One Sunday morning, an elderly pastor was rebuked by one of his deacons right before Mass: “Father, something is definitely wrong with your preaching and pastoral work.  For this whole year, only one person has registered in our parish, and he’s just a little boy!”  The old priest listened with moistening eyes and trembling hands.  “God knows I’ve tried my best,” he said to the deacon.

After finishing his homily that morning, the pastor stood before his flock and, with a heavy heart, told them that he would resign.  After everyone else had left, a young boy came forward and asked the pastor, “Father, do you think I can ever become a pastor like you?”  He was the parish’s only new registered parishioner that year.  “Ah, you soothe my aching heart!” the old priest replied as tears welled up in his eyes.  “May God bless you, my boy.  Yes, I think you will be a great instrument of God!”

Many years later, an aged missionary returned to the parish from Africa.  His name was spoken with reverence.  Dignitaries showed him respect.  He had won over many souls for Christ, including some of Africa’s most renown chiefs.  He was the little boy who spoke to the resigning pastor that Sunday morning.

Dear Agathians:

This is my 250th and last Pastor’s Perspective.  It’s hard to believe that six and a half years have gone by since I moved in as your 12th pastor.  Now, the bishop has decided that it’s time for me to move on.  I will start moving to Saint Michael’s Church in Queens at the end of this month.  The good news is that my successor is no stranger to you. When Father Peter Bai first arrived in the United States in 2011, he started his ministry right here in our parish.  Now, ten years later, he’s back as our next pastor.  I'm sure you will work with him to continue building up our parish, just as you did with me.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the incredible journey we have taken together during the last six and a half years.  Yes, we have had some sad moments along the way.  We closed our school, saw some employees and parishioners leaving in protest, shut down our church during the pandemic, and lost Deacon Emilio and many parishioners to the coronavirus.  But we had also strengthened our parish’s identity and unity, improved how we celebrate the sacraments and conduct our business, and renovated our parish’s four buildings.

I hope that it has been as much a time to learn and grow for you as it was for me.  Although I am not resigning like the old pastor in the story – I am leaving out of obedience to the bishop – I pray that I have at least inspired some of you to become God’s instruments, like the boy in the story.  When we make ourselves available, God will use us to win many souls for himself, which is the ultimate purpose of a parish.

Please be assured of your continual presence in my daily prayers and Masses.  As you have played such a big role in my life journey, you will always have an important place in my heart and my mind.  I pray that I also have a place in yours. 

Father Vincentius Do, Pastor