2nd Sunday of Advent

by David Lins  |  12/10/2023  |  (Being) Catholic Matters

This coming Friday (12/15) - the day of our parish Christmas Concert (don’t miss it!) - will be my last day as a member of the OLOJ parish staff. And it has been an adventure.

I notified Fr. Jess back in November that I’d be leaving as a result of my doctor suggesting I eliminate driving sixty seven miles for work each day in an effort to help with some ongoing health issues and coinciding with a job opportunity opening up much closer to home.

I will be the new Family Giving and Community Engagement Officer for Great Hearts Arizona at the Veritas campus. This transition will cut my commute to a third and result in an additional hour with my family each day.

I want to thank God for the blessing of my 7 1/2 years here (and over 25 years of full-time parish work in total). I’m grateful for Fr. Jess and Laura Hicks for taking a chance on me in this important role. And every single one of my coworkers for their example of selfless service.

Finally, I need to thank you, the blessed community of Our Lady of Joy. You prayed for me through the loss of a child and stood by me when I couldn’t stand for myself after back surgery. You’ve read this column, and some of you have even read one of my novels. You have put up with my analogies and endured my laugh. To steal from author Dave Ramsey, “You’ve been better than I deserve.”

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Although I won’t be physically present, I will author two more columns. Next week, I’ll explain why the title of this column has been, “(Being) Catholic Matters.” And the last week? Well, that will be the Christmas bulletin and you’ll just have to read it and find out!

This Sunday’s readings are about John the Baptist—a man defined by being surpassed by the One who followed him. Well, I’m no John the Baptist, and whoever follows me certainly won’t be Jesus—but I pray for the sake of this amazing parish that whoever follows me is 100 times the Director of Faith Formation that I have been.

And one more thing. Pray for and support Fr. Jess. He is a man of great faith and deep humility. I was blessed to work for him.