On the Wednesday of Holy Week, I got the news that I have been accepted to start ministry with the Canadian Forces as a Chaplain. In order to avoid the news getting to my parishioners from other sources, I decided to inform them after the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper. As I think of it now, I feel it was divine providence that created the condition since it was the one day when the faithful are supposed to keep a vigil in silence as they Lord begins His Agony in the Garden. I know that to me, it felt like an agony in the garden as two of our altar servers who served at the Chrism mass actually noticed that there was something different about me that night. Though I felt like it was so much of a burden to ask people to be silent at the announcement that their pastor will be leaving in a few weeks to join the Forces but I had no control.
As I sit here in my room at the CFB Trenton, I keep playing back the memories of all that took place from the moment I made the announcement to the time day the house was cleaned after the movers loaded everything in their truck. Even though I will not be able to write everything down, I have to say that it was also a period of emotional turmoil for me. This stems from the reality that I have known the parishioners of St. Vincent de Pau and had developed a bond which I hope distance will not break.
I have to state that I miss all the people and often think of the different functions we held, the jokes and laughts as well as the smiles that marked the welcoming spirit in the parish. All these I will always cherish. I will talk later about my journey to Trenton and how things are going so far. Keep the faith and always remember, "GOD LOVES ALL OF US"
