Sat Nov 07 2009
HICKSVILLE -- As far as Hicksville's Catholic population is concerned, their loss is Columbus Grove's gain.
Hicksville's beloved Father Tom Oedy, 64, preached his final homily at St. Michael Catholic Church last Sunday before moving to St. Anthony of Padua in Columbus Grove, exactly 60 miles away.
Oedy finished a 10-year span as a priest at St. John in Defiance in 1996 before moving to St. Michael, with a corresponding nine years in Edgerton and three years in Antwerp. This past year was Oedy's 13th in Hicksville and his first in which St. Michael members had him all to themselves.
His move to St. Anthony is the result of a decision made by Leonard Blair, bishop of the Toledo diocese, following a study of Catholic parishes in the Hicksville/Edgerton/Blakeslee area.
When told he was to move, Oedy submitted a list of parishes he was interested in to the bishop, and St. Anthony topped the list for a number of reasons. "I prayed about it for a long time," he says, "and there were three or four signs God gave me that I should consider St. Anthony."
One of those reasons may have been the congregation's sheer size. Having been responsible for three smaller churches over the last dozen years, Oedy may have to readjust for St. Anthony, which has a congregation of about 2,000 and a school.
"I'll be the only priest there," says Oedy, who says that in addition to the regular duties of a priest, he will have some involvement with the church's school, which has 175 students in grades kindergarten through eight. "There will be a school Mass four days a week. I'll also be in the classrooms making rounds on the students."
While Oedy has not yet settled into St. Anthony, his school duties have already begun -- a situation which actually has helped him grow accustomed to his new job.
"It took awhile for me (to look forward to the job)," he says, "but what helped me was I had to go there a lot over the last six weeks. I made a half dozen trips in order to help hire a new (school) principal. I did two weddings there also."
Otherwise, Oedy anticipates a number of small differences in becoming used to St. Anthony as opposed to the smaller parishes of Hicksville, Edgerton and Antwerp.
"It's easier to know the people in smaller parishes quicker," he says. "In a bigger parish, there is more administrative work to do."
Oedy is already feeling welcome at his new post. The congregation, he says, "is all so enthusiastic it's impossible for me not to be enthusiastic."
Make no mistake, however, the area which he is departing will always hold a special place in Oedy's heart. "You really get connected to people after 13 years," he says.
Oedy admits to finding himself at a loss for words last Sunday when his congregation bade him good-bye with a potluck luncheon following his final service in Hicksville. The luncheon included a mortgage burning ceremony following extensive parish renovation and a number of glowing tributes from the membership.
"Eventually, I began to wonder 'who are they talking about?'" he laughs, "but I appreciate kindness being shown to me in that way."
Looking back at the time spent in Hicksville, Edgerton and Antwerp, Oedy is unable to pick one aspect he will miss the most.
"I don't know if I can narrow it down," he says, noting when pressed that he appreciates the spirit of cooperation at the three parishes he served
"How could I complain," he asks, "about being involved in such wonderful parishes?"
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