From the Rector’s Desk…

 

It has been a great honor to serve as Rector of St. Joseph Cathedral these past four years.  When Bishop Brennan asked me to be Rector in July of 2019, I was somewhat surprised as I did not think my predecessor, Fr. Lumpe, was going anywhere.  He, of course, was selected to go to the Pontifical College Josephinum to be Vice-Rector of the college.  I had been in residence while serving as Judicial Vicar and also Administrator of St. John the Baptist and Sacred Heart parishes in Italian Village.  I was already familiar with the Cathedral as I had been in residence here since July of 2016, having returned from the school of canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Being Rector of the Cathedral, however, was something new for me.  It meant having a parish but also being in charge of the bishop’s church, which brought people from all over the diocese to Cathedral liturgies.  Being at the center of the diocese was both exciting and challenging, as many people interacted with the Cathedral.  The Covid pandemic and unrest that followed it were particular challenges for me but your support and commitment has been keenly felt.   I have also been blessed with a small, but hard-working and wonderful parish staff, and some very devoted parishioners who love the Cathedral and give many hours of their time to make this such a wonderful place to worship our loving and merciful God.  You have help me through these difficult times.

 

Additionally, I have been blessed by the parishioners of Holy Cross church as well.   Although I have only been Administrator for approximately six months, my priesthood has been enriched by serving at the oldest church in the city of Columbus and parishioners who have been committed to their Catholic faith and preserving the Catholic heritage at the corner of Rich and Fifth Streets.  The suppression of the parish of Holy Cross church may seen as a sad reality of the times.   I, nevertheless, am left with a lot of hope for the future of Holy Cross, now as part of the Cathedral parish.   With the rise of housing in the downtown area, there is a hopeful outlook for greater attendance at our parish.   Although society is more secular, there are many who are searching for truth and answers for their lives.  This brings me to our new parish mission statement which I wrote about last week in my column: “Growing the Catholic Faith in the Heart of Columbus.”  This is both a challenge and call to all of us as Catholic Christians.  We are disciples of our Lord Jesus and thus, co-workers in his vineyard, particularly here in the center of the city.  We do not have to be anxious or overwhelmed by the task, however.  Our Catholic Faith is a gift to us and something that we don’t have to create or design.  Rather, having been blessed with revelation of the God of the universe through his Son Jesus Christ, the incarnation of God, we are already given the great Truth about our lives.  Jesus is the one who instructs us, guides us, give us meaning and leads us to eternal happiness.  What would we do without him?  In today’s Gospel, we hear his words: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart…For my yoke is easy and my burden light.”  Our discipleship is not one of slavery but freedom.  For Jesus invites us to pull the yoke that he is already pulling.   This is a metaphor for how to live our lives here on earth.  We are to live with him, to conform our lives to him, and do what he teaches.  When we do this, we find true rest, true satisfaction.

 

I want to thank all of you for the privilege of serving you as your pastor.   I have been blessed by your faith, your insights, your participation in the life of our parish, especially the Mass.   It is my prayer and hope that you continue to be a blessing and source of encouragement for our new rector, Fr. Jan Sullivan, who will be here next weekend.  Fr. Sullivan comes to us from St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Zanesville.   He has been a priest of the Diocese of Columbus since 1991 and brings a wealth of pastoral and liturgical experience with him.  I will continue, full-time, as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese and will reside at St. Michael parish.

 

I would also be remiss if I did not thank the priests who have served with me at the Cathedral.  They have been a great source of support during my tenure.  I want to acknowledge and thank my parochial vicars, Fr. Elias Udeh and Fr. Eugene Joseph.   Fr. Udeh will be leaving as well and going to St. Joan of Arc parish in Powell.   Also, Msgr. Frank Lane has assisted here this past year and has been a great source of wisdom and knowledge.   Msgr. Lane will be the administrator of Sacred Heart and St. John the Baptist parishes.  Be sure to keep all of our priests in your prayers during this time of transition.

 

May God continue to bless all of you and your families, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

Fr. Kitsmiller