Thread by @Joeinblack

To my little bro @FrGoyo -
One of the toughest parts of being a priest is moving. You give the entirety of yourself to God’s people where you are assigned and then, like Abraham, God calls you to “Go to a land you know not.”
I’ve changed communities 12 times in 20 years

and I was devastated almost every time.
I will pray for you and, if I may, offer advice to you and any younger priest going through this transition.

First, don’t let the heartbreak cause you to give the less the next time.
The pain you feel is the price of love and we should always be willing to pay whatever price love requires.
Second, you have to let go: Do not return to your former assignment for a minimum of one year.

It will break your heart and it may break their heart, but God gave them a new priest and God gave you a new family and both need to adjust and feel the pain.
It doesn’t mean you never loved them, it means God said to go and you did not look back.

Finally, pray. Pray, pray, pray. Give your new family every ounce of love that you have in the name of Jesus.
Remember, there will be no transfers when we all get to heaven. 😇
Love you.