Unhealthy obsession ? No. I think one has to be a good listener sometimes and realize the pain that was experienced by me and others and try to sympathize with the person
First, our parish was (and still is) a young parish; going on it's sixth year now.
The energy in the community was phenomenal; we had a dynamic pastor who by the way was 1) a first time pastor 2) first time building a new $ 8 million dollar church.
The feeling one received when entering a sunday liturgy there was as if you never left home! That has changed.
Realize this setting which is what actually happened: We were planning the dedication of our new church which should be a joyous occation for all involved. Instead we were told that our pastor was being transferred days after the dedication before the dedication. Despite our repeated attempts to at least delay the transfer until the end of the year, we were given some lame excuse which no one accepted. Why in God's name would the superiors of that pastor distroy a whole community like that!
It was cold, callous and un-Christian.
There was no wrong doing at all from the pastor; financial, spiritual or moral to justify THE WAY THIS TOOK PLACE. We all know clergy are transferred; and would have accepted it with sorrow but to run this pastor out of town as if he were a criminal is in my estimation morally wrong;many saw it that way and have left the church.
What would I like to see happen probably will not happen; I for one would like to thank that young pastor for what he did; for giving us old people for the time he was here hope and excitment in our faith. That despite those whom he trusted and betrayed him there are many, many more who feel he is still the pastor of there hearts and souls!
Father Simon, thank you were ever you are!
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