WAHOO – Monday was moving day for Fr. Christopher Goodwin, as he celebrated his final mass at St. John Nepomucene Church in Weston that morning.

“It was interesting, actually, because I was expecting it to be a typical Monday morning mass with maybe 10 people in attendance,” he said. “But there were probably a few dozen people there who came to see me off. The support I’ve received from the parishioners has been overwhelming.”

Goodwin, who has served the Weston and Touhy parishes and has acted as the superintendent of St. John Nepomucene Grade School in Weston for the last four years is now moving on to a very different position.

“I’m going to be serving as an administrative secretary at the Vatican Embassy in Washington D.C.,” explained Goodwin.

Each week, there are literally hundreds of letters that pass between the more than 200 American Catholic Diocese and the Holy See in Rome. Goodwin will be one of about five priests who help to handle that correspondence and the administrative work that goes with it.

“I’ve been a priest for 10 years, and I’ve spent that entire time in pastoral work within parishes and serving the Catholic Schools,” noted Goodwin. “So this is going to be a big change.

“I’m going to miss working and visiting with parishioners and working with children and the energy and joy they bring.”

Still, Goodwin said he is looking forward to his new duties.

“I serve at the pleasure of my Bishop, and he was approached earlier this year and asked if he could spare one of his priests for this new position, and he recommended me,” said Goodwin. “When he approached me about it, I of course took some time and prayed about it, and once I felt at peace with it and went back to him and accepted the position.”

Goodwin said that, for the most part, his new duties will be secretarial in nature. Along with managing correspondence between the United States and the Holy See, he will also perform a variety of administrative tasks.

“I’m sure there will be a lot for me to learn,” he said. “But the great thing about serving the church is, I know no matter what happens, I will be provided for.”

Goodwin said he would take his memories from St. John and St. Vitus with him to his new position and would recall them when facing difficulties.

“The parishioners know I will continue to pray for them, as I’m sure they will continue to pray for me,” he said.

Before heading to Washington, Goodwin will spend the few months before the start of his new job working in other area parishes.

“This summer I’m going to be filling in at a few parishes in the Lincoln diocese, such as Brainard and Ashland,” he said.

He will then move to the Vatican Embassy in August.