Reflections from Deacon Jay:
On Thursday, June 4, Bishop Libasci announced that Deacon Jay will be leaving Saints Mary and Joseph Parish to take on a new assignment as deacon at Saint Jude Parish in Londonderry.
Jay succeeds Deacon Marc Payeur, who has retired after 18 years of service to the Saint Jude's community.
As many of you know, Jay and his wife, Ann, live in Londonderry, so this new assignment enables them to be part of a parish in their hometown.
"I leave Saints Mary and Joseph with a heart full of gratitude for the past six years," Deacon Jay reflects. "No deacon could have been more welcomed, more supported and more blessed by a parish community. It's been one of the great blessings of my life to have served here, to be part of this parish especially during these challenging years of transition."
Deacon Jay began his ministry at Saint Jude's on June 30.
These reflections from Deacon Jay:
May God bless you in whispers . . .
The past few weeks I've been thinking about one of my favorite stories of the prophets: Elijah's encounter with God at Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19: 9a, 11-13a – as it happens, it will be the first reading on Sunday, August 9).
Elijah's uncompromising preaching on God's justice has provoked the wrath of King Ahab and his treacherous queen Jezebel. Fleeing to the wilderness, a broken Elijah begs God to take his life. Elijah falls asleep under a broom tree and, in a dream, an angel instructs him to go to Horeb, the mountain of God. Dejected but ever faithful, Elijah walks 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb. At Horeb, he takes shelter in a cave. There he has a second vision, telling him to wait, for the Lord will be "pass[ing] by." From the safety of the cave, Elijah experiences, first, a violent wind, then an earthquake, and finally a firestorm, but the Lord is not in any of them. Then Elijah hears a "tiny whispering sound" coming from the cave — and Elijah hides his face in his cloak at the presence of God. God is in the whisper.
I first heard this story read at a friend's monastic profession; since then, I have always understood it as an image of seeking God in the quiet of one's heart. But in this year of COVID-19, I think God is speaking to us not in profound displays of
power but in the simplicity of everyday "whispers": in the selflessness and sacrifice of so many medical and emergency personnel, in the tireless generosity of caregivers, in the often unseen work of those who keep vital community services up and running, in the humility of those who keep their distance and donn facemasks – and still make sure that we know that we are loved.
Our lives over that past three months have been lived in "whispers" of sorts – yet I have heard God speak clearly in those whispers of kindness and caring; God has made his presence known in the "tiny" expressions of care and concern for one another.
And it is with a "whisper" that I take my leave. On Tuesday, June 30th, I began my new ministry at Saint Jude Parish in Londonderry. While I would have liked to have said goodbye to you all in person, we all realize the present circumstances made that difficult. I hope that as soon as we settle into some kind of new "normal" in the weeks ahead I might get a chance to do that.
I leave Saints Mary and Joseph with a heart filled with gratitude for the past six years. No deacon (especially a newly
ordained one) could have been more welcomed, more supported and more blessed by a parish community. It has been one of the great blessings of my life to have served here, especially during these challenging years of transition. Both Ann and I are grateful for this time with you.
There are so many people I would like to thank, but forgive me if I thank two individuals here:
Father John Michalowski was the best mentor and first pastor a deacon could have hoped for. I learned a great deal not only from his wisdom and experience as a pastor but from the humility and grace of his life.
The single most instructive "course" I took in my deacon formation was the day I spent shadowing Deacon David Costello on his weekly rounds to the nursing homes and his visits to at-home parishioners. Every deacon (and priest, for that matter) could learn a lot about the meaning of pastoral care and compassion by watching Deacon David go about his ministry with his characteristic sense of joy and humility. But you all know that.
You also know the wonderful team who staffs this parish. They have served this community with loving constancy during this difficult time of transition. It has been a privilege to work along side of them. God has blessed you abundantly in them.
There's a photo on my bookcase that a parishioner took of the Jesuits who served here, along with Deacon David and me. I will always cherish that photograph and the memories it evokes.
It has been an honor and a joy to have worked with all of you in our parish's ministries of word, sacrament and
charity. Thank you for your many kindnesses, support and patience with this often-struggling deacon over the years. God has revealed his presence in this community in your generosity of heart and spirit.
Please be assured of my prayers for you and your families and know that I will be forever grateful for my years in Salem.
And may you always hear God speaking to you in the "whispers" of compassion and peace – and that you continue to speak those whispers to others, as you have to me.
Take care and be well . . .