His second year home had barely begun when Julian received a phone call from his bishop, asking him to call at a convenient time.
“No hurry – and no worry!” Bishop Bernard added.
As he arrived for the appointed meeting a week later memories of former visits surfaced.
This has got to be different, he thought. Just how different he was soon to learn!
After the usual greetings and comments, Bernard began, “Julian, I have another favour to ask of you.” Then adding with a smile, “You will be wary of me.”
Becoming serious, he continued, “Once again I want you to feel free to decline what I am suggesting. I will not think any less of you if you decide that way. I need someone for a specific purpose and immediately thought of you. But I assure you – I want you to decline if that’s the way you feel.”
“Shoot!” answered Julian.
“You may have heard rumours. But we have managed to keep the situation under control – that is until recently. I speak of Father George and his parish.”
Julian nodded.
“George has had a drinking problem for many years,” Bernard continued. “But it has escalated in the past year. And now has come to the point that we can no longer ignore it. As you know, George has only a couple of years to compulsory retirement age. I suggested he retire early, but he won’t hear of it. As I said, up until recently he managed to hide his problem to a great extent. But now it is becoming obvious to many of his parishioners. Some mornings he misses out on morning Mass. He often runs late for parish meetings, times of which he has set, or doesn’t turn up at all. So, Julian, as you have probably guessed, I’m asking you to move to George’s parish.
“Not to become parish priest or take over,” he continued. “Mainly to keep an eye on things. It’s a very small parish, as you know, and will eventually merge into the adjoining one. I don’t think it fair to turf George out at this stage of his life.”
“I agree!” interrupted Julian.
“Good! As you know, he came out from Ireland just after ordination – full of life then, I’ve been told. His parents died shortly after. His two brothers kept contact for a few years. He has had no contact with family over there for many, many years. He had a couple of trips home to Ireland earlier, but none for a very long time. Most of the friends he had here – and apparently he was quite a popular man for many years – have either died or been ‘frozen’ out of his life.”
“So, what – if I agree – (he added with a smile) do you want me to do?”
“That may have to adapt with circumstances! My hope was that you – or someone – would be accepted by George as his assistant. This assistant would probably be responsible for the weekday Masses – and perhaps one or both of the weekend Masses. There are only two – one Saturday evening and one Sunday morning. I’m not sure how many, but there are a few committees; hence few meetings.” He paused, then added, “And perhaps the situation is worse than we have seen.”
“When would the new man begin?” asked Julian.
“As soon as possible. But doesn’t have to be immediately… Would you like to think about it?”
“No!”
“Oh!”
Julian laughed. “It’s okay, Bernard. I didn’t mean ‘no! I won’t go’! I meant ‘no, I don’t need time to think about it.’ Yes, I’ll go. When? Oh, and please let George know in plenty of time so I’ll be allowed in!”
“Julian, thank you! You have no idea how grateful I am. Certainly greatly relieved. But please let me know if you come across any unsolvable problems.”
“Sure will!”
After discussion, Bernard suggested he would have a long talk with George the next week and Julian would move in the following week.