Saying Good-bye

I just returned from Deacon Larry’s funeral – a man who served St. Patrick Parish for almost 30 years. He touched many, many people through celebrating baptisms and weddings, visiting the sick, and praying with families.

This morning I looked around the full church and noticed how many present students and their families, as well as alums and their families, were in attendance. The sight of the strong Warrior community and nation brought me to tears – not that bringing me to tears is hard to do – I cry at every episode of This Is Us and will cry at a great interview after a big Notre Dame win – but seeing the love, the loyalty, and the strong faith connection of our school community was moving.

As I reflected on this show of love and support, I felt proud to be a part of this wonderful, prayerful, and faith-filled community. It is at times like these that we need each other – that we count on the witness of others – to find strength and to feel support in our grieving.

We do not, however, end is sorrow and sadness. We implore our faith community to help us focus upon the words of Jesus:  I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Fr. Redcay told us in the homily that when Deacon Larry was ordained, the Cardinal handed him the Book of the Gospels and said: “Believe what you read, Teach what you believe, and Practice what you teach.” We ask Deacon Larry to help us follow his example and do the same  – to Believe, Teach, and Practice – to visit the sick, care for each other, and continue to pray as a faith community.

Deacon Larry, pray for us and help us to be strong messengers of the Gospel by our words and actions.