I have been contemplating lately the philosophical concept of Ars moriendi, a protocol of a good death. But I concluded that perhaps what’s even more important in life is the procedure and art of saying Goodbye!

In retrospect, I myself carry baggage on my shoulders of many bad and traumatic departures, fractured relationships through misunderstandings, or encounters that years later bring up unresolved feelings. On the other hand, I also carry examples of masterful farewells, job transitions, bittersweet celebrations, and trajectories of grief that I worked through to peaceful resolutions.

Of all of these, I will forever treasure Fr. Ed Kelaher's departure as an absolute masterclass in saying Goodbye!

Through the wise guidance of the Vestry and other leaders, the months leading up to Ed and Patty's departure were busy ones: Kingdom dinners with parishioners on Monday evenings and special education classes on Sundays. A gourmet final Feast to nourish the community, corporally and spiritually. The last day of service fell one day after the 10th Anniversary of their arrival. It was a glorious celebration of a tenure lived in a godly and dignified way.

What universal lessons can be learned from this Masterclass in saying Farewell? As we reach transitions in life... or even our final chapter, for we really don’t know the date of our departure – it could come like a thief in the night. Whether we have months or years to prepare for the inevitable, we should not push it out of our consciousness.

There are not enough lessons on how to navigate this territory, but the focus of any transitory time should be on being present in our reality. What better way to do that than to envelope each other in prayers, each and every day! Furthermore, our relationships naturally sustain us in contemplating and processing events of the past. Only then, can we reach the feeling of serenity and preparedness for the journey that still lies ahead, perhaps the best one yet.

God bless you!

Edyta