A Word from Your Pastor July 23

I am pleased to announce to you that Bishop Campbell has consented to allow me to experience a Sabbatical in order to renew and recharge over the next few months.  Each priest of the Diocese of Columbus is entitled to a time of three months for every ten years of service.  This June, I completed 32 years as a priest and for the first time have arranged for this Sabbatical time. 

Not to worry!  Although I have nine months stored up, I am only taking three of them at this time.  I will be leaving August 7 and will return November 22, just before Thanksgiving, which I always host for my family.  I will be participating in a special “School for Priests” sponsored by the Focolare Movement at Loppiano, a small town outside of Florence, Italy, known as a “Permanent Mariapolis,” one of the Focolare’s “Little Cities.”  

              http://www.focolare.org/en/news/2013/06/08/sacerdoti-quattro-mesi-a-loppiano/

My purpose for choosing this sabbatical is to learn more from the Focolare Movement about the way to practice Unity, so as to fulfill Jesus’ prayer “That all may be One.”  I hope to return to you with new zeal in order to walk with you more intentionally along the path to Unity for our parish and for the world.

The Administrator Pro Tem for this time will be Msgr. George Schlegel, who is known to most of you.  He has assisted on many occasions at St. Timothy.  One of my own experiences as Associate Pastor was with Msgr. Schlegel at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Powell (in 1993).  He has also worked with Fr. Bill Faustner when they were both assigned to St. Paul, Westerville, many years ago.  I am sure that I am leaving the parish in capable hands.

Over the past several months, I have worked to establish the various Fall calendars and schedules and to fill in details so that everything can flow smoothly in my absence.  Msgr. Schlegel is officially retired and he is taking up this responsibility out of the goodness of his heart.  We don’t want to overdo it!  So, I ask you to be sure to give him a warm St. Timothy welcome and to work together to ensure that all goes well.  Wherever there is a need, do offer your assistance.

Please pray for me and the other priests from all over the world who will be part of this experience.  I am very excited about it and thank God for the opportunity.  I will remember you in my prayers and look forward to returning to join you once again at Thanksgiving.