You have my sympathy. This is especially difficult when you have a priest with whom you have developed a rapport. The degree of pain is commensurate with one's involvement in any parish. It's of far less concern to those who show up on Sunday to fulfill their weekly obligation but rarely participate in any other aspect of the community.
For us, a community of only 40 families, this priest is the first one to fully take charge and lead the community in obtaining an actual church in which to celebrate Mass. He is a strong taskmaster which bothers some of the parishioners (one even went so far as to complain to the bishop that the priest "micromanages" every aspect of the parish). Yes! And that is how the work has been accomplished. Today, for example, was the last day of Religious Education classes. He decided it was time for the pre-K through 3rd grade children to learn to pray the rosary. (We also had a 3 year old in the group.) If you are familiar with children at that age level, then you know how fidgety they can be. The children had already been there 1 hour before he brought them forward, explained the rosary to them and then took the time to enforce proper position in the pews. "Sit straight, no turning around, no crossing legs, no twisting ... look forward towards me!" He faced them and used a microphone as we began the rosary. Each time a child began to fidget, he spoke directly to them and lauded those who followed his directions. At the end, we were both amazed at one little 4 y/o girl who loudly recited each and every prayer. He later commented that you can see which parents teach their children to pray.
He drove up to his future parish in Buffalo this afternoon and won't be back until Wednesday. He is determined, however, to see our project through to the end, despite his new assignment and the months of June and July at CUA to work on his Canon Law degree. Check out the pictures at our web site. Click on the Events button.
St. Ann Maronite Catholic Church
The web site has been designed by one of our younger parishioners. It's a work in progress, albeit slow because I am the one feeding him photos and information.
Thank you so much for the post and ping! I will remember you, your parish and your priest in my prayers. Please pray for us!
What wonderful priests we have.
Your priest sounds a lot like Fr Carmel. He too is a hard taskmaster, but he does not ask of anyone what he does not expect of himself. His first year at our parish was very rough with more than one letter going to the bishop. We lost some parishioners but as Fr has often said, " I love you all dearly, my people, but I will not go to hell for you."
Your words are basically what our priest final words were to us. We are a community and that community does not end as you walk out the door of the church, it is the only the beginning.