Transitions

DeSales WeeklySpiritual ReflectionsChildren of God

Aug 27

Fr. David Whalen, OSFS, teaching students of St. Pius X School in Toledo, OH.

In the last edition of DeSales Weekly, one of our men in formation, Mr. Matthew Trovato, reflected on his summer of CPE training at St Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo. Matt is coming close to his perpetual vows as an Oblate, after which will follow his diaconate, ordination, and then his first assignment as a priest.

Here, Fr. David Whalen, OSFS, shares another transition, in the form of a letter to his parish, St. Pius X in Toledo, OH, as he prepares to retire from his ministry.

Many Oblates serve in parishes, and leaving can be a difficult transition, as this means leaving a community that has been home for many years. Learning to graciously embrace life's transitions is a part of Salesian Spirituality.

Live + Jesus

Dear St. Pius X Family,

In June of 2011, I completed two terms as Provincial Superior of our Oblate Toledo-Detroit Province. My successor (and former high school student!) Fr. Ken McKenna, OSFS, then offered my name to Bishop Blair to be the Pastor at St. Pius X. Although St. Pius X is a full diocesan parish, we Oblates have the right of first nomination when it comes to a Pastor. The Bishop, of course, can accept the nomination or not. In every case thus far, including my own, he has accepted and thus began the wonderful years I have spent with you.

At the same time, Fr. John Lehner, OSFS, was completing his term as Local Superior at St. Francis de Sales School, and while he would continue for some years thereafter to teach in the school and assist with several extracurricular activities, he came to St. Pius to live. Together, we formed the Oblate Community at St. Pius.

You offered me the privilege of celebrating the Eucharist with you daily and sharing, as best I could, the power of the Scriptures. You allowed me to baptize your babies and bury your beloved dead. You gave me the joy of presenting your young to the Bishop for confirmation and presiding at your weddings. You afforded me the great privilege of mediating to you the healing forgiveness of Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick, and walking with some of you in the painful moments of the dissolution of marriage. You handed me your rosaries, medals, and statues and asked me to invoke God’s blessing upon them, and you sought my advice in so many matters. Finally, as a topping, you let me teach your youth the beauty of the Latin language so that at Christmas time we could sing both O Come All Ye Faithful and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in Latin!

The mandatory retirement age for a Pastor in this diocese is 75, but I slipped under the radar up to 78 before they caught me. Fr. Marty Lucas, OSFS, came on as Pastor but invited me, with permission of our Superior, to continue to live in the rectory, to teach, and to help out as needed.

I am now 82. My mind doesn’t agree with that age, but the body definitely does. This past June, I had a serious case of pneumonia and was hospitalized for a week. It has changed everything. I have been in pulmonary therapy three days a week and have benefited from it, but the fact remains that age continues to go up and stamina down. So… again, with permission and blessing of my Superior, I am moving from St. Pius X to be a permanent resident of Rosary Care Center in Sylvania. I am very familiar with Rosary Care since I celebrate Mass there three days a week and have served on their board for many, many years.

So, thank you, People of St. Pius! Thank you for all you have taught me over these years. Thank you for forgiving the blunders I’ve made. Thank you for the smiles, and thank you for mediating to me the Lord’s patient love. Thank you for everything! Every morning, I pray for the People of St. Pius X and will do so as long as the Good Lord gives me the mind and strength to do so.

God Bless you all and may He hold you in the palm of His Hand!