one year in a parish

This time last year, I was moving into St. Mary's for my first priestly assignment. It was the first time since high school when I was going to live in one place - as opposed to school, home, seminarian assignment.


It was probably the biggest change of my life. It's one thing to be ordained and be a priest "at home" - visiting people, randomly showing up at Masses in the area, and generally enjoying new priesthood after ordination; but it gets real when you are ministering in the place you've been assigned.
It becomes "your parish" (though it's never really yours). You are responsible to and for them. Your life as a priest is bound up with this place and these people.


Yes, that's intimidating, but it is also beautiful. You're part of a parish family, and even if you don't know everyone (and I definitely still don't), they know you. You are their priest. You can say hi to someone at the store or in a restaurant and have a connection even if you can't remember their name.


Through a year of ministry in this parish I've seen the cycle of the liturgical year. I've baptized babies and buried grandparents. I've visited dozens of people in the hospital and been invited to people's homes. I've worked Bingo, led a bus tour/pilgrimage, become comfortable going to prison, and so many other things.


Above all, I've seen how God can work through an imperfect person like myself. He is moving in this parish, and in the Church as a whole. We just have to trust and surrender.