What a Difference a Week Makes
This week has been most interesting, and next week is going to be even busier because I am moving.
As I have mentioned, my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer in October and I have been helping my mother care for him, as well as helping my uncle make the move to assisted living. Between dad’s daily radiation treatment and other doctor appointments, and the overwhelming amount of paperwork I have to go through to complete my uncle’s application for assisted-living, my day off has been completely consumed. My pastor, and the other priests with whom I live, have been terrific, especially in allowing me more time off to get this family stuff done. However the hour drive each way just to get home has just added to already long days (keep in mind, it has just been a year since I, myself, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer).
This past Tuesday, after doing a lot of running with my uncle, and helping my mother with dad, (and after a lot of prayer), I decided to call my bishop to see if I could meet with him. His secretary set up an appointment for me for yesterday (Thursday). About a half hour after doing that my pastor called me to tell me that he had heard from the bishop (before my call) that another priest was being sent to St. James. In that I saw divine providence that I was doing the right thing, for if I requested a transfer closer to home I would not be leaving St. James short.
My meeting with Bishop Smith yesterday was very good. He was very understanding, supportive and pastoral. He said that he would arrange a transfer. Today I received a call from the director of priest personnel, and I will be transferred to Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony Parish, starting next Friday, Dec. 9 (the 1 year anniversary of my second cancer surgery). It is a wonderful place to be sent; adjacent to my parents’ parish, and actually my uncle’s parish. I was baptized in St. Anthony’s 41 years ago this week. The pastor there is very good. I will have a lot of packing to do, and notifications to make, but God has blessed me.
