&#034;A Time And A Season&#034; June 16, 2023

A Time And A Season
As I write this, I am remembering these words from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:

For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven:
A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest;
A time to kill, a time to heal; a time to tear down, a time to build up;
A time to cry, a time to laugh; a time to mourn, a time to dance;
A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up;
A time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance;
A time to search, a time to give up as lost; a time to keep, a time to throw out;
A time to tear apart, a time to bind together; a time to be quiet, a time to speak up;
A time to love, a time to hate; a time to go to war, a time to make peace.

During our four years together, we have probably experienced almost everything on the list. I remember the baptisms, weddings, funerals, confirmations, first communions and reconciliations, wine pairings, school galas, new bulletin and website, Seafood Festivals, Magic Yarn Project, 5,000 Rosary Campaign, Christmas Spectaculars, Roses for Moms and Gifts for Dads, #iGiveCatholic Campaigns (“Cluck for the Tux”), Hurricane Ida recovery, Covid-19 lockdowns and mask mandates, Hope and Purpose School, strategic plans, School Masses and Sunday liturgies, book and gift distributions to parishioners, high school and middle school youth ministry events and activities, liturgical art and environment, a Christmas Tree that shouts, “Go Big or Go Home!”, sacrament preparation workshops, nursing homes and assisted living pastoral care, Bless the Baby Jesus, Eucharistic Revival events, props and costumes to teach the children, livestreamed Masses and recording of homilies, storyboarding and planning, Spanish Masses and Marian celebrations, VBS, adventures in family faith formation, light fixtures falling from the ceiling of Church, broken pipes, subsidence and sewer issues, singing, praying, preaching, fellowship, and friendship. I remember it all! There was some tearing down of old ideas and planting of new ideas, some disagreements and some resolutions, and some remembering and some forgiving.

We have laughed and cried, mourned and danced, and ate way too many King cakes! But never too many meatballs! We have said goodbye to beloved members who have moved or went onto the church triumphant, and we have welcomed new people as well. We completed the building of a new $15 million campus for SEAS, made tremendous improvements to our technology and communications, kicked off a Renewed Vision for our School (Boldly Catholic, Academically Excellent, and Rooted in Truth), and paid off the $10.8 million debt on the Church building and Parish Community Center. We have survived raging hurricanes, the Covid-19 pandemic, and spent many more days in the sun. Throughout it all, we have bonded and grown in wonderful ways while experiencing a great deal of mercy, grace, joy, and love! The Lord has blessed us in more ways than we can count. The Lord has certainly been with us and has shown us that what we think is impossible, God makes possible.

I have always believed that a pastor is called to a particular place, for a particular time, with a particular purpose, to a particular group of people in a particular community. We may have not accomplished everything that I had hoped for; yet still much was accomplished. It was always my intention that I would serve you in a particular way which included preparing you for your next pastor. The new pastor has been chosen and so it is my time to exit at the end of the month.

When Jesus prepared to leave His disciples, He shared three promises with them:

First, Jesus promised to make a home in His disciples’ hearts. “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him”. (John 14:23).
Second, Jesus promised to fill the disciples with a spirit of courage and comfort. “The Holy Spirit…will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you”. (John 14:26).
Finally, Jesus promised to sustain His disciples with a special kind of peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you” (John 14:27).

So as Mary Lindberg writes, “So we’ll open the gifts Jesus gave us—a home in Him, the courage to move on, the peace that will get us through many unknowns. And we’ll trust that God is staying with those we love for many more seasons.”

The thing you need to remember is that you will always be a part of me, and I will always be a part of you. Thank you for your patience, kindness, mercy, grace, generosity, and love that you have shown me! You are a great congregation, and I wish you all the best in this new season that you are about to begin. May you continue to grow in faith, hope and love, worshipping the Lord with your whole heart, mind, body, and soul and remember to do everything for the glory of God!

I thank God for you,

Fr. Robert T. Cooper, Pastor
Divine Mercy Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School