Friday,February 21, 2003

By Fr. Fabio Sotelo
Parochial Vicar at Holy Trinity Catholic Church

As you already know, I was transferred to the Mission of Our Lady of the Americas in Doraville, Georgia where I will begin to work Feb. 27. Before my transfer, I want to take this opportunity to write you all a note of gratitude not a farewell, neither a "good-bye", but a see you later. Since I will never be able to say "goodbye" to a community that has stolen my heart in such a short time.

When I learned about my transfer, I could not believe it, because I did not expect it to be so soon. The first thoughts were those words of Christ inviting us, the ones that work for him, not to be attached to anything more than to God, our Father, and to His gospel (Lucas 10, 1-9). It was a brief visit, just 20 months, in which I learned many pleasant things about this community. More than giving, I was the one who received. The parish of Holy Trinity is for me, an oasis of prayer, love, and peace, in a world of incredulity, lack of affection and war. Its faithfulness to Christ and to its Church headed by our Pope John Paul II, constitutes a sign of hope for a nation whipped by the pluralism of faith and moral principles.

With all of you, in a short period of time, we have had to live hard moments that worked against our religious, political, social, and economic stability. Moments as hard as the terrorist attacks to the United States, and the priests crisis. However, in prayer and unity during both crises, we have learned to respond, thanks to God. And as it happens when any crisis in the human life is surpassed, they have made us stronger and better Christians. World instability is the same, terrorist threats continue, and our church will continue to be purified, but now I consider you are better prepared spiritually for an uncertain future. In this crisis, many parishioners have rescued their faith and have recognized the values of the Kingdom, which are constituted in shield and bulwark of life. Let us continue to rescue the hidden treasure of faith that assures us a radiant and new tomorrow in Christ.

I want to thank Father Walsh, our pastor, for welcoming me, and for passing on to me a lot of his wisdom and patience as a shepherd. I have learned a great deal from you, Fr. Walsh, for my life in the priesthood.

To the Hispanic community, which I consider to be one of the greatest treasures of this parish of Peachtree City, I will carry them in my heart. My immigrant brothers that make us remember we are just passing by, wandering toward a final goal that is heaven; and that it is faith, and only faith, that keeps us firm in our steps toward the eternal goal. Full of love to their families, to their church, to their religious devotions of our countries Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Divine Providence, Our Lady of Chiquinquirá have brought us a genuine and our very own flavor of our Catholic faith. I refer to you as the Catholics with spice ­ with chile poblano.

I was asked many times why should we offer services in Spanish which seem parallel to the existing parish programs. My answer is that we should go to the sheep and look for them where they are. We cannot expect them to come to us, speaking our language so we can serve them, because they will not do it. We, the ones that have received more, the priests and the laity that have more access to formation and learning of other languages, we should prepare to offer our faith to those that fight day to day to obtain the bread to survive in a land unknown to them, deprived of their culture, their family, and of so many securities only the most favored possess. As I leave this parish, I go in peace, because I see that Father Walsh, Father Joseph, and Father Dave share with me these thoughts and assisted by the Holy Spirit they will continue to shepherd all, including my Latin American immigrant brothers.

Thank you to all the different choirs and groups of catechism and evangelization, especially to the Christ Renew His Parish men and women teams. During this renewal, we have reincarnated the word of God to the stories of our lives, and as in our baptism, we have submerged in the water, many times in our own tears, to be reborn in Christ to live the sacraments, and to serve with full heart the parish community. It was a pleasure to work with the lay directors and co-spiritual directors. Of the women's group of Christ Renews His Parish guided by Father Walsh, I see the fruits in their generous and unconditional service they give to the community and continuous participation in daily mass. To the Knights of Columbus, into whose fraternity I became a member, I admire your promptness in serving the Church and your efficiency in the aid you provide. To the prayer Cenacle of Mary, I see them like a small and hidden seed that pray for us priests, for our vocations and the vocations that will come (Thanks for having fed me well!). My monthly visits to Southland Nursing Home were an opportunity to see my own transition from the sunset of life to the beginning of a new one in glory. To all I have mentioned, and to all others in the parish community, thank you for letting me see such a beautiful face of Christ and his Church.

I love you all and miss you already. I will miss the new rectory, "the house on the hill," as we name it, I will miss the paths of Peachtree City in which I used to run, ride bicycle, or travel in the golf car. I already miss the hospitality of its people, the countless invitations to their homes, and affection expressed to me in so many ways. Thank you for loving and supporting your priests.

What is next in my priestly life? The Catholic Mission of Doraville. Many ask me, "How big is the community?" My answer is, "I do not know." I only know it is a large community of poor and simple Hispanic people full of faith and love for their church. That we have a building with capacity for 450 persons and 700 attend each one of the four masses celebrated during the weekend. There are three hundred children in religious education. That is what I know ­ that there is not enough space.

I know that I do not have experience in building churches, but I am happy and determined to do what God wants me to offer to this modest Church, a mission that is continually opening the doors to the Latin American immigrants arriving in the United States as I did eight years ago, without family, without friends, without English, but with a rich and unbreakable faith. I also know that with the aid of God I will help to rescue many people.

I will continue to preach the love and faithfulness to God, the obedience to the Pope, family and sacramental unity, the participation of the laity in the life of the church, and the promotion of all human beings without any distinction, as we all believers fight against and for the construction of the Kingdom of God. Additionally, I know that you have to come to visit me so that I do not forget the English you have kindly, patiently, and with many accents, taught me.

Therefore, I repeat, my farewell is not more than a "I'll see you later." In Doraville, or wherever God takes me, I will always receive you as my friends. To all, my gratitude, and my blessing. May Our Lady of Guadalupe protect you.

[Fr. Fabio Sotelo is the parochial vicar at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.]

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