Well, although there are certainly others, Bill will round up the “big six” for me and end my series.  He and his wife Edna both work out of the “home office” and were married to each other for OVER 70 YEARS!!  And I had the great blessing of not just know this giant of a man at the last of his life, but I also was blessed to give first Bill when he died, and then Edna when she died, The Last Rites.  They were two amazing people and it was such an honor.

Yet in all honesty, Bill and I never got to work together “formally” on anything.  By the time we met he was long retired and his sight was very poor.  I did however get to have plenty of conversations with him, and I remember one night when he was in the hospital, how he shared the regret that we had not known each other when he was younger as we probably would have taken a lot by storm.  I got a lot from him though.  He talked, and I listened.  I’d tell him things, he’d give me advice.  He had many choices in where he could have hung his hat, but I was truly blessed that he chose to hang it in my parish.  His wisdom was never lost on me.

He was a Navy Chaplain and proud of it.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and I was often its benefactor.  He was old when we met, yet I often imagined him as a younger man.  I could see me in him, and we talked frankly about aging and ministry and faith.  And now at almost 53, his lessons still ring pretty true.  All of us finish our course sooner or later, the key was to do it well.  I be where he is someday, and I intend to thank him in person.

And I end on Bill specifically as I remember quite vividly going to give him Last Rites.  I had Steph and Scott with me and it was at Community North Heart Hospital in Indianapolis.  I had been seeing him there but he took a turn for the worse.  His sons, both older than me as Bill was in his 90’s, were in the waiting room.  And as Scotty and Stephy were in there with them it kind of all kind of came together.  Four clergy kids, with probably many shared experiences, and many more to come, all gathered together to prepare one of their dads for entrance in Life Eternal.  And although my kids were young, the four of them talked a lot.  Someday maybe they too can return the favor to those who follow.

When Edna then died, it was late when I got to the nursing home where she was, but I made sure I took Steph and Scott.  They stood in the hall as I went inside, but they knew who was in there and why I was there.  They didn’t complain, they knew it was important, and I am sure it meant a lot to Bill and Edna’s sons as well.  But I miss them.  They were two of the kindest and gentlest people I have ever known and they imparted upon me, owning me nothing, quite a lot of real knowledge.

Tonight’s picture is a scan of a drawing Bill kept in his office……it is our boss!  The family gave it to me, and it is a high honor….it is now in mine.  But I will post one of Bill if I find one,  He would be tickled however to know that I am using it tonight.

Anyway, thanks for allowing me to share about Bill and these other great Saints of God in my life.  I have been both humbled and honored to serve in their presence, and I hope to be the blessing to others that they have been to me.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

At just 35 years old, I have learned a few valuable lessons: 1) I really do not believe I am 52; 2) My wife really doesn’t like that couples “Snuggie” (as seen on TV) even if it is camouflage; and 3) If I think I have posted my blog, that doesn’t mean that I have.

Of course that is why tonight’s picture of our dog Viper is appropriate.  His eyes are glowing because it is somewhere between 5 and 6 in the morning, but just because there is a truck there doesn’t mean we are going for a ride.  In fact the leash (that he carries for me) indicates that we are taking our old arthritic bodies for a WALK…..which we did.  It however never seems to stop him from walking over to the truck, as our speed would certainly be a lot faster and our distance far more impressive.

But when there are not glaciers here in Edgewood, Indiana, that is what he and I do…..we walk.  And although it was early, we were both happy to be out there.  I will say he is struggling more.  His surgery in December and his weight gain since he was “put out to pasture” as a stud dog, has made life more of a challenge for him.  Plus, that walk was “pre-meds” for him, which means it is a bit of pain for him but he sure does walk a lot straighter.  I call Amanda his “dealer” as she doses him everyday for the very reasons that are implied above.

But the other thing that has thrown me was the “series” I was doing.  I still have not found the picture I wanted, but I have one more part of the series to go, so I will figure out a solution (as Ben says) sometime on Sunday.  Which is pretty savvy on my part, as most of his solutions involve me fixing something anyhow.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Well, just as I did for St. Patrick’s Day, I will take a “minor break”in my series of “Priests Who Have Formed Me,” but only because the last one I want to write about I no longer have a picture of.  I do intend to fire his family a note tonight though, and I hope to have one then to use tomorrow or within these next few days.

SO……let me classify “minor break” then as a day just like everyday where I hang out with a minor. And today we did something that I am sharing in tonight’s picture as I was never intending on posting this as I took it for Stephanie……she received late this afternoon via text.  And it is a picture of her little brother, okay her “littlest” brother (sorry Scotty) watching her old favorite movie “The Lion King.” Ben had made it up to the part with Scar and the hyenas before a few years back, but as I understand it many people have an aversion to Jeremy Irons, so he never saw the whole thing.  And he watched it with a bit of anxiety, knowing that there were parts he used to be scared by, but I stopped the DVD after the part that used to scare him and he was quite pleased the rest of the way.  He and Steph will now watch it together the next time they see each other.  So she too was quite pleased.

I suppose I can confess that I understand.  I was terrified by “Peter and the Wolf” when I was a little kid, and if I heard the music, I didn’t even feel safe outside.  It turned out okay though as I am no longer afraid of any kind of music and I have worked with a lot of carnivores as well.  But it is neat to see him like this movie as it came out in 1994, and Steph was just 3 then.  At 22 she still loves it and has been waiting for Ben to come along.  And that has, I am sure, something to do with addiction as Steph talked about The Lion King like Ben talks about Minecraft.  They will now share a common problem to use recovery language.

But it has been a great day.  I did have a grad school interview this afternoon and ask for your prayers about it.  Yes, I want them to accept me, but even with two other graduate degrees beyond university, nothing in a “shoe in” and like most of all the other sayings from my youth I really haven’t a clue what that means, other than it’s appropriate.

Anyway, I ended the day hauling my fat dog and out of shape self for a few miles tonight,  He is slowing down considerably….but we both needed it so we could stay home and whine and complain about it tomorrow.  And if my heart makes it through the night, I intend to do just that!

Good Night my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Okay, he is not was not technically a priest at any time that I knew him, he was a Bishop.  Although we priests do understand ourselves as always deacons and always priests, as we were ordained such and that mark is indelible as it were and cannot be taken or given away.  But Bishop Jones was not just the Bishop who first ordained me (a deacon June 23, 1989) but who also Confirmed me and sent me to seminary.  He was a real man of God.

Of course not everyone in the Church admired him as such as he was pretty liberal as far as bishops went those days.  So I suppose the question is obvious, why then did he nurture, develop, and ordain an orthodox/conservative?  And the answer is because he had a heart for the ministry of Christ and the care for His people.  He knew the Church was not made up of one kind, but of many, and his interest was call, not ideology.  He was fair, and he treated ALL those under his charge fairly.  And unlike what I experienced from his replacement, when he said “everyone was welcome at the table,” he meant it and practiced it.  It was never about him, and he was a great example and a humble man.

And I credit him with being able to get through seminary and move into ordination.  When I arrived at Virginia Theological (his Alma Mater) I was confronted with people from the very same denomination who believed and were taught almost exactly the opposite of what I believed and was taught.  Seeing Christ in other people was far more important than debating there.  I do not need to be your carbon copy to walk with you as a brother or sister.  And where we need to make our lines we can, as we are called to stand firm in our faith, but not to beat each other.

Bishop Jones to me was a man of peace, and a Bishop to me.  I will be forever grateful for all he has done for me, but most of all for the opportunity I had to know him.  What a blessing!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Rich was one of my dad’s closest friends, and rightly so, as they seemed to be always around each other when I was in college.  He was  a giant of a man, both literally and figuratively, and had a very gentle spirit and a great soul. He was also the Rector of St. Phillips downtown Indianapolis, which was primarily a black congregation served by a white priest.  And I say it that way as I became a member there too and the environment they all created together was not one of political correctness, but one of love and care for one another in Christ.  I don’t know for sure, but before Rich came there, I would guess that they weren’t searching for a “black” priest, they were searching for the “right” priest……and they found it in Rich.

And serving in the congregation was a great experience for me, as I was able to learn a lot from a priest who love and cared for people, and had a heart for the poor.  St. Phillips opened their doors to the homeless and and helpless, even allowing them to sleep in the building during the cold months and have a hot meal.  At that time, I became one of three people who would help train volunteers to stay the night and “staff” the shelter.  This led to the Episcopal Metropolitan Council and a much larger shelter of which I served the first year as its Director, and the year after headed to seminary.  It all then has since developed into what is now known as Dayspring, which is large and cares for many of the poor in Indianapolis.  A few years back I served on I believe some sort of Advisory capacity group for them, or maybe it was their board, I do not remember.  But I do remember the meetings being in a board room on one of the top floors of a high rise bank building downtown…..pretty nice.  But my first thought was “Toto, we aren’t in Kansas anymore,” and my mind went back to that humble, gentle, and faithful soul who opened the doors to his Church so that his people and he could witness to others about the love of Christ to the poor and those in need.  I’d imagine he never thought it would go that far.  And they were also instrumental (Rich and St. Phillips) about developing housing for the poor in their neighborhood too.

As I went to seminary I discovered a world much different than the one I came from.  Apparently being an Episcopal priest was a pretty good gig, and you could make a lot of cash, have a lot of prestige and do pretty well for yourself.  (That was not what I was interested in)  But the issues I discovered there had very little to do with the poor, but were mired in the rights of women and homosexulaity and what was wrong with the Church.  It was far more about structure and institution than life.  And although I was technically “classically” trained, I found the perspective skewed.  The poor that Jesus served and cared for seemed replaced by people seeking power, position, and control.  They were more concerned about changing the “structure” rather than doing the work.  And as I entered the ordained world I found it much the same.  Power, politics, structure, and very little trench work.

It was no surprise to me as I returned to the Diocese of Indianapolis under a new bishop that I found myself embattled with her.  She manifested just about everything that I felt was wrong with the church, and guess who she also gave a lot of trouble to?  Yep, Father Rich Roos.  The constant preaching of “tolerance” and “inclusiveness” in the Church didn’t include guys like us, and although she worked like hell to rid “her diocese” of us, I just figured I was in pretty good company.

After Rich retired he moved to Florida and would check in on me every now and again.  I however am still at it, not with that power abusing bishop though as I left “her” diocese long ago and transferred jurisdictions.  I will say AFTER I did she formally charged me with “abandonment of the Communion” and “removed” the title “Reverend” from all correspondence sent to me ever by the Episcopal Church except for those ones that still want me to donate money.  Funny huh?  To her we were both heretics, but I suppose that is the perspective you get when you have a screwed up faith.

The poor who are fed and given a warm place to sleep may never have met Rich, nor seen the Light of Christ in his eyes.  I however have, and so have many others.  She and “her diocese” can take the credit if they want for what he gave, as it won’t matter to him, nor to me.  It is the fact that when they were hungry they are given food, when they are naked clothed, or when they are sick they are cared for. Primary purpose and First Order issues…….everything else is beyond that.  Thanks Rich. The Light of Christ in you was never wasted on me.

Tonight’s picture is an old one for sure.  It is at my brother Mike’s Baptism, which Rich performed and allowed me to help.  It is before I was ordained and one of the very few pictures you will ever see where I am actually taller than Mike.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Heck, I do not know what any of those old Irish sayings are or what they mean, I only know the Irish Blessing which I have probably ended 95% of the Eucharists I have ever celebrated with.  As a matter of fact, when I don’t do it, I get asked why.

