Heartfelt Compassion
July 1, 2026
Fr. John Riccardo
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12).
July 1.
Today is the day when priests begin new assignments in many dioceses across the country and beyond. As I write this, two priests I have been living with for some time are no longer in the house and have begun new assignments at new parishes. I miss them already.
On behalf of my brothers, then, I’d like to offer a few thoughts, both for those parishes going through transitions this week and for my brothers who are moving.
First, a gentle encouragement for my dear brothers and sisters in the pews who are receiving new priests this week. Please understand that, unless they are newly ordained and starting their very first assignment, they are almost certainly going through no small amount of grief right now. Priests don’t “change jobs”; they’re not “relocating.” They’re leaving a family. And that hurts. A lot. So, on behalf of them, please be gentle and warm as they arrive in your “home.”
Priests spend their lives walking with people: visiting the sick; praying at the bedside of a loved one as they leave this life; baptizing children (and adults); marrying young couples (and couples not as young); spiritually counseling people; visiting classrooms; going to basketball, football and volleyball games; playing on the playground with kids; hearing thousands of confessions; having meals and robust conversations in people’s homes…and then one day they wake up and find themselves in a new family. This brings with it deep sadness. It’s a kind of death. It’s not natural for fathers to leave families.
Second, a gentle encouragement for my brother priests who are moving.The family you’re arriving in is similarly grieving. I know you know this, as you’ve probably done this before, but sometimes it can be helpful to state the obvious. Their spiritual father is gone, someone who was for them and did for them what you were and did for the family you just departed.
Parishes aren’t small businesses; they’re the people of God — a family of families. We often say in ACTS XXIX that one of the primary crises we see in the Church is a need to recover what it means to be human. A friend of mine speaks frequently about what he calls “the corporatization” of the Church. What he means is that, for a variety of reasons, we often relate to each other in overly functional and transactional ways. This week, especially for those parishes receiving new spiritual fathers, is a great time to change that.
As those of us who have lost loved ones know, grief takes time to heal. Compound this with the fact that ours is a culture that doesn’t do grief well, and these are times to be very, very gentle with one another. It’s probably going to take a few months for everyone to get used to each other. So, let’s strive to be gentle with each other in these months that begin today. Let’s go out of our way to be gracious, welcoming, patient and kind with one another. Let’s linger with Paul’s words in Colossians. Perhaps more than anything, let us present one another in prayer to our good Father, asking Him to send the Holy Spirit in power in these transition days, asking Him to help us love each other as brothers and sisters.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
July 2026
For the Church, that She may boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing liberty, healing, and hope to a wounded and broken world.
For our nation, as we celebrate 250 years of independence, that we may be grateful for the blessings we have received and strive to be agents of love, reconciliation, mercy, and healing in our respective spheres of influence.
For our time with the Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Los Angeles, as they celebrate the centennial of their presence in the United States, that this Jubilee year may renew them in their vocation, deepen their love for Jesus, and bear abundant fruit in the lives of all whom they serve.
For the Arise from the Ashes Revival in the Archdiocese of Detroit, that the Holy Spirit would pour out graces of renewal, hope, healing, and transformation upon all who participate.
For our Regional Leadership Immersive in the Diocese of Wichita, that our time together would bring further clarity to the mission of the Church and help to equip the people of God to be mobilized for mission.
For our Board of Directors, our benefactors, and all who support and pray for the mission of ACTS XXIX, that they may encounter the personal love of God and be abundantly blessed for their generosity, sacrifice, and faithful service.