Well I’m back from the Josephite General Chapter and my holiday (that’s “vacation” in your dialect) with my family and friends. As I flew back I realized that I was “coming home” to USA, which for this Brit is something indeed! That shift in my mindset could only come about by the sense of community and friendship I have received coming here as Pastor last October, and the many wishes of welcome back I’ve received so far.
As you know, at the Chapter I was elected the Vicar General of the Josephite Congregation which makes me the number two. Our new Superior General is Fr Jacob Beya Kadumbu , an excellent man and the right choice for the Josephites; it will be an honor for me to serve him and my confreres as Vicar. This obviously means some more work for me, and it does mean that I will have to go over to Belgium three or four times a year for council meetings and later on to visit confreres etc. I will of course organize this in such a way that it causes least interference with parish life as possible. This situation is easier for us here at SLDM as we are blessed with two excellent resident Associate Pastors, Frs. John and Alfred, and several other Josephites who can help us with the sacramental and pastoral life of the parish.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped the Parish continue its mission and witness whilst I’ve been away. It is a great comfort to know that I am not …to some extent…indispensable! Please keep me in your prayers. For now let us really continue the Year of Mercy, growing in God’s image and likeness as we go.
God bless you, your families, and the week ahead.
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter