Last week, Archbishop Marcel Damphousse announced the pastoral appointments for the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.  As of August 1^st 2026, I have been appointed half-time Associate Pastor of St. Philip Parish in Richmond and St. Clare Mission  in Dwyer Hill and half-time Associate Pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Kanata.  On the same day, Fr. Primus Chika Orih is appointed Associate Pastor of St. Monica Parish and St. Andrew Community.  In other words, after one year journeying with you, I have been sent on a new mission, whereas Fr. Pierre and Fr. Kipling continue their mission among you, the faithful of St. Monica and St. Andrew.  Please keep Fr. Primus, myself, and all of the priests who are taking on a new ministry or parish in your prayers.

The image that comes to mind at this time, given my short time here in Nepean and Barrhaven, is a recent NASA space mission known as Artemis.  The mission, launched April 1^st 2026, was to test-fly the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft.  They’re journey brought them to do a fly-by around the Moon and return to Earth.  The big test was how the heat shield would hold during Orion’s descent through Earth’s atmosphere.  Thankfully it did and the mission ended with a splash-down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday April 11^th 2026.   A fly-by: this is what my short time here at St. Monica’s and St. Andrew’s has felt like.

However, something significant happened to some of the astronauts upon returning home.  One story in particular stands out.  The commander, Reid Wiseman, was not religious before the Artemis II mission.   But after his experience in space, and after witnessing the beautiful images of the Earth simply floating in dark space, upon his return he broke down in tears seeing the chaplain’s cross.   The point I am making here is that just because a mission is short, or just because it is a fly-by, it does not mean that something significant did not happen.  For me anyway, as I celebrate my 4^th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on May 31^st, I will cherish my time here at St. Monica’s and St. Andrew’s knowing that the Holy Spirit wanted me here even for a just a year.  You have all helped me grow as a priest, who for the first three years was just a ‘city slicker’ from downtown Ottawa.  Many thanks to Fr. Pierre and Fr. Kipling, our deacons, staff, and volunteers who continue to make both of our parishes real places of encounter with our Lord Jesus.

It is Trinity Sunday, a Sunday where we reflect on who God is: the Most Holy Trinity.  It remains a mystery that even some of the most inspired theologians in our Church’s history have found themselves puzzled.  St. Thomas Aquinas though had a great insight.  He spoke about the missions of the Trinity.  The Father sends the Son, and through the Son, he sends us the Holy Spirit to save us.  All of us share in that mission from the Holy Spirit to bring the Good News, to serve, and to love our neighbor.   All of this is meant to draw us all together back to Father.  May we always be attentive and open to wherever and whoever the Spirit is leading us.  As a priest, especially as an associate pastor, that mission often involves a quick ejector seat.

Fr. Kevin Burgess