Dear Brothers and Sisters,

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The announcement from the diocese on the All Things New planning process was probably shocking for many people in our ACC. I am sure many of you are wrestling with the decision. You might be asking why, or what comes next. There are likely many emotional responses or thoughts chasing around in people's heads right now. That is all perfectly normal and understandable. I want to remind you, however, that different people process things differently and that allowing for differences will be important to help each other through this.

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These different subjective experiences may be due to individual temperaments or attitudes, but time and one's experiences can play major roles as well. For example, a family that is faced with the death of a parent from a slow, terminal disease will grieve differently than one whose parent died suddenly and unexpectedly. Or back when communication was less instantaneous, sometimes a family member who had been at sea might only find out about the death of a parent many months after it occurred. Everyone else has had time to grieve and process, and that person who just found out is emotionally months behind where they are. It might seem odd to the rest of the family how that one person is responding, forgetting their own reactions in the moment. And that one person may become upset at the rest of the family for not being more upset, not understanding that they have had more time to adjust and adapt.

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I and members of the ACC planning committee have been heavily engrossed in this All Things New process for almost a year now. We have delved deeper into the current realities of the diocese and our parishes than most people, seeing the statistical evidence of a slow disease eating away at the life of the Church. Though we did not know what the final result would be, and may have hoped for a miraculous recovery, we were probably more prepared for the news than many others. Much of my grieving is going to look different than yours. I will always try to be understanding and supportive of you in the individual ways you need to grieve. I ask that you please do the same for me. Do not assume someone does not care if they do not shed as many tears as you, or that they are crazy for crying. Be compassionate to others, and let the light of love guide your actions and interactions with others.

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Peace in Christ,

Father Timothy