And now, the "more in due course"

Yesterday I received a reassignment letter from my bishop. It is dated 1 October 2026, the Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. I've been serving in my current parish assignment for the past eleven and a half years.

I had forgotten that when I was given my current assignment by my previous bishop, it was only for a little more than a year. Likely due to my former bishop being moved to a new diocese a month after issuing that letter, an updated assignment letter was never issued. For all practical purposes, that has been my assignment for more than a decade. On the whole, it's been a good and, I hope, fruitful time of ministry. As with all things, there have been ups and downs.

Prior to my current parish assignment, I had served for eleven years at our cathedral. As of 1 June 2027, the cathedral will once again be my assigned parish. Additionally, "with immediate effect," I am assigned to assist my bishop "in liturgical and pastoral duties" across the diocese. Of course, this takes precedence over any parish commitments.

When I assumed responsibilties for the diocese in 2020 while working my career job full-time, I was given the option of not having a parish assignment. Nonetheless, for the subsequent 6+ years, I've continued my parish ministry, albeit in a scaled back way. Between now and the end of May next year, I've been given discretion concerning this aspect of ministry as to how much I do. I am grateful that my bishop recognized my desire to take a break from parish ministry between now and next June. I am grateful to my current pastor for being understanding and supportive as well.

Apart from knowing that I need to take some significant time away from parish duties, I have yet to really determine what this interim period will look like. But I am grateful it was granted. This is especially needed given than I am only six months into my full-time work for the diocese, which consists of responsibilities across a number of areas. When I write about this year not only being a year of transitions but of quite challenging ones, this I what I mean. I have still a lot to figure out.

For family and personal reasons, I also need consistent time off. Being busy seven days a week most of the time is something I will no longer do. While I've felt this more acutely the past six months, I believe what I am experiencing is the cumulative effect of living out of balance for a long time.

With this, I am moving forward. Too much handwringing on here on Καθολικός διάκονος. As the song "Closing Time" put it: "every beginning comes from some other beginning's end." As we are at about peak autumn here along the Wasatch Front of the Rocky Mountains, nature reveals this to us quite profoundly and beautifully.

And no, "Closing Time" is not our traditio. Instead, in honor of my "going back," our traditio for this Friday in mid-October is a track from my favorite U2 album, The Unforgettable Fire: "A Sort of Homecoming."