Staff and students of Kolbe Catholic College at Mass on September 6 were sad to farewell Fr George James, then-assistant priest at Our Lady of Lourdes, Rockingham, who recently received another parish appointment.
Fr George had been with the Kolbe community since February. The staff and students presented him with a candle and a Kolbe towel, offering him their own prayer of blessing:
“Fr George, we know that God goes with you. Fr George, you leave us today. May you go with our blessing. We thank you for celebrating Mass with us with such care and reverence,” prayed the students and staff.
“When you meet the poor, the marginalised, the sick and dying, may you recognise Christ present before you. When you experience good times and hard times, when you are happy and when you are sad, may you always know that God walks with you and protects you.”
“When you celebrate the Eucharist, may you always remember that we appreciate the care you take with the words of consecration and your gestures, which draw us deeper into the prayer of Christ.”
“Fr George, may God bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Fr George, we know that God goes with you.”