking for, giving and receiving forgiveness make healing and growth possible as a community and as individuals. I am so excited to get involved with all of you here and work together in the wonderful ministries here. If we keep today’s readings at the center of all that we do, we will reflect the love of Christ to a world so desperately needing it! That summarizes most practically and profoundly my hopes with you as your pastor!