It’s funny, but at 88 years of age I feel like a “rookie.” Having conferred with our provincial superior, I received what most likely is my final assignment as a Redemptorist. For the past seven years I was engaged in senior ministry as a member of our C.Ss.R. community in Kansas City—celebrating regular parish Masses during the week and on weekends while also hearing confessions on a regular basis. A heart attack a year and a half ago began a chain of gradual changes in my ability to negotiate the many stairwells in the rectory there and, to be honest, there was a growing realization that my energy, even for the rather limited ministry I had, was waning to the point that I realized something had to change.

It was hard to admit after 62 years as a priest, but the Lord has blessed me with the assignment to this wonderful place called St. Clement, and full retirement. There is not room enough to express how great the staff that serves us here is. The nurses, the housekeepers, the cooks and servers, the maintenance crew, and the administration team are outstanding. But the true blessing is the Redemptorist community made up of active missionaries along with men in retirement and assisted living like myself. It is so great to be with all my confreres here. Being the most recent member, they have welcomed me into the fold. It is a community whose joy and gratitude are palpable! After all the years in which by God’s grace I tried to teach, tried to preach, tried to serve in the retreat ministry and in our parishes, I find myself experiencing the 100-fold promised in the gospel. Rookie though I be, I’m grateful to be part of this team.

Reprinted from “The St. Clement Connection” newsletter; by Fr. Tom Danielsen, C.Ss.R.