Dear Christ the King Parish,
Even though it is only the middle of July, it really does sort of feel like the
first day of school for me! New place. New people. New schedule.
Hoping I don’t accidentally walk into the wrong room or awkwardly say
“you too!” in reply to someone’s “welcome to the parish!” Since I’m a
priest, at least I don’t have to worry about what to wear!
Another thing different from those days back in high school is that this time around I have a better sense of what’s going on with all of these emotions. Of course there are some nerves–I want to make sure I remember all of your names and avoid tripping on the way into mass. And at this point in my life, I’ve accepted that the awkwardness is just part of who I am! But the nerves and the awkwardness are just a fraction of this emotion, this eager expectation that I am feeling as I start this new adventure as an Associate Pastor at your parish. I have come to realize that the biggest part of this recurring “butterflies-in-the-stomach,” “first-day-of-school” feeling that I tend to get is actually–surprisingly–hope. I feel hopeful. Hopeful for all of the wonderful things God will do in my life and yours throughout this new adventure.
In August of 2020 when I professed my first vows in Holy Cross I said “I believe that I have been called by the Father and led by the Spirit to offer my life and my life’s work in the service of the Lord for the needs of the Church and the world.” And over the past 2,171 days of my religious life, I have repeated that very sentence every day before I get out of bed in the morning as a reminder that I really do have the greatest gig in the world. I get to wake up every day and love the people that God puts in my path. And knowing that I will get to do that–no matter where I am or what role I am asked to take on–fills me with hope!
I’m grateful for all of the people God has allowed me to love in my life: my family back in Pittsburgh, my friends from my time at Notre Dame and Harvard, and the students God has entrusted to my care, first at Stonehill College before entering Holy Cross and then at King’s College after my ordination. And now I am grateful, joyful, and hopeful that God is inviting me to join the team here at Christ the King in our shared mission to serve you well, to minister to you faithfully, and to love you with the love of Jesus himself.
I’m not perfect at it; we all are still waiting with eager expectation for the day when God will smooth out even our roughest of edges. But I do promise to strive everyday to love you in the way that God created me to: as a priest of Jesus Christ, called to minister humbly to the flock entrusted to my care. And as daunting as the task can feel at times, I am hopeful, knowing that it is God who has called me here to this place at this time to love you, specifically you.
I ask that you pray for me in this new ministry, and know of my prayers
for you. I’m excited to see what God will reveal to us in this season of life as
I humbly ask to be welcomed into your community here at Christ the King.
With hope,
Fr. Ricky Bevington, CSC
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