Dear Friends,
On Sunday, Pentecost +19 we bade farewell to our dear friend, brother, and Chief Verger Ric Sanchez. While we are sad to see him go, we are so very grateful for his time among us, and his years of devoted service, mentoring, good humor, and faithful gifts and graces to Holy Family. Here’s the prayer we prayed together on Sunday:
O God of abundance and light, you have bound us together for a time to work for the advancement of your beloved community in this place. We give you humble and heartfelt thanks for our ministry with this, your faithful servant Ric Sanchez, with whom we have shared in these years, in this sacred space. We give thanks for his good humor, and for his wisdom in all things liturgical; for his compassionate heart; and for his steadfast commitment to this, our Holy Family parish. Especially, we thank you for the loving care that surrounds us on every side, and for the never-failing reminder that you are with us even in our leave-taking of one another, and for the deeper knowledge of you and one another which we have attained in our time together. Thank you! Now, we pray, be with our dear friend Ric as he leaves for his new life in Tampa, and also with those who remain behind, and who will so miss the gift of his presence among us. Grant that each of us, by drawing ever nearer to you, may hold one another in our hearts, in the communion of your saints. Mi hermano Ricardo, vaya con Dios y con la bendicion de nosotros que amamos y que te estamos muy agradecidos. Te llevaremos en nuestros corazones, siempre. Buena suerte! All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, your son our Lord, and may the blessing of God our Father, Mother, the son, and the Holy Spirit be among us, and remain with us, always!
And, a deep bow of gratitude to the Hospitality Committee and a host of others who made possible the wonderful, festive reception following the service, and for Vicky Harkins’ lovely cake design
Blessings, dear ones. I’ll catch you later on down the trail, and I hope to see you in church!
Bill+
