Fr. Dave’s Retirement and More Inspiration about Transfiguration

Thanks to all at our parishes who are making fish fries happen.  Thanks to all who attend, and all who branch out to go to a fish fry at another parish!  Even as I have attended three fish fries so far, I regret that I am not staying long and that it is likely I will not be able to attend some of them.   From 4 to 730 PM each day my focus is on mom, getting her supper, cleaning up and preparing her for bed.  

Please read the following articles.  One from Fr. Dave and his important official announcement about his retirement, as well as Director of Music and Worship, Ron Miller’s reflection about our new parish name, Transfiguration.
 
Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat
 
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A Message from Fr. Dave
Beloved parishioners of Crescent Parishes:
Three years ago, knowing that my pastorship at the Church of the Resurrection would end on June 30th,  I agreed to an assignment to stay in the area.  Phase I of Beacons of Light was about to begin and my discernment led me to agree to be a part of it as a Parochial Vicar.  Though it was stated that the hope was to have a five-year commitment to match the five-year plan of Beacons of Light, the priest personnel policies says that the term of a parochial vicar is three years, and Retirement Age is 70.   Consistently I have stated that I intended to retire after one term.  I have prayed about this decision over these three years and in January 2025 I submitted my letter to Archbishop Schnurr, who accepted and approved my retirement plan.  June 29, 2025 will be my last scheduled Sunday Mass, ending my tenure in the Crescent Parishes as Parochial Vicar.   

The main difference is that beginning July 1st, I will no longer be assigned anywhere officially by the Archdiocese and can either “help out” or not for weekday or weekend Masses, for weddings, funerals, or pastoral care.  I intend to take a several month “break” from ministry.  Mom and I plan to camp many times, travelling and staying as long as we want, and especially visiting my brother and his family in Austin Texas in the Fall.  I will schedule my left-hand surgery early next January.  After that heals, I may be more open to consider being in rotation for weekend Masses.   

Let’s celebrate our relationships over the next three months!  Knowing that May and June become busy with graduations, parties and vacations, I selected early May for a Retirement Party.  Though I will continue to preside at Masses from now through June, I want to be able to have time to say thank you to as many as possible.   I will turn 72 on April 30 and will be ordained to the priesthood 46 years June 16th.    In between those two dates, let’s Party!!!

Please mark your calendars:  May 4th beginning at Noon at the Church of the Resurrection in the Bro. Hugh Memorial Hall for Lunch.  Details will follow.   
 
Blessings always, in all ways!
Fr. Dave Lemkuhl
 
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Transfiguration Parish
Reflection by Ron Miller, Director of Music and Worship

 As a new team and staff member at Crescent Parishes, I was rather late to the party when it came to being on the team and the discerning of our new parish name. However, Transfiguration felt very comforting to me for a few reasons. The first thing that immediately comes to mind is “change.” Certainly, we can’t deny that our parishes have gone through and will continue to have changes into the future. Change is inevitable. 

Even deeper than the changes that we can see around us is the change that happens in our hearts. The Transfiguration points to the meeting of heaven and earth.   Which is what we’re all ultimately after, right? The transfiguration of Jesus wasn’t just about his physical change when he resurrected into glory, but the changing of the hearts of the apostles who were the first to be charged with going out and sharing what they had just witnessed on the mountaintop. It was thought to be a preview of when Jesus would come again in glory. 

It leads me to view the Transfiguration as always ongoing. Change for us as individuals and as communities of faith will never fully be realized. If we look back one hundred years, then we can see all kinds of change that has happened. If we could see into the future, we’d see more change than we can predict or even imagine today. And so, I take comfort that this name has so much meaning to it, and it doesn’t point to one thing, one person, one element of our parish life. It’s us connecting to the resurrection of Christ and realizing the journey that we’re all on to ultimately be transformed into the image and likeness of Christ in heaven. 

Of course, being a musician, the following text to a familiar song came to mind, and I leave you with it. “Change our hearts this time, your Word says it can be. Change our minds this time, your life could make us free. We are the people you call set apart, Lord, this time change our hearts.” (Text by Rory Cooney)