But forgive me if you will for taking the night off from my series of priests who have formed me to post these St. Patrick’s Day greetings to you and yours.  I found tonight’s picture on my phone this morning, and thought I would use it for my blog as I am quite qualified.  Sure, I have already admitted that I know very little about the Irish sayings and all, which would probably identify me quite easily as “non-Irish.”  But I grew up in Mishawaka, Indiana a (then) small city just a few miles from Notre Dame where my dad not only taught, but got his Bachelors and Masters degrees.  And up at home, EVERYBODY is Irish every St. Patrick’s Day and certainly on game day too.  (If you happen to be drinking reading this, it is St. Patty’s Day today, don’t go looking for the game.)

So I tonight gratuitously post this picture of our little leprechaun.  He and his mom both wore green all day, but I didn’t at all, hoping she would pinch me……it didn’t work.  So let me close the day quite properly……

May the road rise to greet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and the rain gently upon your fields,

And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

There is an old saying where I come from that says, “No good deed goes unpunished,” but I need to say that posting this picture is not really a good deed to Father Kelly Irish, but it is one that I came across that will perhaps invoke a little “revenge.”  I however am reminded of the words of Scripture that say, “Vengeance is mine says the Lord,” but I have serious doubts that Kelly will remember these words after reading this post.  In truth, we all tend to remember those words when we are worried about revenge for our transgressions, but generally not the other way around.

But tonight I post about Father Kelly, who I met in seminary back in the 1640’s in Virginia.  We were both young, single, attractive, incredibly intelligent, and quite delusional about all of that except the young and single parts.  And we became fast friends and have remained so to this day.  Many days would find us at the McDonald’s near campus talking about dates we did not have, the mess that the Church was in, and out love for our beloved and often failing sports teams….the Cleveland Indians (Kelly) and the Chicago Cubs (me).  We were completely the same guy in many ways in two different leagues, and the similarities went far beyond sports.

I probably would have bolted from seminary without him to keep me sane, as we ran everything by each other all the time…sermons included.  After graduation and ordination, we continued that for a short time…..about 25 additional years (yes, it still goes on).  What has made this work for us is both comfort with each other and HONESTY.  We have always spoke truth to each other and even in the hard spots of life.  And what has made that effective is that it cuts to the chase by someone you trust and know who loves and cares for you, your family, and ministry.  And at least for me, I can hear that, because it is never with anything other than his best interest in me that is in mind.

Plus, it has been fun.  We used to say that between he and I the Church may have gotten one good priest, and good sometimes is used loosely.  Twenty-four years ago he actually delivered the sermon at my ordination to the priesthood, which was really kind of themed “we cannot believe we made it this far and what will we do when they find out who we really are?”  A quarter of a century later I suppose we could confess that “they”apparently are not that bright…..so we will keep at it.

He and I have done all this together, and figured out the problems and issues along the way.  My favorite story is at the baptism of my daughter Stephanie, which he did in Barberton in a packed Church when were were both clearly “greenhorns.”  In seminary we learn to baptise with DOLLS. Stephanie looked like a doll but was actually real.  Kelly was her Godfather too.  I was right next to him.  Father Bill, who could have helped us, was on the other side of the font and too far away.  Priests often talk to each other in the service or to those who serve them, and I will never forget him leaning towards me right before the baptism and saying, “Her bonnet is in a knot, I can’t untie it, what do I do? And he will tell you that he will never forget my stellar and experienced advice, “I don’t know.”  All those plastic practice babies had not bonnets or hair.  They didn’t move, or scream, or barf, or smack the water, or “load” their diaper (all issues I have dealt with over 25 years).  So we did what we always did and still do to this day, we figured it out and made a decision.  And Stephanie’s baptism had to take as that Holy Water was on her head till after the service when her wet Baptismal Helmet was finally removed by someone with those particular skills.

Kelly and I no longer talk every Saturday about our sermons unless there is some sort of issue or question…but if there is an issue or question about ANYTHING (not just sermons) a call goes one way or another…..and we take the time.  The priesthood can be quite isolating, and I have been blessed as to not have ever had to do it alone.  Kelly has always been there and still is.  I am the oldest in my family and have one brother and three sisters (two now work in the home office -heaven) but Kelly to me is like that much much older brother that I have not ever had.  We are actually pretty close in age….I am 30 and he is 75, but I still do love him like a brother.

I am not too sure about tonight’s picture of him, although I did warn him.  I thought it might be of him and Steph, but perhaps it is of him and Marie as she is younger than him and he looks about 12 (like we both did when we started out) in this picture.

But regardless, Kelly has kept me in the game.  We hear A LOT in this new day about “three streams” and the blending of the charismatic, evangelical, and Anglo-Catholic. As a church we have done it poorly as it is often about power and control, but Kelly and I are a great example that different streams CAN move ahead as long as you 1) work together, and 2) leave the power and control out of it.  We have always made it work because our relationship is built on love, truth, and respect .

I have learned more from him than I have ever given back, and I honestly believe that I would have left the priesthood on many different occasions (not my vows, but the Church) had he not been there to help me walk through it.  I despise its political nature and the misuse of God given power that is often fueled by ego and control over Christ’s call to serve.  Kelly has kept me “in the game” OFTEN. After all, I truly believe that the Church DOES need priests like us…..the ones who use the word “kingdom” and know what it means…..it’s not about us, and thanks Kelly for always keeping me on the right path.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, a married Catholic priest, but he used to be an Episcopal priest, and I know that as I preached the sermon at his ordination many a year ago, but in truth when I first met him he was actually “Baptist,” or so that is what at least his family thought.  And everyone expected him to enter into the Baptist ministry, that is but Rick and soon me.

You see Father Rick is from Barberton, Ohio and when I served the Church there (when I was MUCH younger) I celebrated two services each Sunday among all of my other duties.  The second service was more of a family service that included music and a choir, but the 8 am service had no music, and was a blast, but far more traditional and “quiet” than that later service.  And the same people had been going to 8 o’clock for years, some 30 or more, and they didn’t even know the people at the later service.  It was far from stuffy, and was perhaps more like that with which I was familiar, but I was in my 30’s and was easily the youngest there by far, that is until Rick started showing up.  Heck I could tell you some time ago how old he was, but at my age now I would guess him to either be about 7 or in his late teens….I will put my money on the latter.  But he came and was a part, and then he left, and he kind of stuck out……that is until I finally said, “Rick, I don’t get it?  What are you doing coming to the 8?”

Now I can share this because it was far from a Confession, but Rick felt a call to the priesthood but was so far into the Baptist thing that he was sneaking over at 8 to be with one of my all time favorite acolytes Gib Radanof and me, and then heading to the 10 am service at the Baptist Church so no one would suspect a thing.  It was about as close as you can get to heresy for a Baptist, and it put a big smile upon my face.

I won’t bore you with the details, but I did try to warn him, yet we finally saw him leaving his Baptist roots and head to seminary in New York for his Masters.  We had become good friends, and he was a mainstay in my ministry in my very first (8 year long) charge.  My style suited him well, and with Fr. Bill and I not really threatened by a thing, we had him trying all that he could.  And Rick didn’t just excel, he exceeded.  He left for seminary and came out with not just a degree, but a wife and she is every bit as impressive as him.

All the while we kept in touch.  He took a parish in London, Ohio and went about as long as he could before the theology of the Episcopal Church became more than incongruent with their beliefs.  And whereas I “retired” and transferred into another Anglican jurisdiction, Rick and Kathi renounced their Orders and moved towards the Roman Catholic Church where they have thrived!

I always looked at Rick with great admiration.  He was and is brilliant, and even though I would ALWAYS offer to help him with anything he was doing, it was always like Charlie Brown offering advice to Nolan Ryan as to how to pitch.  He is a pretty spectacular theologian and teacher.  He took a position with the Archdiocese of Washington and has taught all over the world.  And he entered the Anglican Ordinariate which I wrote about some time ago, and was ordained first a deacon and soon after a priest…..a Roman Catholic priest with a beautiful wife and three children that he better hope to heck don’t have his brain…..they will eat him alive!!

