Fr. Dan Tracy
“Communion, synodality and mission cannot be achieved if, in the hearts of priests, the temptation to self-referentiality does not yield to the mindset of listening and service.” – Pope Leo XIV
What a wonderful opportunity it was this past weekend to be welcomed along with Father Thomas here in the Four Parish family of Rice Lake, Dobie, Haugen, and Birchwood. As you said welcome to me, I let you know that I have felt very welcomed in my early days here. I am grateful for the assistance of Father Adam, Father Isaiah, Father Phil, our parish staff, and many volunteers who have made this first week run smoothly.
As I begin my time here as parochial administrator for these parishes, I believe that if I am going to be a good Christian leader that I will not be able to lead well if I do not take adequate time to listen and to learn. Of course, I need to spend time listening to and learning from God in prayer, meditation, and reflection, but also Father Thomas and I want to spend time with you so that we can learn from you, listen to you, and come to understand the powerful work that God has been accomplishing in you.
In these first 100 days of our assignments here – July 1st to October 8th – I want to share with you that my principal pastoral priority for Father Thomas and I is it to listen and learn. In early October, my hope is that we could then commence a period of discernment where we can look honestly at some next steps for each one of our parishes. We will utilize the mission goals that were submitted to our Diocese in May along with other key resources and begin charting a path forward together, making intentional decisions that will help our parishes continue to grow and cooperate with the work of God.
To facilitate this listening and learning, you are absolutely welcome to set up a time to meet or share a meal with one or both of us. I would prefer an e-mail communication to schedule that time. If you would like to share other pertinent information that you feel might be valuable for us to know in these new roles, I want you to feel comfortable sharing that either via e-mail or through some time in conversation.
Truly, I want to acknowledge the goodness that is already clearly present here at these parishes. My hope is that, by God’s grace, we can continue to live in that goodness so that the Gospel might be proclaimed, that souls may encounter the love of Our Lord Jesus, and that many will choose the wonderful adventure of discipleship that finds its completion in heaven.