In my 38 years of being a priest, I think the hardest thing I’ve had to do is transfer from one parish to the next. Change is hard. Whether one has been pastoring for half a year as in Fr. Dan Firmin’s case or for fifteen years as in my case at St. Mary on the Hill, the “letting go” is difficult because a good pastor is always going to deeply care for his people. For a priest the parish is your family. In some ways a transfer is like a death experience for all involved.
That being said, the “going to” is really not going to be too terribly hard for me. My family and friends are delighted that I am headed to the beach. And I am excited about my new family because I have heard so many great things about St. Michael Parish. I know this faith community is a place of hospitality for many visitors. For many of you who live on Tybee year round it is your spiritual home.
It will take me a little time to understand the rhythm of the parish, to get to know the structures, your different ministries, what you are used to in terms of liturgy, what the big events in parish life are, and what your passions are. But I hope and pray that we will form a great team together. I look forward to getting started with 8am Mass this Tuesday morning and hope to celebrate a joyful new beginning with many of you at the Masses next weekend.
Please keep all the priests who are in transition in your prayers as we pray for you.
In Christ,
Fr. Jerry Ragan
In my 38 years of being a priest, I think the hardest thing I’ve had to do is transfer from one parish to the next. Change is hard. Whether one has been pastoring for half a year as in Fr. Dan Firmin’s case or for fifteen years as in my case at St. Mary on the Hill, the “letting go” is difficult because a good pastor is always going to deeply care for his people. For a priest the parish is your family. In some ways a transfer is like a death experience for all involved.
That being said, the “going to” is really not going to be too terribly hard for me. My family and friends are delighted that I am headed to the beach. And I am excited about my new family because I have heard so many great things about St. Michael Parish. I know this faith community is a place of hospitality for many visitors. For many of you who live on Tybee year round it is your spiritual home.
It will take me a little time to understand the rhythm of the parish, to get to know the structures, your different ministries, what you are used to in terms of liturgy, what the big events in parish life are, and what your passions are. But I hope and pray that we will form a great team together. I look forward to getting started with 8am Mass this Tuesday morning and hope to celebrate a joyful new beginning with many of you at the Masses next weekend.
Please keep all the priests who are in transition in your prayers as we pray for you.