Fr. Edward’s Introduction to the Parish:
My name is Fr. Edward Seisser and I am the new priest here at Holy Family. I thank you for the warm welcome I have received, and if we have not met yet I hope that we will have the opportunity after Mass today.
With this warm welcome normally comes the question: How do we address you? I thought I would begin with a little story. Right before I was ordained, some 14 years ago, family & friends were together and the question came up ~ when you’re a priest what do we call you? After several different suggestion, one of the younger ones said, “I know, we will call you Fred. As in Fr. for Father and Ed for Ed.” Well, Fred is a great name and it was indeed my grandfather’s name, but after a good laugh, we all looked at one another and decided that Fred really would not work. And so we decided on Father Edward...and Father Edward it has been for the last 14 years.
I am a native of Elgin, Illinois and my mother and family still live there. I have worked for the church my entire adult life, first at St. Joseph’s Parish in Elgin, where for 12 years I supervised the building and also taught and coached in the grade school. Then I moved to Rockford, where for three years I worked for the Office of Family Life and Youth Ministry. I lived at Bishop Lane Center. During this time the call to priesthood was reignited and I went to seminary in Milwaukee. I was at Holy Family many times in those years and have fond memories of my past experiences here. After ordination, I was assigned as the Parochial Vicar at St. John Neumann in St. Charles. Then I had the rare privilege of being pastor of St. Mary Church in Elgin for the past 10+ years. I say rare because St. Mary is the parish where my family attends and it is indeed rare when a priest has the opportunity to serve the people in his home parish. Besides running the parish and grade school, I also was President, Superintendent and Principal of our high school, Elgin, St. Edward, at various times in the last ten years. And now the call to Holy Family. Although, As I am sure you can imagine, it is always difficult to leave home, I am happy to be here. I am grateful for the past ten years, but excited about the future, it will be a big challenge, but I know that with God’s grace and your help, it is a challenge that we will meet successfully.
I have been asked by many over the last two weeks what my plans and goals are for Holy Family. I must tell you that I really do not have an agenda. I ask you to grant me some time to settle in. It will be a transition but I think it will be a smooth transition. In Elgin, our basketball & volleyball teams are the Titans and our football team is the Crusaders ~ so there are things that are already familiar.
What I do know today is this ~ I believe that there is a sacred bond of trust between a priest and the people of God. I want to be what I was sent here to be, a Spiritual Father to all of you. I pledge to you today, that I will never break that relationship of trust that exists between a priest and the people he serves. A celibate priest sacrifices a marital vocation in order to be free to serve, in return we are gifted with the opportunity given by you, to share in your life ~ it’s joys and sorrows; your celebration and challenges. We are free to be with you and to guide you on your way to God. How fitting it was that my first Mass at Holy Family was on the Feast of All Saints. That after all is why we are here—to become saints. The Law of the Church tells a pastor that his primary obligation is the care of the souls in his parish. God, the Holy Spirit, through His grace in Bishop Doran, has sent me here to care for you. I ask you to allow me this spiritual opportunity.
Some have asked me what is the future of Holy Family. I don’t know. I don’t know if we will be bigger or smaller, richer or poorer. What I do know is this. We will place all that we do, all that we are, all that we strive to be, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He gave us the Church, He taught us how to live in charity with one another, and gave us the gentle yoke of His law for our benefit. We will follow the teaching of Jesus to the best of our ability. Our Mission, as a parish, will be the mission of Jesus Christ. In His time, in His way, He will let us know what His divine will is for Holy Family. We only have to be faithful stewards of His plan and His agenda, and we know that when we do this all will be well.
As you will soon discover, I am a lover of history—Winston Churchill on assuming the leadership of his country, in a difficult time, stated, “All I can offer you is blood, sweat, tears and toil.” Well, these are certainly challenging times for most of us and difficult times for many. All I can offer you today is the same blood, sweat, tears and toil ~ and also joy, and laughter, love and care. I will work hard for you—with all my energy and strength—each and every day. I want us to be what we have always been—blessed individuals of God’s family—known for our hospitality and invitation, our love and care, our kindness and gentleness, our justice and charity, our generosity and gratitude, our service and stewardship.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, our heavenly patrons, perfected these virtues, and all virtues, while they were here on earth. Let us strive to be each and every day what we are called to be a holy family; I am Fr. Edward and I am blessed to be here.
Fr. Edward
| Last Updated
November 8, 2011 |
4401 Highcrest Road