Rick advises me now, and to be honest I enjoy it.  Heck there is not a lot I can offer to him as not only have a stroke damaged brain, but I attended seminary on a football scholarship.  But I did drive out to the Shrine of the Immaculate Inception to see him ordained a deacon by Cardinal Wuerl since I was going to be unavailable for his priesting.  It was a true blessing for me to be there, but I have been more blessed to walk with him as my brother.  He is like having a bright, tall, and handsome brother, but one who is not nearly as funny or handsome.  But he does that trophy husband thing pretty well, and has three great kids, and doesn’t forget who he is or where he came from.  He keeps it real, despite working in extraordinary circumstances.

I have learned a lot from him over the years and I am blessed by his presence in my life.  I do wish he lived closer.  He called yesterday, and I will try and get back to him Monday as I KNOW that he has a family that he likes to be around.  I will catch him when they are in school.

But if you ever get around to Washington DC, or you ever move there, know that HE would be MY priest if I lived there.  I have known many people “called” to priesthood in my life, but in him I truly see it, and I always have.  And I just thank God that Rick figured it all out!

And in a true reflection of our friendship, let me say this……I hope I got this all correct, as his handwriting was pretty hard to read!  I love you my brother and I am proud of you!  You are a blessing to me, and to many others!

The picture is one I found and scanned and must be pretty old as I am wearing a bad collar and I haven’t worn one of those for many years.  But it is still us…..in all our glory.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

With all the technology I am surrounded with, you would have thought that I could remember to post on this blog everyday, or at least have something electronic “ping” me and tell me to post.  Of course that would require remembering to find some sort of electronic reminder and set it up, so I hope you are getting, or catching, my drift (I have no idea what that really means or where it comes from, I just know it is appropriate to say here.)

But tonight then becomes a good night to kick this off, particularly as my last post was about my 24th year anniversary as a priest. (yes, it was MONDAY)  But I have thought about doing a “series” of posts on priests who particularly have had an influence upon me, and when I say that I do not mean those about whom books are written, but instead guys who I have walked with who have shaped me and “helped” to form me.  (I use the term helped loosely as these guys would all probably confess that I was really a helpless cause)  But nonetheless, I will here sully their reputations as they at one time or another walked with me in my ministry, and some still do.

Now the reason why this first guy is appropriate on a day that I am complaining and confused about technology, is because he was clearly the least technological priest I have ever known, Father Bill Knapp.  His picture was sent to me by his daughter Liz, and it made me laugh as it is of him in a time far before I knew him……I used to ask him about how it was to go to high school with Jesus, so when he and I were together he was over 1900 years old.  Well not really, but we always joked together, so he would appreciate that one

But Bill was a “surprise” friend.  I first learned about him shortly after I had accepted the call to become the Rector of St. Andrew’s in Barberton, Ohio. I had been a priest maybe 15 minutes.  Bill’s daughter (Liz) had a phone conversation and shared that her dad (Bill) had served as the priest there for MANY years, and he and his wife retired there in Barberton.  He loved that town, and he loved that church, and there had been a priest who came and served after Bill retired who didn’t want him around.  Granted, it is very rare that priests retire in the same place they have worked, but if you knew Bill you would have known this would have never been a problem.  But for a few years after he retired he was really kind of set aside by this guy.

But Liz wanted to tell me about him and ask if I would be okay with him attending.  I was an assistant at a large church in Florida at the time (Florida = God’s waiting room as my boss called it) and I was not just used to hanging with retired priests, I thought it was the greatest thing ever.  I learned more from those guys than I ever did at seminary, which is incidentally 3 years of grad school in our denomination.  So I told her to have and come meet with me after I arrived, which he did.

And Bill was a delight.  He was just really an older version of me but with much worse jokes…..I mean groaners too.  He had (at least) a million of them and it never mattered what subject we were dealing with, he had one that met it head on.  He became my good friend and unintentional mentor, and although neither of us was looking for a thing, we both found something profound in each other.

