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Blog: June 6, 2021

Fr. Jeff and others share reflections on the Sunday readings.

Sunday, June 6, 2021

“While they were eating,

he took bread, said the blessing,

broke it, gave it to them, and said,

‘Take it; this is my body.’

Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,

and they all drank from it.

He said to them,

‘This is my blood of the covenant,

which will be shed for many.

Amen, I say to you,

I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine

until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’”


I have started writing this article three times. The two that I have abandon for now (they are good, so I’ll use them in the future), became too long for what I really want to do today. Today, I want to say goodbye to Fr. Steven. He doesn’t officially begin his new assignment until June 16, but this is my last opportunity to write publicly to everyone about his departure. I am sad to see him go and I will miss him. As you have experienced, he is a man of many talents and abilities. I admire his competence, wisdom, resilience, creativity, knowledge, initiative and follow through. With the pandemic, my own quarantine, and my latest back surgery and recovery, Fr. Steven has been tested and proved his worth. He is a man of faith and of the Church with a heart for people. Fr. Steven has a deep knowledge of the scriptures (as St. Jerome reminds us in the negative, “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ”) and has a profound commitment to continue learning. I am supremely grateful for his ministry at St. Boniface and St. Pats and am confident in his capacity to become a pastor in his next assignment. He will do well. 


All of that makes it more difficult to say goodbye. Fr. Steven has contributed greatly to our parish communities, but I will also miss his friendship, humor, and presence in my life. I trust him, not just with pastoral responsibilities and ministry, but as a friend. In the deaths of my cousin and my stepfather, he has been there for support and lightened my burden. This is not an easy transition and I truly appreciate that. The sadness of saying goodbye is a sign of the importance of our friendship in my life. Every transition is an ending and a new beginning. It contains within it the traces of the paschal mystery, of death and resurrection. While I grieve the coming loss of our daily personal interaction and the real gift of each conversation, I do look forward to our continued friendship. At a funeral mass, we often say the words, “life is changed, not ended.” I trust that our friendship will also change, not end. This goodbye is also a new beginning and I anticipate the growth and blessing of our friendship for years to come. 


Finally, I am thankful to God for Fr. Steven. In the great work of salvation, each of our hearts has been won over to the love of the savior, Jesus Christ, and in his providence and by his grace we have been blessed with this time and the shared priesthood of Jesus. In my seminary, a phrase that was repeated time and again was, “Trust the providence that brought you here.” I am grateful that the hand of God brought Fr. Steven to our parish communities and into my life. I trust that same providence to be guiding him and us now. May God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In all gratitude and with love, Fr. Steven, as you go, go with God. Peace.