Looking back at 2019 and the decade of the Teens

Not only are we changing the year, we are beginning a new decade. (OK, I know that technically the new decade begins in 2021, but no one really believes that.) The past ten years have been very good to me, prob-ably the most fun-filled yet challenging of my life. In my travels, I have gone to Hawaii with my family (2010-highly recommended), the Holy Land and Rome on pilgrimage (2012), Ireland (2015-you can never go here too many times) and Scotland (twice, 2013 and 2018). The two major highlights were a boat ride around the Na Pali Coast with my family (quite possibly the best day of my life) and playing the Old Course at St. Andrew’s in Scotland. (The Holy Land was great, but comes in third.) Professionally, I went from being a faculty member of Borgia High School to becoming its President. The challenges in that job were daunting. Everyday there was a new headache, some of which I never saw coming. But overall, it was both an honor and a joy to lead that school. On a difficult note, I lost some great people in the past decade, most notably by older brother Tom in 2013 (believe it or not, he was goofier than me), some great and talented colleagues (four of them, RIP Duane, Mr. Kaiser, George and Sandy) and even a few former students (whom I remember fondly). But through it all, the good times as well as the bad, I experienced the overriding grace and love of God, stronger than ever. It was a blessed ten years.

And then this year, momentously, I left the home where I had been for thirty years to begin a new life here in Webster Groves. To be totally honest, it was an adjustment, a big adjustment. And I am still adjusting. Borgia was a comfortable place for me, a very comfortable place. I knew practically everyone in Franklin County and its environs and they knew me. (I hope they still remember me at The Landing Bar and Grill on the Riverfront – I practically paid for the new patio.) You don’t stay with a place for thirty years and not feel a little bit of melancholy when you leave. But I knew the time was right. I still had lots of energy for that job, but that, ironically, is exactly the time when you want to move on.

But make no mistake about it, coming to Holy Redeemer has been a great joy for me. Already there have been several memorable moments, primarily at our Friday All School Masses (where the students remind me how “old” I am). The people of this amazing parish have welcomed me with open arms and for that I am very grateful. When people ask how I am doing, I tell them that I landed in a good place, a place I hope to be at until at least 2030. (I hope you all are thinking the same…)

So here’s a toast to the HR Decade! The best is yet to come!

Please be careful on New Years’ Eve and have a blessed 2020! Happy New Year!!

Father Kevin

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