Msgr. Paul Rohling recently wrote to his congregation at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Birmingham, Alabama, thanking them, as he enters his retirement, for the love and support they have shown him over the past 12 years that he has pastored the parish.

Rohling also bid a farewell to Father Liju as he returns to India.

“Over these years as pastor, I have had twelve different associate priests who have been a blessing and challenge,” Rohling wrote. “My longest associate has been Father Liju, who was there to get me medical attention when I suffered a heart attack five years ago.”

Rohling reminded both Liju and the members of the congregation that though he will no longer be the pastor at Our Lady of the Valley, they are always welcome in his home, and he hoped he will again be invited into theirs and partake with them in fellowship into the future.