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From the Associate&
Father Michael J. Keating
Have you never heard the old saying, "No man is irreplaceable?" When it comes to laboring in the workforce, I believe that statement is accurate. There will always come along someone stronger, brighter, more gifted than we, though we are certainly an important contributor to the common good. Recently, the Business section of the St. Paul Pioneer Press discussed the annual salaries of CEOs of major corporations: for example, William McGuire of UnitedHealth Group earns $58.1 million, and astronomical figure; next among the elites is Richard Schultze of Best Buy, who makes $20.3 million, followed by Robert Ulrich of Target, who makes $16.1 million; Jay Fishman of The St. Paul Cos. is number eight on the list, at an annual income of $9.8 million. While The St. Paul Cos. is located here in Minnesota, Fishman lives with his family in Englewood, New Jersey. When he travels for work, or even for leisure (partly for safety reasons says the article), he uses the company's private jet. This seems to me to be outrageous. The salaries listed above imply that these gifted CEO's are so valued, that they are almost irreplaceable.
As I look to new beginnings at St. Michael's Catholic Church in St. Michael, Minnesota, I know that another associate pastor will follow me here at St. John the Baptist. That new priest is Fr. Michael J. Keating, a native of Ohio, who is also a member of my community, "The Companions of Christ." He comes with high accolades, for his learnedness (he has a doctorate in history from Notre Dame University), gracious and gentlemanly persona, and his sincere pursuit of holiness. Fr. Michael (so I guess everybody gets to keep using that address after all) loves great liturgy, lady poverty, and good wine. He will not require the kind of patient inculcation or pastoral formation that I needed, so Fr. Bill will be relieved of that venture. He will love you and serve you with a heart wise by years of Christian journeying. I will not say too much more, allowing Michael the opportunity to introduce himself to you, but I would say this, and not just by humility but by true fact, that a greater than I is about to arrive. St. John's will be truly blessed by God with Fr. Michael Keating, and from the beautiful experience I have enjoyed over the past three years, I can also say that St. John's will be a wonderful blessing for the new Fr. Michael. Most clergy would readily admit that no priest or bishop is irreplaceable. (To the worldly, that would certainly be reflected in our salaries - smile.) There is only One Who is irreplaceable, and that is Jesus Christ, and He is present to every parish, through every Sacrament, and in every priest who seeks to live his vocation with integrity. And that is another reason why the Catholic Church is so awesome!
Fr. Michael Becker
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