Father Fleming's Letters

October 15, 2004

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

When I arrived in Concord on March 1, 1994, I asked Alice Connors, then my secretary, to save a little room in the bulletin for a note to the parish from the new pastor. Well, my “note” turned out to be a letter too large for the bulletin so we made an insert of it. The next week, I wanted to write yet another “note” and,well, the rest is history! Over these ten years I’ve written some 475 letters to you. This letter is my last from Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, my next will be written from Holy Family Parish. This weekend I also wrote a letter to the people of St. Bernard Parish and I look forward to the opportunity to write one letter to the Catholic community of Concord.

Over these ten years I’ve used my letters to teach, and sometimes to preach on matters to which a particular weekend’s scripture readings simply didn’t apply. I’ve used my letters to push particular events and programs in parish life and sometimes to pitch again what was also printed in the bulletin. I believe my letters have been a helpful tool in building a trusting relationship between me and the parish community. I recall how grateful I was to have the custom of a weekly letter: when questions of war and peace faced our nation; when questions of credibility and trust faced our church; when the reality of parish closings arrived on our front steps. And in many ways, I believe my letters have helped you to get to know who your pastor is.

Now I write this last “note” on OLHC stationery before writing my next epistle on HFP letterhead. I write this letter with deeply mixed and bittersweet emotions. I believe that the saddest task I will ever have to shoulder in ministry is the closing of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. As I’ve written, these past months have been our “summer of discontent,” our journey through a dark valley, our troubled and troubling times. But in the midst of such sadness, I have also been given what I believe will be the greatest blessing and challenge I will ever have as a priest: establishing of a new Catholic parish in Concord.

Over the summer I have thought at every mass of how, on the weekend of October 23 and 24, we would praying in Our Lady Church for the last time . Just that thought often brought tears to my eyes - especially at communion time. In addition to knowing that I would have to say goodbye to this beautiful parish church, I feared that I might at the same time have to say goodbye to you. And I did not know if I had the emotional strength to make it through such an experience. Communion time was particularly difficult because I would be wondering as I ministered the eucharist if I was coming near the last time for me to share in that communion with you on the Lord’s day. The great sadness of closing Our Lady Parish is still ahead for you and for me, but I am so grateful not only for the opportunity to continue to serve as your pastor but also for the opportunity to serve as pastor for our brothers and sisters in St. Bernard Parish, and that all of us have the opportunity to become one family in Christ, members of his body, his holy family.

Much is about to change, but most things, the most important things, will remain the same. We will need to learn to live through the changes, rooting ourselves in the unchangeable realities that make us who we are: Catholic Christians, brothers and sister in Christ, sons and daughters of God.

I wouldn’t say that I’ve been writing you love letters for the past ten years, but I can say that they have been written with love. I thank God that I will soon be writing weekly letters to the Catholic community of Concord, at Holy Family Parish.
Sincerely,
Fr. Fleming
P.S.
Please join us tonight when “Our Lady Parish and West Concord Union Sing and Pray Together.” The service begins at 7:00 p.m. but the prelude music begins at 6:40 p.m.

The archdiocese wants Holy Family Parish to retain the parish center in West Concord and notes that fact in the decree of our parish closings. The archdiocese also recognizes that a number of issues need to be resolved with the town and so the decree notes that Holy Family parish retains the center pending the final disposition of the larger parcel of land. I believe that all parties hope that the center remains as a parish facility. Please be patient with the staff of Holy Family Parish as we consolidate the parish offices in the center at 55 Church Street. We have a lot of moving and settling in to do! At Fr. Murray’s suggestion, I may, for a short time, delay moving into the rectory on Monument Square until after some painting is done in the pastor’s rooms. Fr. Woods at St. Elizabeth Rectory in Acton has offered me a place there for the meantime.

Peace,
Austin

Please email comments or questions to Fr. Fleming at FrAustinFleming@aol.com