Bill sermons were TYPED OUT, and when I say typed out I mean by a typewriter, not by a computer.  He could not cut and paste, nor could he search the Internet for illustrations and answers, he was “old school,” and he READ and thought it out before he wrote it.  I never once heard him complain about it, as he really considered it a privilege to be called to the priesthood.

Bill also was a long suffering Cleveland Indians fan too, and early in my time there he made me an offer I could not refuse.  He said if I would drive him up to games, he would buy the tickets.  His eyesight was not the best and he didn’t like to drive in all of the traffic, and I thought it was a great deal as I am a Cubs fan, and really they are the same exact team generally, just in a different league.  And we would sit CLOSE to the field, as the stadium then seated about a million people, but most of the time there were about 15 fans there.  It was a blast.  He was a baseball savant too, and although definitely an Indians fan to the very end, he was not just fluent in Cubs baseball, he was fluent in ALL baseball.  We had a blast.

What I can say is that we did a lot of ministry together too.  We grew that church together, with me never worrying about him taking over, and him never wanting to.  We were just two guys from different generations blessed to be priests together serving the same people and the same church.  So this is to say, yes, we did work, a lot…..and we loved it.

We also together attended every funeral fro all the priests that had served in the diocese, but who had retired and had been forgotten.  Generally we found ourselves there with the Suffragan (assistant) Bishop, as these men usually weren’t know to the big cheese.  Bill knew most of them personally though, and would always be gracious and comforting to the families and always told them that “Mimi sends her love as well “(that was Bill’s wife)  But he would tell me all about these saints and I took it all in.  We both always shared how we hoped that people would remember us, not for our egos, but for our families.  He was just as dedicated to them as well.

Bill moved to a retirement home in Pennsylvania near one of his daughters and we lost touch.  I had the high honor however of stepping into the pulpit of our old church and speaking at his funeral a few years back.  I had left the Episcopal Church by then, and despite leaving they had still charged me as not having the “character to be a priest,” and defrocked me.  But there at St. Andrew’s Barberton, the Suffragan Bishop of Ohio allowed me, a priest of many years, into the pulpit to speak about my mentor and friend.  Later his family gave me his white chasuble that I have worn every Christmas and Easter season since, and at every funeral I have presided over as well.  It means more to me than I could ever explain.

But the bigger mystery is how to explain what lives on of Bill in me.  Truly I am a far better priest from knowing him, and quite honestly a far better man.  And I imagine he now sits up in heaven among those very men of whom he can name their every stat, and that his seats there are great in a place where the Indians finally win.  But I miss him.  He’d never pump himself up, but he was a giant to me.  Paper and pencil, books and hard work, he taught me a lot…….more than I could ever learn on this stupid computer.

Rest in peace my brother, and I hope to see you, although not too soon.

And goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Who I thought I was catching the eye of all the nuns…..

Today’s date has come and gone many times over the course of my ministry, and most of the time if I remember it I can blame it on someone else who has reminded me as I tend to forget it.  But 24 years ago today I took the vows of a priest, and in all honesty, just like my high school sports career, it seems like yesterday.

Who I REALLY WAS in 1990….

But the priesthood for me has never been something I intended to mark “time in” over, for I discovered very early on that it had very little to do with what had passed, and everything to do with the present and the future.  Sure, I suppose I don’t show myself to be a greenhorn all that much anymore, but I also know that I will never be classified as “prone to perfection” either.  I have always just taken it one day at a time, and have been blessed far more than I can ever describe.  It is has been, and continues to be, a high honor, a very humbling call, and one that to this day I take very seriously.

Probably a more realistic perception…..

Yes, even after 24 years as a priest (and 25 totally ordained if I live to June 23rd) I am less connected to institutional side and the structures and such of the Church, as I am connected to the One who calls us all by name.

So tonight this is short and sweet, just like the sermon you’d dream I would deliver!  And I will close just by sharing with you a few pictures to reflect a little a bit of the last 24 years.  No clergy were harmed in the production of this posting.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

(Father, 24 in) Tommy+