One of the nicest guys around is departing.

Friend and blogging colleague Mike Hayes — he, of the Googling God franchise and the Busted Halo online magazine — dropped this little bombshell this morning:

It is with mixed emotions that I announce that after 9 years I have decided to leave Busted Halo® full-time to focus on more direct ministry with young adults as a Campus Minister at St Joseph’s University Parish which also serves as the Newman Center for SUNY Buffalo.

The move comes after much reflection over the past few years on my part, on what my own gifts and talents are and how I can best use them to serve the church. I found that doing retreats, spiritual direction with young adults and preaching were where I found the most life in ministry and while spending a good deal of time working on Busted Halo’s® Catechetical section, the podcast and speaking around the country, I’ve felt like I need to test many of the ideas in my book with a particular community. When St Joseph’s approached me, I was intrigued by the idea of working at a Univeristy Parish and with the biggest school in the state and moving to a new place that is not that far away from family and friends and yet, still a new adventure where I can grow as a minister.

There’s more at his blog’s link.

What can I say? New York’s loss is Buffalo’s gain. I can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings Mike — and I know that he will continue to transform many lives and hearts (even under three feet of snow, while cheering for the Bills.) The New Evangelization is richer because people like Mike are a part of it. The good news for the rest of us is that he plans to continue his blog, so the Hayes saga (and Haze saga) goes on!