A new chapter

In 2000, St. John Paul II made a Jubilee Pilgrimage to the holy sites of the Bible. While in the hill country outside of the ancient ruins of Ephesus, near the chapel that is a possible location for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the pope was asked, “What happened to Joseph?” The Holy Father pondered the question briefly and replied, “He faded away.”

Since 2013, the second part of my title as vicar general has been moderator of the curia — basically, chief of staff and operations. In the fall of 2021, much of my administrative duties at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center shifted to our chief operating officer, Bill Lentsch. Bill has done an exceptional job at the Catholic Center and continues to work with Archbishop Hebda and his staff to provide valuable services to our clergy, parishes, schools and associated organizations. Meanwhile, the title moderator of the curia has faded away. I will continue as a “vicar general in the field” as I pastor the wonderful people of St. Gerard Majella in Brooklyn Park.

Perhaps I am influenced by cinematography, but there is a “fading” that is but a transition to a new scene. In the changing chapters of priesthood, we know how the sadness of leaving one assignment can be balanced by the joy in arriving at another. For those priests who have “retired,” they did not

En el año 2000, San Juan Pablo II realizó una Peregrinación Jubilar a los lugares santos de la Biblia. Mientras estaba en la región montañosa fuera de las antiguas ruinas de Éfeso, cerca de la capilla que es un posible lugar para la Asunción de la Santísima Virgen María, se le preguntó al Papa: “¿Qué le pasó a José?”

El Santo Padre reflexionó brevemente sobre la pregunta y respondió: “Se desvaneció”.

Desde 2013, la segunda parte de mi título como vicario general ha sido moderador de la curia, básicamente, jefe de gabinete y operaciones. En el otoño de 2021, gran parte de mis funciones administrativas en el Centro Católico Arquidiocesano pasaron a manos de nuestro director de operaciones, Bill Lentsch. Bill ha hecho un trabajo excepcional en el Centro Católico y continúa trabajando con el Arzobispo Hebda y su personal para brindar servicios valiosos a nuestro clero, parroquias, escuelas y organizaciones asociadas.

Mientras tanto, el título de moderador de la curia se ha desvanecido. Continuaré como “vicario general en el campo” mientras pastoreo a la maravillosa gente de St. Gerard Majella en Brooklyn Park.

Quizás estoy influenciado por la cinematografía, pero hay un “desvanecimiento” que no es más que una transición a una nueva escena. En los capítulos cambiantes del sacerdocio, sabemos cómo la tristeza de dejar una tarea puede equilibrarse con el gozo de llegar a otra. Para aquellos sacerdotes que se han “jubilado”, no se desvanecieron simplemente. Más bien, comenzaron otro capítulo del ministerio sacerdotal. La jubilación es más un final civil al calificar para la pensión y el Seguro Social. Algunos sacerdotes continúan sirviendo como pastores a pesar de que se han “jubilado”.

Otros sacerdotes abandonan el rol administrativo de párrocos pero just fade away. Rather, they began another chapter of priestly ministry. Retirement is more of a civil ending by qualifying for pension and Social Security. Some priests do continue to serve as pastors even though they have “retired.”

Other priests step out of the administrative role of pastor but continue to provide generous service to parishes. On behalf of my brother pastors, I offer my gratitude to God for our retired priests who continue their priestly ministry in multiple parishes.

I have had the opportunity over the past couple of weeks to reflect on the chapters of priesthood. One week, I was privileged to lead a retreat for the priests of the Diocese of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. The following week, I greatly enjoyed attending the Biannual Presbyteral Assembly of the Archdiocese at the University of St. Mary in Winona.

Whether in the first year of priesthood or in the 50th, there is no other life like it. In its distinction is a vocation where joy perseveres through the chaos of a changing world. We are, in the words of an old saying, “ordinary people serving an extraordinary God.” Through the many graces of our ordination, the sacrament of holy orders gives to our lives the challenge to bring holy order through right worship.

Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of WinonaRochester spoke to the recent assembly of archdiocesan priests and used the image of Noah and the ark. Some people considered Noah a fool for building a boat in continúan brindando un servicio generoso a las parroquias. En nombre de mis hermanos pastores, ofrezco mi gratitud a Dios por nuestros sacerdotes jubilados que continúan su ministerio sacerdotal en múltiples parroquias.

En las últimas dos semanas tuve la oportunidad de reflexionar sobre los capítulos del sacerdocio. Una semana, tuve el privilegio de dirigir un retiro para los sacerdotes de la Diócesis de Sioux Falls. La semana siguiente disfruté mucho asistir a la Asamblea Presbiteral Bianual de la Arquidiócesis en la Universidad de St. Mary en Winona.

Ya sea en el primer año de sacerdocio o en el 50, no hay otra vida como esta. En su distinción está una vocación donde la alegría persevera a través del caos de un mundo cambiante. Estamos en las palabras de un viejo dicho, “personas ordinarias sirviendo a un Dios extraordinario”. A través de las muchas gracias de nuestra ordenación, el sacramento del orden sagrado da a nuestras vidas el desafío de traer el orden sagrado a través de la adoración correcta.

