There are specific events in a priest’s life that he will always remember: his priestly ordination, his first Mass, ordination anniversaries, etc. At the time of writing, my induction as parish priest of the Catholic parish of Headstone Lane has not yet taken place but I do not need a crystal ball to know that it will join all those events that I will always consider as significant. A priest’s induction is always special, but I believe more so if he is being inducted to his very first parish. And so, St Theresa of the Child Jesus Church will, without a doubt, be always special to me.
At my induction, I will promise before Christ “to serve the people of this parish in such a way that they become true followers of Christ: loving all and serving God their Father and all people”. I will promise to preach the Gospel of Christ in word and deed, and to love and serve the people of St Theresa’s in such a way that they are “encouraged by my example and strengthened by my zeal”.
It’s all quite profound and serious, and some may even say scary. But my induction will have something in common with all the aforementioned special events. I will be making my Oath of Fidelity and promising to serve the people of Headstone Lane in front of not just God and Bishop John but also before people who have loved and supported me throughout, not least of whom are the parishioners of St Theresa’s who have welcomed me so warmly since I first arrived at the beginning of October. Did Jesus not say, “Do not be afraid”?
I couldn’t think of a better way to begin the new liturgical year. The season of Advent, which opens the new year, is a period of preparation and anticipation for the coming of Christ and that takes on an extra meaning for me this year as I “prepare” and “anticipate” my duties as your new parish priest, with Christ at the centre of everything that I will do as the shepherd of the parish. When Christ is not at the centre, that’s when things start to go wrong.
In my first newsletter message, I said that I was sure I was going to make mistakes. As it turns out, I didn’t lie for I have made a few already! But that’s okay: if there is one thing we should do this Advent as part of our preparation for the coming of baby Jesus, it is to acknowledge where we have gone wrong and then go to confession to be reconciled with Him who is to come.
I call to mind something Pope Francis said in 2018: “Advent invites us to a commitment to vigilance, looking beyond ourselves, expanding our mind and heart in order to open ourselves up to the needs of people, of brothers and sisters, and to the desire for a new world.” This is going to be my mission statement as I spend the next few years striving to serve the people of St Theresa’s.
I pray for humility, wisdom and strength to carry out what I am being inducted to, and I give thanks for all you do for me and the parish. Have a blessed Advent season!
