As I settle back into the rectory, I have thought about all the rectory buildings that I have lived in as a seminarian and also as a priest. It’s been quite a few. I have lived in ten different rectories in the years that I have been a seminarian and a priest. Where there were one or more parishes that I was serving at the time, often there was just one rectory that you lived in. I had a unique situation at the Cathedral as I served there as a seminarian intern, came back as a new ordained priest, and then returned after my first pastorate to become the rector. However, this is the first time, and hopefully the last, that I have to move in and out of a rectory because of damage to the building. It has truly been a different experience, and it feels more normal for me to actually live at the location of the church community that I serve.
It also feels good to be settling back into a “normal” routine. I got behind in a number of things these past (almost) nine months and I have been trying to catch up. It’s also time for me to get ready for the upcoming Lenten season which is just a little over three weeks away.
As things are unpacked and settled at the rectory, I haven’t forgotten that so many parishioners have asked for a tour and an open house. I will be announcing this soon. I appreciate all your questions, and it looks like many of you enjoyed the weekly picture updates of our progress. Some may have been in the rectory in past years, but it now has a different floor layout. I am extremely pleased with the exceptional work done by 360 Fire and Flood and their subcontractors on the rectory. Their craftsmanship and use of high-quality materials have truly stood out. We are grateful to have been able to achieve this with the support of our insurance company. Once we receive additional information and the remaining invoices, we will be able to share the parish's total contribution to these efforts in recovering from the tornado. Our insurance covered the majority of the restoration of the building and content replacement.
I certainly felt all your prayers over these months. The Lord has blessed us and let us all give thanks!