July 1, 2001

A Message From Father Ralph

Wow, St. Brigid’s!

A few months ago I met Father Frank in a parking lot as we were leaving a workshop and he said, “So, what do you think about coming to Westbury?” Actually, I hadn’t thought anything about coming to Westbury. After all, I had never been a pastor before and for years St. Brigid’s community had been legendary throughout our diocese. So I didn’t really think that I’d have any chance of becoming the next pastor of St. Brigid’s.

In reality I won’t yet become the pastor until a new bishop is appointed -- in the meantime I’ve been appointed the adminstrator of the parish. (This is a good thing because we can “practice” our new relationship before it becomes official. )

I follow in the footsteps of some very remarkable pastors and some of my friends were wondering whether I was brave in accepting this assigment or whether it’s another case of “fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” For me it’s not a matter of courage or foolishness -- it’s a matter of love. My experience of priesthood is that it is a life filled with love and I have come to know more deeply the love of our gracious God because of my experience of priesthood in Freeport, in Hauppauge, throughout the diocese working with RENEW 2000.

So I come to you expecting to find yet another experience of God in the holy and happy hours ahead.
And I’m looking forward to sharing with you the gifts that have beeen given to me over the years -- gifts I received from the Holy Spirit through baptism, from my parents and brother and sisters, from my teachers, from friends, from parishioners and from many co-travellers on life’s journey. It’s going to take some time to unpack what I’ve brought along (both physically and spiritually) and I hope we’ll enjoy discovering together the surprises that God had in mind when this new assignment was dreamed up.

Let’s pray for one another.

P.S. I’d like to get to meet folks in an informal way throughout the summer. Why not get together a group of neighbors or friends (around 12 people is a good number), have some good dessert ready, and invite me over for “Sommer in the Summer?” If you want to see what dates are available, click here.