BUT ALL ENDINGS ARE ALSO BEGINNINGS…

 
          I never knew about this quote until I went to Chicago in June of 2005 to watch my Mother die, then plan, preside and preach at her funeral.  I found the full quote on a scrap of paper in her handwriting; it became the basis of the homily.  It comes from the opening of Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet In Heaven.  I think about that as this past Monday would have been her 100^th  birthday.   The quote is all about transitions—some terribly painful, some joyful, some simply inevitable.  The quote ends …We just don’t know it at the time.
 
          And so this is my transition statement:  as I’d already announced, having my 75^th birthday I submitted my retirement letter to the Archbishop, and it has been accepted.  Technically, my last day as pastor will be Friday, 27 June.  But I’m “hanging around” until the celebration on the 29^th (my ordination anniversary).  Yes, there will be a party!
 
          What next?  This is what I want to share, and I think this is the best way to do that.   I will be moving to Birmingham, effective 2 July, in a 55+ retirement community.  But why Birmingham?  The answer is convoluted, but it begins with my “exile” last year during the “troubles”—I spent about 2 weeks there at a Homewood Suites (I’d wanted to go back to Destin, but B’ham was $100/day cheaper).  And I came to like the city.  There are other advantages for me personally:  I’m 4-5 hours closer to Chicago in driving time; there are direct non-stop flights from there to Chicago on United and American; I’m significantly closer to friends I haven’t seen in years because of distance (eg, in Atlanta, in Oak Ridge, in Gadsden…).  
 
I will still be available (and used, I hope) for helping with Masses, Adult RE, OCIA, etc both in the Mobile and the Birmingham dioceses.  And I will continue to write:  I may re-activate my blog (“Musings from the Pastor’s Study”) or even start a new one.  I’d like to think that some of what I want to write could be published.  We’ll see how that all works out.  I’m eternally grateful for the family help that is allowing me to afford this move.  
 
Distance is not great from there to here, but there is a distance, and I think it’s important.  The new pastor needs time to be allowed to be the pastor, and he doesn’t need me looking over his shoulder, or folks coming to me instead of to him.  I have had second-hand and first-hand experience of this and the problems it produces…
 
Will I be returning sometimes?  Surely!  I have at least one wedding (and several “promised” funerals!) that will call me back.   I might even keep some of my doctors, and that will give me another excuse to visit.  Meanwhile, that’s the transition time-frame.  Please pray for me.
 
Our Savior is an incredible parish (I spoke about this several times on the fund-raising spot I did for Archangel Radio this past week).  There is goodness, generosity, outreach, welcoming, diversity—all the things that make us truly ‘catholic.’  Pope Francis would be proud of us.  I know I am a better person and a better priest for my time here.  Thank you for blessing me!