On 1 April four years ago Cardinal Law assigned me to St. Matthias Parish as pastor.  At that time I could never have dreamed of how the church would become involved in the incredible upheaval of scandal and reconfiguration that we have endured.  As with any new pastor, my hope in the early months was to focus on getting to know people and to find my way into the rhythm of parish life.  That was not to be!  In those first few months, my brother priests and I would wake up to news reports that certainly set a stressful and sad tone for each day.  It seemed like the stories of abuse would never end.  It’s always a challenge when a new pastor comes into a parish but to be new and dealing with the crisis 24/7 was draining. 
     To this day people continue to thank me for my openness and honesty in dealing with the issues back then by addressing them in bulletin articles and homilies rather than ignoring them.  Some people said I was brave to be one of the 58 priests who signed the petition calling for the resignation of Cardinal Law.  I just thought of it as living out my calling as a baptized Christian and as a new pastor.  Nothing special or heroic there. Looking back now, those were incredibly full, stressful and sad days.
     With the appointment of Sean O’Malley as archbishop many were very hopeful that he would resolve the issues surrounding the abuse crisis in a swift and professional manner given his experience with these same issues in other dioceses.  To a great extent this did come to pass.  But there was a new spector on the horizon, that of reconfiguration.  As stated many times during the reconfiguration process there was a consensus in the archdiocese that reconfiguration was necessary to build a stronger church.  However, most came to criticize the process sharply as it played out.
     To this day, and I would guess for years to come, there will be lingering anger and bitterness due to the closings and the manner in which they were accomplished.  The grieving process continues.  Our pastoral staff hears it every day when we talk with people in our parish who have come to us from St. Ann’s, St. Mary’s and a number of other closed parishes.  We also hear from parishioners that there are a significant number of families still searching for a parish to call home.
     During the initial months of reconfiguration our parish welcomed folks whose parishes had closed in a low key yet supportive manner.  In this way we tried to respect the pain and loss but gently welcome people into a new community.  Some have suggested that we should have been more out front during that time.  My intention was to create a balance of welcome and compassion, walking with people as they took the next small steps to healing.
     I guess I bring all this up again as I reflect on beginning my 5^th year as your pastor because, as difficult as the last 4 years in the church have been, they have also been years of growth and shouldn’t we be focusing on that new growth?
     I believe we are becoming more authentically the Body of Christ. Through scandal and reconfiguration the laity and ordained alike have become keenly aware of the fragile and fallible nature of this organization that claims direct lineage from Christ and his first shepherd, Peter.  The “going my way” myth of the perfect priest and perfect parishes has given way to the reality that within the church community there is a darkness that only Christ can overcome.  He overcame it on the cross once and for all so that no matter what we go through, his light and life can give us new birth.  That new birth in the archdiocese of Boston might be as tiny as a crocus pushing up from the still half frozen earth, but it’s a start! 
     I encourage all of you to help that small fragile flower grow by sharing your faith with folks who are still hurting over the scandal and reconfiguration.  Why not invite someone you know who is searching or hurting to be with us for Holy Week and Easter?  Together we can be vessels of new life and light and shake off some of the darkness that has surrounded our archdiocesan family for so long.