St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ann Arbor shared a reflection from the church's Aug. 30 bulletin on passages from Jeremiah and Psalm 63.

“Roughly 20 years ago, I asked some theological questions (which to this day I can not remember) and got a response that never answered my question but set my life on a trajectory that was utterly unexpected,” Marty Lucas said. “God laughs and places us exactly where He wants us if we but surrender to His will.”

Lucas recalled that he did not know what direction he was heading as he studied Theological Studies. As he came closer to the end of his program, he was invited by the Rev. Jim McDougall to work at the parish. Eighteen months later, he was asked if he wanted to pursue full-time ministry.

“If anyone had suggested even 20 years ago that I would be working for the Church, I would have laughed,” Lucas said.

Lucas soon saw that this was exactly what he should be doing with his life. Through the years, he has been grateful for all the individuals he has cross paths with and had the opportunity to minister to and work with.

“Wonderful couples, both sponsors in marriage preparation and engaged/newly married, have crossed my path. I got to know so many wonderful parishioners via the various events of Adult Faith Formation and many families through coffee and doughnuts,” Lucas said.

He has been touched not only by lifelong Catholics, but also by those who wanted to come into the faith of Catholicism.

No matter how big or small the role Lucas has played in the lives of parishioners, he feels blessed to be able to contribute to their lives.

“The past 13 years serving the people of St. Francis have truly been a gift and I am grateful for the opportunity to have done so,” Lucas said. “God is helping me close one door but somewhere He’s got a window propped wide open.”