El obispo Robert Barron de la Diócesis de Winona-Rochester habló ante la reciente asamblea de sacerdotes arquidiocesanos y usó la imagen de Noé y el Arca. Algunas personas consideraron a Noé un tonto por construir un bote en medio del desierto. Sin embargo, al hacer la voluntad de Dios, la fidelidad de Noé fue grandemente recompensada cuando llegaron las inundaciones.

En cada capítulo de nuestro sacerdocio, incluso si somos considerados anacrónicos por una sociedad materialmente obsesionada que nos ve solo como arcas de construcción en el desierto, el trabajo de edificación de nuestras parroquias es para el bien de los fieles. A través de la vida sacramental, la Iglesia es un arca a medida que las inundaciones del cambio nos envuelven por todos lados. En cada encuentro con la persona y presencia the middle of the desert. Yet, by doing the will of God, Noah’s faithfulness was greatly rewarded when the floods came. real de Jesucristo, nosotros mismos encontramos nuestra plenitud, nuestra santidad y nuestra felicidad eterna en el cuerpo de Cristo que es la Iglesia.

In every chapter of our priesthood, even if we are deemed anachronistic by a materially obsessed society that sees us only as building arks in the desert, the work of building up our parishes is for the good of the faithful. Through the sacramental life, the Church is an ark as the floods of change envelope us from all sides. In every encounter with the person and real presence of Jesus Christ, we ourselves find our wholeness, our holiness and our eternal happiness in the body of Christ that is the Church.

The stories of the jubilarians are beautiful glimpses into the blessed life that is the priesthood of Jesus Christ. One of the regular comments in any gathering of priests is the humbled gratitude for the people from past chapters who let a priest know how their ministry so positively changed their lives. So, too, are the stories about how so many different people have so gracefully changed the lives of our priests.

I invite our continued prayers for our priests. We especially offer our prayers for the priests who are changing assignments. We offer our prayers of gratitude to God for the jubilarians celebrating the milestones of the passing years. May the transitions of one chapter fading into another be a time of grace, many blessings and much joy.

Las historias de los jubilares son hermosos atisbos de la vida bendita que es el sacerdocio de Jesucristo. Uno de los comentarios habituales en cualquier reunión de sacerdotes es la humilde gratitud por las personas de los capítulosanteriores que le hicieron saber a un sacerdote cómo su ministerio cambió sus vidas de manera tan positiva. También

Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

Effective May 31, 2023

Deacon Stephen Boatwright, granted the status of retired deacon. Deacon Boatwright has served the Archdiocese as a deacon since his ordination in 1991, most recently at the Church of Saint Joseph in Rosemount.

Effective July 1, 2023

Deacon Jose Luis Rodriguez Alvarado, assigned as permanent deacon for the Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville. This is a transfer from his current assignment as permanent deacon for the Church of Saint Stephen-Holy Rosary in Minneapolis.

Reverend Benjamin Attobrah, assigned as chaplain and instructor for Holy Family High School in Victoria, and as sacramental minister for the Parish of Saints Joachim and Anne in Shakopee. Father Attobrah is a priest from the Diocese of KonongoMampong in Ghana.

Deacon James Bauhs, assigned as coordinator of diaconate communications for the Archdiocese. This is in addition to his assignment as permanent deacon for the Church of Saint Michael in Farmington and as state chaplain for the Daughters of Isabella.

Deacon Bruce Bowen, assigned as permanent lo son las historias sobre cómo tantas personas diferentes han cambiado con tanta gracia las vidas de nuestros sacerdotes. Invito a nuestras oraciones continuas por nuestros sacerdotes. Ofrecemos especialmente nuestras oraciones por los sacerdotes que están cambiando de asignación. Ofrecemos nuestras oraciones de gratitud a Dios por los jubilares que celebran los hitos de los años que pasan. Que la transición de un capítulo a otro sea un tiempo de gracia, muchas bendiciones y mucha alegría. deacon for the Church of Saint Mary of the Lake in Plymouth. This is a transfer from his current assignment as permanent deacon for the Church of Saint Maximilian Kolbe in Delano and the Church of Saint George of Long Lake.

Reverend Brian Lynch, assigned as chaplain for Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar for the Church of the Transfiguration in Oakdale. Father Lynch is also assigned as state chaplain for the Minnesota Knights of Columbus.

Deacon Tom Michaud, assigned as coordinator of diaconate vocations for the Archdiocese. This is in addition to his assignment as permanent deacon for the Church of Saint Joseph in West Saint Paul.

Most Reverend Lee Piché, assigned as vicar for retired priests. Bishop Piché is a former auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese.

Effective August 1, 2023

Reverend Joseph Gifford, assigned as parochial vicar to the Church of Saint Wenceslaus in New Prague. This is in addition to his current assignment to academic studies through the Catholic University of America.

Effective September 1, 2023

Reverend Terrence Hayes, granted the status of a retired priest. Father Hayes has been serving the Archdiocese as a priest since his ordination in 1972, including as pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Minneapolis for the past 30 years.