My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

Throughout the month of January, I was deeply blessed to take up residency once again among our parishes—this time within the Vicariate of Southeastern Missouri and Southern and Central Illinois. This marked my second such journey, following my residency in Minnesota last August. Even in the stillness of winter, I encountered the radiant warmth of our Church: a living body, steadfast in faith, generous in love, and authentic in its welcome.

I am profoundly grateful to all who made this residency possible. I wish to thank our Regional Vicar, Fr. Doug Papulis, whose pastoral care and tireless coordination were a great blessing to me, as well as the many clergy, parish leaders, and volunteers throughout the region who opened doors, prepared meals, arranged gatherings, and offered their time and energy with such joy. I am especially thankful to the parishes and families who welcomed me into their churches and homes with such generosity and support.

Whether offering ministry at the Federal Correctional Facility with the faithful of Peoria, meeting seekers and the newly illumined in Decatur, praying with our OCF students in Champaign, or sharing simple fellowship around your tables, I was reminded once again that a shepherd’s truest joy is found in being among his flock.

Together across the region, we ushered in the New Year by honoring St. Basil and remembering our calling to serve those in need; we celebrated the Feast of Epiphany and received the blessing of the Jordan; we partook of the Holy Eucharist and entered more deeply into communion with one another. I was encouraged by the vitality of your ministries, by thoughtful dialogue with elected and community leaders on the role of faith in public life, and by meaningful conversations surrounding our 5-Year Vision for the Metropolis.

In every city and town, I witnessed our shared life in Christ bearing fruit in beautifully distinct ways. May we continue to be grounded in God’s love, and may that love continually stretch us—calling us to deeper faith, greater generosity, and more attentive care for one another.

With paternal love and gratitude,

+NATHANAEL

Watch for news of His Eminence’s upcoming visit to your parish, and follow his journey across the Metropolis on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Flickr to see more photos and highlights. And be sure to check out Metropolitan Nathanael’s latest “Met on the Move” blog post about what we can learn from Abraham Lincoln about candor and humility.