Dealing with Change...

The past 15 days (well, really since February 24th) have been filled with more change than I ever thought I could handle.  I'm pretty close to a meltdown with only my senses keeping my wits about me.  In February our assistant priest informed us he would be transferred in 3 weeks to another parish in the Diocese.  One month later we were informed that the Capuchin Friars would be pulling out of our parish and we would become, once again, a Diocesan parish.  Finally, at the end of May we were informed of who our new pastor was going to be and that he would be coming on August 1st.  All of that time was filled with much stress and anticipation as to what this new change would loo like.  We knew that our new pastor had a different perspective of how to lead a parish and would also have another huge job for the Diocese in the Tribunal.

All of this anticipation over the course of 128 days could never have prepared me for the changes that have occurred since August 1st.  Our new pastor actually arrived on August 3rd and the last 13 days have been almost more than a little youth minister can bear to handle.  We will be fine with everything, eventually - this is the nature of life, all things change.  But as was once said...

"Forward, Always Forward, Everywhere Forward."      

Boniface Wimmer, OSB (founder of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA

 So we will move forward, try to adapt to the new schedule of Adoration and Daily Masses, and accept the many 'cosmetic' changes that have been occurring.  We always use Eucharistic Prayer I (which is beautiful, albeit long for daily Mass), the priest wear the 'older' vestments that I don't know the name of, but they look like this:

There are a few other things that are not really specifically important but have changed nonetheless.

Now, the ultimate question:

No, that's the real answer.  What does matter?  Our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how I live out the Gospel to all who I encounter.  That's where the important things lie, not in what Mass looks like, what time I attend, whether Adoration is Wednesday or Friday, or even if the priest pours a droplet of water into the chalice or puts it in with a little spoon.  All of these things are cosmetic and superficial to the real important matters of Faith and my personal life as a Catholic Christian.  So for another day, we move on and strive for holiness.