Final Farewell This week I leave for my new assignment as assistant priest at Holy Family in St. Louis Park and as chaplain of Chesterton Academy in Hopkins. I just wanted to say that it has been a wonderful two years here in the southwest corner of the archdiocese. Thank you for all of your love and support! It has been and interesting two years to say the least! I will never forget the day that bat swooped past my head in the rectory chapel during my first few weeks here. Since then I have become an expert in bat extraction. The strangest part of my time here was the pandemic. It was very weird saying Masses in empty churches for those few weeks at the beginning. One of the hardest parts of ministry during COVID was never quite knowing if we were overreacting or underreacting in each decision we made. Parking lot Masses were kind of exciting, but I am glad to be done with them. Having to worry about heat, cold, wind, rain, and sun while celebrating Mass has made me appreciate church buildings much more. No more rocks and binder clips needed. I am grateful for my time with Fr. Stiles as my pastor. He has been great to work with and to live with as a brother. He has helped me see the importance of being a little less “business” and a little more personal. You are in good hands! Although it is hard to leave, I am also excited for my next assignment. I enjoy schools a lot, so I am very much looking forward to being the chaplain of a high school and being involved with a K-8 parochial school. Many of you have been wishing me “good luck!” during these last couple of weeks. I am grateful for your kind wishes. This, however, has let me to reflect on how our culture has lost a distinctly Christian way of saying farewell to each other. Goodbye, for example, used to mean “God be with ye.” Godspeed, meant “may God speed (prosper) you.” What do you think the chances are that we could bring one of these back? Well then, in that spirit, I bid ye, Godspeed! -Fr. Sandquist