On Saturday evening, we attended a Farewell Potluck for Father Maxy and Father Mark. Father Mark came to St Johns Baptist (SJB) last Summer but we never got to meet him as he contracted Malaria during his visit home to Kenya and needed to be in quarantined for 30 days upon his return to the US.
Father Maxy on the otherhand we got to know very well. We always enjoyed attending his masses during our visits to Portland. Then we got to know him on another level when we moved to Portland in December 2010 during my Father in Law's battle with Cancer. Father Maxy was there for the family during his illness, funeral planning, burial and grieving process. He then performed our Marriage Sacrament in June 2011.
I was raised in the Catholic Church and had to attend Mass every Sunday until I went to college. During college, I would attend Mass during major holidays but I didn't return to attending church on a weekly basis until December 2010, so for about 11 years I attended church only on special occasions. There have only been two priests in my lifetime that I have thoroughly enjoyed and drew
my interest into attending Mass on a regular basis Father Dan during my high school years and Father Maxy.The potluck was great as we saw a few family friends and met new friends. We enjoyed a picture slideshow covering Father Maxy's 7 years of service at SJB and got to meet Father Mark, who seemed to be very funny during his Thank You Speech.
We attended Mass on Sunday morning where the homily was very touching. Father Maxy and Father Mark co led the Mass along with a choir who sang a dedication song to the priests. Father Maxy has a passion for his guitar and singing and sand the following song to the congregation as his departure song. The main message that I remember from the Mass was "Don't be afraid, have Faith".
In His Time
In his time, in his time:
He makes all things beautiful in his time
Lord, please show me everyday
As you're teaching me your way
That you do just what you say in your time.
In your time, in your time:
You make all things beautiful in your time.
Lord, my life to you I bring
With its winter and its spring.
May I fathom everything in your time.
There's a time, there's a time
Both for sowing and for reaping there's a time.
Time for losing, time for gain,
Time for you, and time for pain,
Ev'ry purpose under heaven has a time.
There are times, there are days:
Weeks and months we cannot understand Gods ways.
If for years we fail to scan,
What is his eternal plan,
We'll remember that he can, all the time.
Father Maxy is from Goa, India which is along the Indian Ocean in Southern India. When we traveled to India in January we spent 22 days in Northern India. Now we have another reason to go back to India to visit the Southern part, as India is a massive country and with a very diverse population and landscapes.
Father Maxy is part of a mission from India so he is
returning to Goa for his next orders. While Father Mark finished his first year as an ordained priest and is a Diocesean priest, he was reassigned to a smaller church in Wilsonville about 20 minutes drive south of Milwaukie.Father Maxy you will be missed but never forgotten.
Mom
non-member comment
Farewell
Just the short time I knew Fr Maxy...you are so right....he is one or two in a million!