Dear Friends,
This is my last message to you in this weekly column as pastor. I write this piece with mixed feelings of joy and sadness. I came here on November 19, 2018. I would have completed seven years here with this year’s Thanksgiving. It is known to all that I came to St. Matthias at a very critical and challenging time. It was only much later that I came to know that no other priest wanted to take on this parish ☺ I know that it was the grace of God that saw me through. I thank God and you, the community of St. Matthias, who enabled me to achieve all that was accomplished. I leave this wonderful parish with a great sense of satisfaction about the overall state of this parish. The following is not a state-of-the-union kind of note, as I wish to highlight only two important areas out of so many:
One: The financial health of the parish is excellent. Moving the parish from red when I took over to black as I leave is certainly a matter of great joy. We have over two and a half million in ready cash, not counting a substantial investment for any emergency need – thanks to the strong and savvy Parish Finance Council (PFC) under the chairmanship of Joe Porter at first, and later Kester Hector. Conscious of our unfortunate financial irregularities and losses, the PFC took seriously their duty of monitoring the parish finances, making time to meet every month to examine our revenue and expenditure. I followed a strict conservative policy on spending. I was very conscious of the fact that the money entrusted to me was the money of the people, and so my duty was not to spend it as I wished, but with consultation and collaboration with the PFC. All lavish expenses were stopped, yet I did spend money where needed. This is especially true for the much-needed physical renovations of the church and school buildings. Thus, everyone was happy to see an extra bathroom, entrance ramp, refurbishing of the pews, kneeling angels on either side of the Tabernacle, etc., in the church. The latest is our investment in the upgraded media project, helping us to have a far greater participation in worship and live streaming that benefits so many, especially our homebound. Significant investment has been made to improve the school (playground renovation, new heating units, to name a few) and our Catholic education. After my first year here, we began investing in smart boards (Promethean Boards) to make our students competitive in their learning.
With my past missionary experience of living minimally, I was happy to live with the least amount of food and amenities in the Rectory. The call of Jesus to live the gospel poverty was what I tried to live in my life. The Parochial Vicars I had the pleasure to do ministry with – Msgr. Joseph Curry, Msgr. Seamus Brennan, and Fr. Lancelot McGrath – fully cooperated with me in my effort to judiciously spend the parish money, which is the money of the people.
Two: My primary focus was the spiritual life of our parish. St. Matthias parish was and is known for our commitment to social ministry. Helping the poor – locally, nationally, and internationally – has been our hallmark. Rightly so, this was and is our way of putting our faith into action, bringing the love of God to loving the neighbor. I asked myself: what more can I do to satisfy the spiritual hunger of this community? I knew that the parishioners would benefit from a greater familiarity with the Word of God. Hence, I introduced the small groups of Bible-sharing, which was a great success. With 28 small groups sharing God’s Word at home or in the parish facilities, there was a new life in the parish. Although Covid-19 dampened its continuity, I am happy that many groups are still active.
At the very beginning of my stay here, I had noticed the great need to introduce a variety of devotions and prayer methods that are so much part of our Catholic identity and heritage. Thus, I am very happy that many people are spiritually benefiting from the weekly Novenas, First Friday Devotion with Benediction, Holy Hour, Silent Adoration, etc.
Together with the joy and satisfaction during my nearly seven years of stay, I also had my own share of suffering and opposition. I carried those crosses silently, offering them up for my own purification and for the good of this community entrusted to my pastoral care. As I take leave of you, I take with me the happy memories, the appreciation and gratitude I have received from so many of you, the good people of God. I thank God for using me as His instrument to bring whatever good I could bring, whatever comfort, consolation, healing, learning, encouragement, or support I could give you.
I am very happy to pass on the reins of St. Matthias to Fr. Tom Lanza. With his youthful and energetic spirit, I am sure he will lead this great community of St. Matthias for many years to come.
I request that you pray for me as I begin my ministry at Our Lady of Peace, in Fords. I will keep you in my thoughts as I talk to the good Lord. God bless you and your families.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal