A Most Unusual Summer

Dear Parishioners,

It is hard for me to believe that we are more than halfway trough July and I have not been to the beach even once.  I am something of a beach bum since I was a young child.  Growing up in Wildwood, it was frequently to the beach in the morning/afternoon and to the boardwalk in the evening with a babysitter, while my parents operated their hotel/restaurant business.  That is, until I was old enough to work.  Then, like most of the population in this seasonal resort town, I would tackle one or two jobs to earn tuition for Catholic school and to accumulate some spending money for the rest of the year.

Throughout the course of my life I have worked various summer jobs.  Growing up in the restaurant business, I did everything from busboy, to waiter, to dishwasher, to short-order and prep cook, to cashier, to maître ‘d or host.  Then I worked for a few years as a short-order cook at the Wildwood Diner—the 7 to 3 shift (making breakfast and lunch).  I was employed as a checker (cashier) at the A&P Markets and in the deli for ShopRite.  During my seminary days, I drove a truck and did some sales for the Wildwood Paper Company.  But enough about my ancient past.  The last thirty-three years have been as an ordained Roman Catholic priest.

Once a week, I usually spend an overnight with my mom who has a condo in North Wildwood.  I check up on her, do some errands, cook a few meals, and keep her company.  During the quarantine, I went three entire months without visiting her.  Since she is now eight-six, I think it is ever-so-important to spend some precious time with her.

It is strange trying to get to know people in the parish as they are introduced to me with their face masks/coverings hiding their appearances.  Don’t people intentionally wear masks to rob banks?  It’s going to be hard for me to remember people’s faces under the current conditions and restrictions.  Please be patient!

I have felt like I was living behind the iron curtain for my first week—no internet, no TV and poor cellular service in the rectory.  I have had little contact with the outside world.  The internet and TV should be installed this week.  As for the cellular service . . . that’s another story.  I have often thought that I might like being a monk.  Maybe I need to re-think this?  I have been warned many times to be careful of what I pray for because I might get it.

I will be spending some time getting to know the life and rhythm of the parish, unpacking my stuff and finding my way in this new locality.  This part of Camden County is not as familiar to me as other parts of the Camden Diocese.

I probably echo the sentiment of many when I say that I hope things will return to some regularity or  normalcy sometime soon.  However, there is one thing that I am assured of despite the uncertainty of our times:  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13: 8).

Everything else seems to be something of a crap-shoot these days.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The North Wildwood Beach

The Wildwood Diner

From the (New) Pastor’s Desk . . .

St. Thomas More

Dear Parishioners,

Hello!  This is my first letter to you from your new pastor!

 

At my last parishes, I was accustomed to writing a letter for the bulletin each week.  I hope that you will not mind if I continue the practice here at St. Thomas More.

Change is usually not easy for any of us because it can cause a disruption in one’s routine, create an unfamiliar situation, and may necessitate certain adaptations.  As a priest ordained thirty years, I have had to move and change assignments quite a few times:  from National Park to Hammonton, to East Vineland, to Vineland, to Buena Borough, to Somers Point, to Woodbury and now to Cherry Hill.  In each instance, the change involved leaving certain familiar circumstances and people whom I loved and cared for, to meet new people and face new challenges.  Each experience has contributed, I hope, to making me a better person and more compassionate priest.

Let me tell you something about myself.  I was born in Philadelphia but my parents bought property in Wildwood when I was just two years old and my family subsequently moved.  I am the oldest of five children, four boys and a girl.  My father is deceased and my mother still lives at the shore.

I attended St. Ann’s School and Wildwood Catholic High School.  After high school, I entered the seminary and attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Philadelphia) for college.  My next four years were spent at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.

I have spent twenty years educating high school students—six years at St. Joseph High School, Hammonton and 14 years at Sacred Heart High School, Vineland.

Typically, people have two regular questions about me.  1) What is your origin of your last name?  I am frequently told that it appears Japanese.  Then they meet me and see that I stand six feet six inches tall and hardly look Asian.  My heritage is Polish-American and my name is most easily pronounced two letters at a time:  Na-mi-ot-ka (Na-MEE-ot-ka).  2) Did you play basketball?  Yes, I played in my younger days but I was never really that good.  Unfortunately, height does not equal talent.

As I take on this new assignment I have a couple of requests of you, my parishioners.  First, please pray for me!  I will certainly need your prayers and support as I begin this new chapter of my life.  Next, please be patient as I try to learn the rhythm and personality of the parish.  Every parish is different and it takes some time for a pastor to become to become familiar with its unique character and challenges.

What I can promise you is that I will work hard, pray for you each day, take my priestly calling (vocation) very seriously and attempt to leave St. Thomas More a better place because of my being here.  With the grace and mercy of God, I hope that we will all grow in holiness together.  Throughout my life I have sought the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to help me follow whatever God’s will is for my life.  I invite you to do the same.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. 

(What I write each week will be posted on my web site:  www.fr-ed-namiotka.com with a link from the parish web.)

I look forward to meeting all of you over time!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

Homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

Time to Say Goodbye . . . Again.

Dear Parishioners,

Unfortunately, I have come to the end of my time at Holy Angels Parish.

One of the most difficult times for me as a priest is when I have to say goodbye to people that I love. Maybe they move away.  Perhaps I am being transferred to a new rectory or assignment.  Then there are those times when death strikes—undoubtedly the hardest goodbye of them all.   I admit that I am not good with these circumstances.  I would rather avoid the situation and just move on.  Maybe it will cause less pain.

Sadly, I have been at Holy Angels only three years.  This has been a great assignment because of the wonderful people!  I hope that I have been able to contribute just a little to making the parish a bit better.  I especially hope and pray that the presence of Jesus Christ was more apparent by something that I have tried to say or do.

Have I been able to accomplish everything that I wanted to do?  Unfortunately, the answer is no.  Many plans were left undone.  Any unfinished business will have to be left to the next pastor.  Sorry for that.  Priests are all too human.  We struggle.  We fail.  We hurt.  Unfortunately, we sin as well.  I have realized both my fragile humanity and my mortality over the past few years.

Looking back, many things have happened in three years.  First, there was my myocardial infarction (heart attack) after only being here for three months.  About six months of rehabilitation followed.  Meanwhile, Holy Angels School was opened at its new location.  Sadly, the sale of the former Most Holy Redeemer campus occurred subsequently.  Then came the purchase and renovation of our new office building at 81 Cooper Street.  I still chuckle that I was not even able to use my new office even once after not having an office in the rectory for the past three years.  Oh well.  Then the coronavirus and quarantine came . . . .  It has been some roller-coaster ride!

Now I am off to be Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish, Cherry Hill, NJ.  I will begin this new assignment next week.  Fr. Joseph Byerley, a former Parochial Vicar, will return to Holy Angels as the new Pastor, effective July 15, 2020.  I know that you will show him your love, support and encouragement.   

I plan to continue writing.  I have posted my past parish bulletin articles online for almost a decade. The blog is entitled A Pastor's Thoughts (www.fr-ed-namiotka.com).  If my thoughts and writings were interesting, helpful or amusing to you, I invite you to check out my blog.

Otherwise, this is goodbye to all of you.  I thank God if I have helped you in any way.  I ask His and your forgiveness if I have hurt you or caused pain or sorrow in your life in any way.

I ask you once again for your prayers.  Just a little remembrance, every once in a while?  Please.  I will continue to remember all of you in this parish in my prayers and at the altar during Mass.

I was told many years ago that when a priest leaves a parish, 20% of the people will swear by him, 20% will swear at him, and for 60% it won’t make much of a difference at all.

I hope this isn’t really true.

In Jesus and His Mother Mary,

Fr. Ed Namiotka

(Soon to be former) Pastor

Fr. Joseph Byerley

Homily for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

Patriotism

Dear Parishioners,

Recently on June 14^th, Flag Day, I participated in two virtual ceremonies for the Knights of Columbus.  Over 300 men made their 4^th Degree Exemplification online due to the COVID-19 restrictions on crowds and gatherings. The 4^th Degree concerns Patriotism and it reminded me and all of the men making their degree of our Catholic, American heritage.  Patriotism is the principle of the 4^th Degree as Charity, Unity and Fraternity are the core principles of the other three degrees.  I encourage the men of our parish to investigate and consider joining the Knights of Columbus, if you are not already a member.

