By Fr. John Adamski

“We’re sorry to see you go.” I’m about to move from Holy Cross parish to another assignment at St. John the Evangelist in Hapeville. It’s the normal time for a transfer according to the setup of things here in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Many people have been most kind in their comments and remarks such as the one above. There are many reasons that make a move difficult, but there’s also the anticipation of a new assignment, a new community of believers to serve.

Holy Cross has been my first assignment as a priest and so I’m sure that it will always relate to a special place in my life. I arrived fresh from my theological studies and eager to begin my life and work as a priest. In the past two years the people of Holy Cross have really taught me what priesthood means through their expectations of my role among them.

I’ve learned what being a priest means in my life and the ways in which I might truly try to serve. I know that I’ve grown because of this give and take. Hopefully, my presence here has been of some value for the people I’ve tried to serve.

The many friendships and relationships which have grown during these two years are certainly an enriching part of my life and something that will remain a part of me even after I’ve moved to another place.

I’m sure that most priests would share a similar reflection about their ministry in any particular parish. Assuming a new parish or ministry assignment is one very real expression of a significant aspect of priestly service, namely the realization that one is called to serve the whole Church of God in a particular area.

A priest stands ready to rearrange his life by moving according to the needs of the local Church which he serves and the direction of his bishop. The move itself is an experience of the larger community calling a man to respond to its needs. Since this is my first transfer, it’s the first time this aspect of priestly ministry has entered my life. It has made me very conscious that the call to priestly service is not limited by parish boundaries or a particular territory. Rather, God’s call is an invitation to a life of care and service in whatever situations one finds himself.

Celibacy is also a part of this kind of priestly service. Any move, it seems to me, would be much more difficult if I would need to be concerned for a wife and family. I suspect that a move would be much harder on others in a family than it is when only one person is involved. Celibacy should be something that frees a man to give more of himself to the work and life of the Church. This is an application of that ideal.

A move also includes the excitement of a new setting, a new situation. I’m going across town to St. John’s parish Hapeville. (Some even call it Happy-ville.) While many people don’t know exactly where Hapeville is, they immediately recognize the area when I mention that it’s near the airport.

I guess that we’ll be preaching in between the movements overhead of jet planes. It’s a happy move for me because of the countless good things that people have said about the parish. I’m looking forward to meeting and serving a new community of God’s people.

No doubt, every priest who will be moving next week has similar thoughts and reflections as these that I’ve tried to share. When a man attempts to serve people, he often finds that they quickly become an important part of his own life. The experiences of happy times and sad times which priest and people share together remain with them long after the specific moment has passed.

There are many such moments that I will take with me from Holy Cross. Hopefully these two years of service have made me a better priest for the sake of all the people I will be asked to serve.