June 5, 2019 A priest and a deacon were changing a tire… It sounds like the set-up to a bad joke, but the joke was on me when I left the diocesan staff Christmas party to find a tire on my vehicle had gone flat. As I pulled my spare tire and jack from the trunk of my Jeep, Father Doug Lucia kindly removed the items from my hands, got down on one knee and started changing the tire. He was soon joined by Deacon James Crowley, chancellor of the diocese. The pair had me back on the road in a matter of minutes. While I sincerely appreciated their kindness, the situation struck me as a bit odd. Before accepting my current position, my career path traversed only secular areas. A year ago this week, I officially became editor of this newspaper. Just a year ago, I wouldn’t have been able to imagine a situation in which a priest and a deacon would be serving as my emergency mechanics. A lot has changed in a year. After a career in competitive settings – with newspapers and large, corporate employers, I’m now part of a team of people who love the Lord and share a common mission. Instead of competing, I get to collaborate with and learn from my colleagues at the chancery, the priests, deacons and religious of the diocese, the newspaper’s contributing writers and photographers, and the people I meet while covering events and conducting interviews around the diocese. Instead of a setting where each person is looking to better their own position, I now work where people care about and support each other. Only three months into my employment, I was struck by unexpected and significant health problems. Bishop Terry R. LaValley and the diocesan staff made extraordinary accommodations to allow me to continue to work. Colleagues went to extremes to help me – opening doors, carrying items for me, moving offices so I could have a downstairs space… No, it hasn’t all been sunshine and roses, but in terms of my professional life, this year – with all its growth, challenges, love, support, humor, tears, odd moments, failures and successes – has been the most rewarding in my professional life. This job has been a blessing. It’s changed everything. Even a tire. |
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