Greetings to everyone, with wishes of peace and all good things in this season of Pentecost, as spring leans into summer.

Scripture describes the Holy Spirit as a mighty wind that comes over the followers of Jesus, fills them with courage and wisdom, and sends them to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Good News.

We have seen the winds of change blowing in our country and our city these last few months. I see the Holy Spirit at work in our Catholic community of Good Shepherd and in our personal lives. We are responding to the coronavirus outbreak with an outbreak of compassion. We are responding to racial injustice with words and actions that I pray will promote equality, unity, and love.

The winds of change are blowing. They are leading and guiding us.

They are also leading me and guiding me into new directions.

The Capuchin friars serve all of New York and New England. They vow to seek the fullness of love in the service of God, the Church, and all people. They promise obedience and agree to go and serve wherever the cry of God's people can be heard.

The Capuchins are hearing the cry of the homeless in Boston, and they are beginning a new ministry of spiritual caregiving to them. It is a mobile ministry meant to bring the healing of Christ and God's restorative justice to people living on the margins of society.

The Capuchins have asked me in obedience to join this new homeless ministry in Boston, and I have accepted their call.

This will be my last week in ministry at Good Shepherd. I will be moving to Boston on Sunday, June 14.

I apologize for the lateness of this announcement. The date for my leaving was confirmed only several days ago. For many weeks the pandemic put the timeline for the new ministry in doubt. Now that we appear to be on the tail of this wave of the outbreak, we are on track to launch the homeless ministry in early July.

This will be a quiet leave-taking because of the extraordinary social circumstances. I am sorry we will not be able to say goodbye as a congregation gathered fully together. This saddens me, as I am sure it saddens you. No fraternal embraces or even a handshake for now. I hold out the hope that I may return to visit you one day. And maybe then we can have a proper goodbye and close the circle.

When I moved to New York City five years ago, I had never worked in a parish before. It seemed like an odd fit to put a lay brother, whose ministry experience was mainly community organizing, into a parochial ministry. At the time when I moved from Hell's Kitchen to Inwood three years ago, I still felt like a misfit, even after two years of working in a parish. But then I met all of you and began to work and pray with you. And I began to feel at home, both in a parish ministry and in New York City, in a way I never felt before. You welcomed me and took me under your wings. And with the Holy Spirit at our backs, we have soared.

Now the wind of the Holy Spirit is speeding me to another destination. For the heights to which we have flown together, I am thankful. For the love of Christ you have shared in your hospitality toward me, I am grateful. For the good works we have done in the holy name of Jesus, I am proud. For the life you have given me these last three years, I will remember you forever.

Wishing you many blessings,
Bro. Anthony Zuba, OFM Cap.