Summer Seminarian Keyboard: My previous time writing, I primarily gave thanks to you all for your generous welcome into your parish, but today I write of my thanks for my time here has come to a close. I spent nearly two months at St. Cecilia and St. Peter Claver being the servant of the servant; oh, was this a time full of joy. I adored being able to serve you all through participating in the Mass. I loved visiting the sick and elderly who couldn’t join us at Mass. And I loved all the time spent with you during our various summer activities this year. As many of you already know, I will be leaving for John Paul II Seminary this Sunday to begin my long journey towards the priesthood; it’s only by being able to serve you all that I could have a much deeper appreciation of this inspiring vocation.

While I would love to keep giving thanks, I also know that this isn’t the most productive thing I can do, so I would like to add here a simple meditation that invites all to pray on. This comes from the Gospel Luke 1:68-79 but is more commonly known as the canticle of Zechariah, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, and the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation but the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon is, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow the death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace”. This beautiful passage is a message that all people must respond to in some way; I think it is important that all people can derive some mission or deeper gratitude to God from this passage.

I must thank you all once again for your generosity, kindness, and warm welcomes as I now say my good byes. I will gladly remember this summer and am happy to know that there is always a home waiting for me here. I only hope that this is not a permanent good bye and that I may see you all again in the following years to come.

Humbly Yours,

Marcus P Lloyd