The movement founded by St. Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century was something unique compared to the then existing forms of “religious life.” The models of such life, spirituality, and the ways to be in the world were: monastic life, the life of the hermit, or a priest assigned to one place to serve out his days. And then came the Franciscans.

Europe had already experienced the Irish monks wandering on pilgrimage as a penitential practice, but not a way of life. From the beginning, Francis and the small band of friars practiced a type of ascetic homelessness. Francis himself spent a good portion of the early years (1209-1215) wandering, especially in central and eastern Italy. Francis and the early friars practiced peregrination pro Christo (“wandering for the sake of Christ”).

In our day, the friars do not, as a rule, “wander about.” Yet we also do not take a vow of “stability” like the monks – nor are we “incardinated” to a single diocese as are the diocesan priests. We are men vowed to live our life in fraternity and to mutually discern where the Holy Spirit calls us as part of that fraternal life.

Fr. Sean is not practicing peregrination pro Christo, but he is taking a new assignment pro Christo. Fr. Sean is a great priest, a wonderful brother, and source of comfort, solace, joy, and laughter to so many of you, our beloved parishioners. He is my brother and my friend.

I did not know Fr. Sean before arriving here in Tampa. Now I cannot imagine that soon he will not be part of the fraternity. Our loss is the gain for Siena College and the students at the campus – and a wonderful gain for his family who all live in the greater Albany, NY area.

But this is our life. We are called to serve for the time given, to contribute our gifts, to encourage yours, and build-up the Body of Christ in one place. Even as you read this, there are other communities that are saying goodbye to Fr. Frank Critch, OFM and Fr. Dan Kenna, OFM. Their loss is our gain – they are good men with a solid commitment to parish ministry.

People have asked me, “Who is replacing Fr. Sean?” – the answer is “no one.” He is truly irreplaceable, one of a kind, and his unique story-telling will be missed at the dinner table. But with the new priests arriving are new perspectives, new talents, and new stories to be recounted at dinner.

This weekend, we pray our blessings on his travels, his new ministries, and pray he survives the winter. (Seriously, Fr. Sean’s blood has thinned out terribly. He puts on long johns for Novembers in Tampa!) For him and for us, it will be a transition with things different and new, but all things pro Christo.