My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
It has been a wonderful five years of being your priest. A priest’s first parish has a special place in his heart. I have learned so much from you, from Fr. Damian especially, Fr. Steve and Fr. Dave – from our deacons, parish and school staff, married couples, widows, single adults, young people and children. I thank you so much for opening your parish and your lives to me. It has been my desire to try to follow St. Paul in a passage I reflected on in the seminary before coming to St. Columbkille Parish:
“When I came to you, brothers, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
In so far as I have been but a small instrument in helping you encounter Christ, I rejoice and thank God. For those moments I have come short, inadvertently or unknowingly caused harm, I ask your forgiveness.
It is the great privilege of the priest to be able to be a part of your lives, especially at so many important moments of your family. I have helped you bury the dead through over 80 funerals, but also worked with couples for 40 weddings, baptizing 3 of their children out of 104 baptisms. Comforting the sick through countless anointings, bringing the Father’s mercy again and again through reconciliation, assisting in the preparation of those to receive the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, and being the conduit through which Christ has fed your souls with his daily bread, the Eucharist, in the Sacrifice of the Mass. I feel blessed to have so many spiritual children, including your children that I have so much loved teaching in the school and religious formation. It is difficult to leave. But just like Elisha in the first reading this weekend, just like the disciples in the gospel, the Lord has called me to leave this family, and go on to a new assignment.
I rejoice knowing that the same Jesus Christ who was with you before I arrived will continue to be at the center of your lives after I go. All the Christian faithful remain united to one another through the Mass and prayer; may we continue to lift each other up in our prayers. I depart with these words of the Father, that you may never forget you are His beloved sons and daughters: “You are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, … Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 43:4a, 5a).
Giving thanks to God for you always in my prayers,
Fr. Vogel
