Priest Transfers and Update on a Friend

While none of the priests serving our parishes is being transferred, on June 1 over one hundred priests in our archdiocese either transferred or took on a new role. Following upon Fr. Bill’s beautiful column last week about the joy of priesthood, I am asking that we pray for all of these priests and their parishioners as they face the challenge of saying goodbye and establish new relationships at other parishes. Change can be a real blessing, too, as I gradually learned after coming to the parishes of St. Martha and St. Mary. Unlike my time working in a diocesan office, I find my relationships with parishioners nourish and strengthen me as a priest. Like any healthy relationship, parish relationships can be a uniting force that helps us to enjoy the blessings, face the challenges, and just share the journey together.

As we know, not every relationship is a healthy one, and sometimes a priest assignment does not work out. I experienced that when I first left the Tribunal office and returned to parish life, only to find that I needed to transfer again less than a year later. In a similar way, one of the priests changing assignments is our friend Fr. Bill Lohan. 

Fr. Lohan took a brief sabbatical to recharge physically and spiritually after becoming pastor of two larger parishes and a school. Last year he valiantly returned to the same assignment and helped them to move forward, but he recently decided to step down after three years as pastor.

In a bulletin column for his parishes introducing the next pastor, Fr. Lohan added: “…As for me, I had a nice meeting with Cardinal Seán at his residence. I told him at that meeting that I did not feel ready at this time to accept my next assignment and he graciously granted me a leave. During that time I plan to do the spiritual pilgrimage of the Camino of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, which I have always dreamed of doing, and also spending some time in Ireland with family based there. Upon returning, the Archdiocese and I will discern what type of ministry would be best for me. I appreciate your prayers for me as I go, and I promise that all of you will have mine.”

While I was not able to talk with him before he left for Spain, Fr. Bill Lohan and I have been friends since he was ordained, and I know how much he valued his time with the people of Wrentham and Plainville. He was an important part of healing and guiding our parishes after many pastor changes, so as he walks this pilgrimage I know it will mean a lot to know you are praying for his healing and guidance as well. Change is challenging, but it can be a real blessing as well - it was a blessing for me coming here! I know I couldn’t do the work of a parish priest (much less, a pastor) without knowing that I am part of teams of people in our communities of faith. Thank you for the many ways you support me and each other as we carry out Christ’s mission in faith together.