Parish Assignment
No, we don't have one yet. We've cycled from the-bishops-don't-know-yet to maybe-city-A to maybe-city-B to the current state of the-bishops-definitely-don't-know.
Dna. Vassi has been very good at helping me remember: "God will provide." She gave me her hairband to snap on my wrist when I give into the worries and actually try to answer the solicitous "Where are you going?" I receive from my co-workers and family—from at least one person every day. I was explaining this to a fellow worrier: "I snap it against my wrist, hurting myself when I don't trust in God." (Oh. This little diakonissa finally got it.)
On the other hand, it's much easier to offer another answer, especially to those who ask me daily whether I've heard anything yet.
I've decided to say we're moving to Laputa.
Dna. Vassi has been very good at helping me remember: "God will provide." She gave me her hairband to snap on my wrist when I give into the worries and actually try to answer the solicitous "Where are you going?" I receive from my co-workers and family—from at least one person every day. I was explaining this to a fellow worrier: "I snap it against my wrist, hurting myself when I don't trust in God." (Oh. This little diakonissa finally got it.)
On the other hand, it's much easier to offer another answer, especially to those who ask me daily whether I've heard anything yet.
I've decided to say we're moving to Laputa.
posted by magda at 9:07 AM
7 Comments:
My prayers are with y'all. We just got our assignment a little over a week ago. I'm now free of the two questions I used to get almost every day: "When is Nicole due?" and "Do you know where you're going?"
Maybe you should get pregnant just to mix things up a little. ;)
Hang in there. We had the (mixed) blessing of pretty much knowing where we were going from December on, the year my husband graduated, because when he was ordained to the diaconate our Metropolitan (Anthony) announced to everyone that he would be his deacon when he graduated. But he refused to tell us any details, like salary, until we got there. "I'll take care of you" he promised. And then it was a salary that we *barely* scraped by on. In fact, if it hadn't been for the money the churches gave my husband when he'd accompany the metropolitan, we would have gone into debt just trying to live in San Francisco, even the very simple lifestyle we were.
I feel like I'm always telling you negative stuff! I guess I'm not very happy about the hazing that goes on to new priests and their families. It seems exceedingly unfair, when most of them have only got priest training under their belts, aren't fit for any other good job, and the bishops know it, and can keep them under their thumbs. I'm happy with where we are now, but I'm not happy with what it took to get here. I hope it goes better for you. In opposition to Fr. Andrew (above) it's probably better that you don't have kids yet, so you can keep your options open more. I had one going into seminary and two coming out.
Just my two bits... I'm getting to the point where I'm going to need the little elastic soon, but by the grace of God we'll know in a little while what and where.
One thing that I would like to note is that the demographics of the seminary are changing quite a bit. There are many students now who have had a previous successful career and/or have advanced studies in some non-theological field. I'm not sure how (if at all) that affects the planning of assignments, though
Fr. Andrew, we would appreciate your prayers regarding your suggestion :)
Pres. Elizabeth, it's always great to hear from you. You may feel like you're always telling "negative stuff," but the best part is that you're proof of getting through it!
My husband doesn't fall under the "not fit for any other good job" category. (Glory to God!) We were on a "game show" at a retreat called "They Said What?" and we got the question (actually put to a presbytera) of "May I have a copy of your husband's resume? I'd like to make sure he's qualified." Since the seminary will be his fourth degree, I have no doubt that a look at his resume would only serve to gain respect. On Sunday I was telling some older teen boys about how I met my husband, and their heads whipped around and eyes lit up when I mentioned the PhD, Notre Dame, and robotics. Clergy can be cool in other ways, too.
Prayers, and hey, I've seen that movie!
I'm glad to hear you don't read my comments with dread! And yes, we are proof that it can be done. We went through a very bad time, and came out the other end in tact, though a bit scarred. What I'm finding now is that many clergy families feel this way, and are mostly afraid to speak out. We just had the most *wonderful* clergy couples' retreat, where I think we all were so relieved to be more transparent with each other and to get to know each other in a much more transparent way. I hope that other Metropolises will do this because it was a truly life-changing event.
And good for you that Fr. Virgil has other things he can fall back on! I think that's a very good thing.
Since I was widowed six years ago I have found ever more "interesting" ways of dodging the old "When are you going to move on?" question. People mean well and don't realise when they are irritating. Laputa sounds nice. Is it in California? ;-)
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