As we say farewell to Fr. Andrew, in his new assignment to the land of the Jolly Green Giant – LeSueur, MN, we reflect on what a fine Chaplain he has been to our KC Council. When he first came to us, fresh out of the seminary, he was somewhat shy. Rapidly, he progressed to a real hands-on member and showed tremendous growth under Fr. Steve’s tutelage. Most Sr. Pastors are spread too thin to become overly involved with all the varying groups and ministries. HNOJ has over one hundred different groups that hale from our campus. The Associate Pastor is usually the buffer or filter to prioritize how best to involve the Pastor.
It’s an accelerated learning experience to come straight out of the seminary and into an Associate Pastor role, especially in a larger parish like HNOJ. Not unlike St. Mary’s in New Haven Conn., where Fr. Michael J. McGivney started as an AP in a large congregation, Fr. Andrew had to jump in with both feet and learn the “Navy way” of swimming. It’s a blessing, in disguise and a great way to learn all the ropes in running a Parish, school and church community. He will make a wonderful Pastor.
Fr. Steve will always be a great teaching Pastor, so HNOJ will benefit from having fresh young seminarian talent, eager to learn. The diversity of our KC members dispersed among all the different ministries at HNOJ is a good conduit to mainstream young associates into the parish community, so we must encourage them to become council members, as long as it is with Fr. Steve’s blessing. Now days, most of the seminarians are brought into KC membership, while attending school. If that’s the case on the next assignee, we can serve as a landing pad for his arrival, whomever it is.
I spoke at the HNOJ Men’s breakfast, last month. This year’s theme for the speakers was to share stories of heroes that have influenced our religious journey. I chose to highlight four different priests, but chose to refer to them as influencers, not heroes. Most priests aren’t in it for the recognition. It’s a calling. One priest, an uncle, stared as a negative influence, but caused me to have an eventual positive result, though it took many years to develop. One was Fr. Arnold, who had the largest influence on mine and Carries Catholicity, but I doubt that I’m the only one ever to claim that. Fr. Tim Morin influenced me to understand that a priest can be a regular guy, just like me. He loved the great outdoors, camping, fishing and golfing. He was my age with a similar childhood and family upbringing. He became overwhelmed and left the priesthood and it caused me to write, “The Rosary for the Overwhelmed”, viewable on our hnojkc.org web site. Finally, I highlighted Fr. Martin Fleming, my namesake and Nazareth Hall room-mate to my father and founder of Trinity Sober Homes. www.trinitysoberhomes.org Fr. Fleming came to the event for a cameo appearance as my guest.
The really interesting thing about priests is many of them are all just like many of us, but they don’t have to be for us to be graced by their presence. They’re not super heroes, infallible from reality, even though the media holds them to a higher standard. If we have little in common, but let them influence us, they will oblige. All we have to do is open the door and let them in.