It is sad and it angers me to see certain crowds throughout our nation defacing or attempting to destroy some of our civil and religious monuments and statues.  I am proud to be an American and I think that we should be grateful to live in this country.  Yes, our country is imperfect—it is not heaven nor will it ever be so—but some evil elements are trying to hijack and undermine some valid concerns and turn them into anarchy and lawlessness.  There is a deliberate attempt to cause civil unrest and foment hatred of our police.  Peacefully protest and be civilly disobedient, if and when necessary.  People pray the rosary and participate in sidewalk counseling in front of abortion clinics.  However, anarchy, looting, rioting, the destruction of property and other forms of lawlessness are not the solution to any kind of racism or injustice and should never be accepted or tolerated.

During the Olympics I am proud to hear our National anthem played as I see our dedicated athletes awarded their medals.  Having been born in and living so close to Philadelphia, I treasure the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the many other reminders of the founding of our country.  I look forward to the fireworks and various celebrations on the 4^th of July.

 

Our nation, like every person who may ever live in it, is flawed.  Unjust laws and decisions unfortunately exist (e.g. Roe v. Wade) and we should peacefully work to change them.  We should strive for equal justice under the law.  Yet, what I have seen happening recently in certain parts of our country is neither productive nor divinely inspired.  There is an underlying evil source causing chaos, which I can clearly see is not from God.

Our nation has been a continual force for good throughout the world.  Foreign peoples long to live here.  Judeo-Christian principles have guided the rule of law throughout its existence.  Although our past has some undesirable elements, we should learn from them and try to improve upon them and correct them.  We should not attempt to destroy our history and try to pretend that it was something other than what it was.  We should not attempt foolishly to eliminate the rule of law or abolish the police.  The result will be an absolute disaster, as we can see playing out in the streets of some of our cities.

I pray you can celebrate this 4^th of July peacefully with family and friends.  I know there are still warnings about social-distancing and restrictions around the gathering of crowds.  However, be proud to be a Catholic and be proud to be an American.

I certainly am!

Vivat Jesus! God bless America!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

On the Road Again

Dear Parishioners,

I think that you are probably wondering why I am being transferred after only three years as pastor at Holy Angels Parish.   Let me fill you in with the details.

Approximately three weeks ago, Bishop Sullivan requested me to come and meet with him at his residence.  When I talked with him, he asked me to become pastor at St. Thomas More Church in Cherry Hill, NJ.  Needless to say, I was shocked.  I had not requested a change or put in for a transfer.  I was in the midst of a number of projects, including the move to a new parish office building across the street from St. Patrick Church and the rectory.

I asked Bishop Sullivan if I could pray about the situation he had proposed and I would then present any objections that I could think of for his consideration.  This I did.  He then asked if he could take my objections and concerns to prayer himself.  When we met again, he still requested that I make the move. 

One of the bishop’s major concerns was my health and well-being.  He knew that I had a heart attack a few months after arriving here.  Moreover, there is considerable responsibility (and stress) attached to this parish, including three worship locations and eight Masses each weekend, the operation of a school, numerous facilities for the elderly, etc.  He said the assignment I would be going to would reduce the stress in my life.  He thought that it was in my best interest to go.

That night, I went before the Blessed Sacrament telling the Lord that I wanted to do whatever He wants.  Obviously, I was going to be changed and if He did not want this to happen, then He would have to do something to prevent it from happening.

Initially, I was upset by the sudden change.  Again, I did not ask for it nor did I expect it.  However, I am at peace knowing that I took it to prayer and told the Lord that I would do whatever He wanted.
 

You have heard me preach about the brevity of our lives here on this earth.  While I genuinely love and grow fond of the people whom I am asked to be a pastor over, I know that nothing lasts forever in this world.  Change comes to us all at one time or another.  I am simply grateful for the time (albeit brief) that I have been given at Holy Angels Parish.

For the next few weeks, I will try to absorb and reflect on the many blessings I have received while I was here.  Hopefully, I contributed a little to your spiritual growth and well-being.  I know my experience here has had a profound impact on my life as a priest.  I am most grateful to God and to you for my time here.

May we continue to pray for each other and support one another.

 

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor  (for a few more weeks!)

St. Thomas More

Homily for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Edward Namiotka

Corpus Christi Homily - Fr. Edward Namiotka