One Bread, One Body
FROM FR. DAN
WORDS OF FAREWELL AND BLESSING
One of the best spiritual books I have ever read is by Benedictine Brother David Stendhal Rast entitled: "Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer".
I think of the words of that title as I take leave from St. Matthew the Apostle Parish after eight truly blessed years and enter a new chapter of life. I must say the last few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for me: fear, apprehension, excitement, exhaustion, being overwhelmed by love and affirmation. At times I have felt totally exhausted. However, as often appears in the Scriptures, there is the word BUT. In the midst of these feelings the one thing that has remained constant is the feeling and awareness of deep gratitude in my prayer.
I am overwhelmed with an experience of gratitude as I recall the forty four years I have spent in parish ministry and the joy of the last eight years as Pastor of St. Matthew’s. Ministering together with the dedicated joyful staff of our parish has been a source of joy, fulfillment and great moments of laughter.
The St. Matthew Parish community truly grasps the meaning of what it means to be Church; the local caring community where people know and care for one another and the community that acknowledges the brokenness of the larger world and reaches out in compassion and service.
The children and youth of St. Matthew’s fill me with great hope and encouragement for the future as I see them respond in faith and generosity in so many ways.
In spite of the struggle of leaving, I am so very thankful for the relationships I have formed in this community and the many ways the people of this parish have helped me to grow in my relationship with God.
My heart is truly filled with joy. I quote Stendhal-Rast: "The root of joy is gratefulness. It is not joy that makes us grateful: it is gratitude which makes us joyful."
In thanksgiving for:
The dedication, support and laughter of the Pastoral Staff of St. Matthews
The uplifting and prayerful music of all involved in the Music Ministry
The commitment and enthusiasm of the many involved in the various ministries of our parish
The hope and energy of the young people of the parish
The gift of so many children and their smiling faces and openness
The wisdom and example of our Seniors
The faith and dedication of the people of all the parishes in which I have served
I would like to close with one of my favorite Scripture passages from
St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians: 1:3-6, 9-11
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.