[As you likely know, I am moving on from Holy Trinity Parish to begin working for Evergreen Catholic Schools as their Chaplain next fall, spending a significant amount of my time at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic High School. This weekend is my last weekend working in the parish and I wanted to pass on my appreciation to parishioners for all they have meant to me during my ministry here. This letter was included in the parish bulletin this weekend:]
June 22, 2012
To the wonderful parishioners of Holy Trinity:
It is hard to believe that six years have already come and gone since I came to be a part of this wonderful community. I consider it to be a great privilege to have been able to dedicate so much of these last six years to this parish, and, in particular, to so many amazing young people.
When we accepted Fr. Paul’s invitation to join the parish team, Jen and I were not simply making a decision about a job, but we chose a community within which we would raise a family. Over these six years we have welcomed three beautiful children and gone from being newlyweds to discovering the joys of family life. All the while, members of Holy Trinity have supported us by sharing meals, opening their homes, inviting us out, babysitting, and helping us discover what Catholic family life is all about: love, generosity, and sacrifice. From the bottom of our hearts: thank you. We are very grateful that our next chapter has afforded us the opportunity to remain here, in this parish and community with so many good people.
I have loved being a youth minister. My time in this parish has blessed me over and over again, starting with the opportunity to serve under such a generous and holy pastor in Fr. Paul. I can’t say often enough how his love for our community – and in particular for our youth –is second to none. There is no priest I know of who puts so much of himself and his parish’s resources into building up youth ministry. Fr. Paul has also surrounded himself with an incredible parish team, whom I will miss greatly. They are an incredibly joy-filled and faithful group of people who work very hard to keep the business and many of the ministries in our parish going.
To those of you whom most of my time these past six years have been dedicated: the youth and young adults, both leaders and participants in LIFE TEEN, Edge, Challenge, Conquest, Pure Fashion, and World Youth Day- thank you for helping me discover the face of God in your joys and in your sorrows. I hope that I have been able to help you make some steps forward in your spiritual lives. It was much easier to make this change knowing that Gillian would be stepping into my role, and doing all she can to love you and show you what God has created you to be. I am also glad that I will continue to serve many of you in my new role as Chaplain in our Catholic Schools.
Please allow me to make two final requests as your parish youth minister. First of all, please pray for me as I embark on my next chapter in August, supporting the good work of Catholic Education and reaching out to the youth in our schools. Second, please consider how you can be involved. For a youth ministry to be healthy, long-lasting, and fruitful requires that many people are engaged in it. Your new youth minister – and the youth of the parish – need your help. Pray about the ways in which you can help more firmly root youth ministry into this parish by your time, talents, and treasure – and let Gillian know you are willing to serve. This support will be the key to a successful transition for her into youth ministry, and also when the time comes for her, too, to move on.
Again , to all who have welcomed me, served with me, prayed with me, or taken part in anything (even a solitary youth night) – thank you. It has been my joy and my privilege to serve all of you as the youth minister at Holy Trinity. If you wish to keep up on the work I will be doing in the future, visit me online at http://www.iamthird.ca where I will be updating on a regular basis.
Yours in Christ,
Mike Landry, youth minister
