West Bend, WI – A large turnout Sunday as the congregation at St. Frances Cabrini Parish in West Bend, WI gathered to wish Rev. Nathan Reesman well as he moved to his next assignment as Vicar for Clergy with the Milwaukee Archdiocese.
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“It’s so nice to see so many people here today and it’s so nice to pray with you on a great feast day,” said Reesman. “I just want to thank everybody for your prayers and for all of your notes and well wishes.”
Rev. Reesman came to St. Frances Cabrini in 2009.
“I was thinking I would stay only two years, that was my plan in my mind and God laughed at that of course,” joked Reesman.
In 2011 as Rev. Jeff Haines was moved to a new assignment by the Archdioceses, Reesman was tabbed to take over.
“So, I was the youngest Pastor with only five years in the diocese at one of the biggest parishes. So isn’t that exciting I thought to myself,” Reesman said. “Yea for me.
“I came back to Father Jeff, and he said, ‘Oh congratulations father you’ll do fine.’ A couple months later when he was leaving, I asked him if he had any words of advice and he looked at me and simply said, ‘You know what Nathan, I’ve done my best and now it is you’re turn.’
“So, I think at the end, that’s what all the pastors say when one leaves.”
“I’ve done my best,” said Reesman. “I thank you for your patience with all my mistakes…
and I thank you for being the great community that you are and Saint Mary’s too.”
Reesman said all the good he had done at the parish was, “because I’ve had great people behind me and praying and sacrificing.”
After Mass, members of the parish and their families gathered for a late breakfast and to thank Rev. Nathan for his commitment to Cabrini.
“Father Nate’s been such a Good Shepherd for our congregation and for our family and we love and miss him, but we wish him the best,” said James Jones.
“In terms of his community he’s really just enriched our faith with the depth of his own and for that I am incredibly grateful,” said Charles Nevsimal. “He’s meant so much to me and my wife and our family and he’s just been such a wonderful example of what it means to be a strong Catholic man and a wonderful pastoral priest and we’re really going to miss
him but we wish him well and the Holy Spirit will guide you in all that you do.”
“Father Nathan thank you for being here and I hope we see you again someday,” said Eric.
Rev. Nathan also included a note of ‘thanks’ in this week’s church bulletin.
Thank FR Reesman, God bless you in your new journey.
Very nicely done Judy