Father Michael

It took a bit for the sense of loss to set in. Initially, right after we had heard of his passing, I think we both felt a strange sense of relief. He is able to attend the mass again, able to see everyone, feel everything earthly and otherwise without having to use a worn and old body as a conduit.

And then there were pictures at his funeral. His extraordinary life before St. Michaels and after. He conducted mass in its frame, travelled the world, educated himself to a degree few have. He was a young man and full of ambition and wonder.

In a way it's hard to relate to a stately and virtuous life lived. We certainly remember our father in Christ, a man who knew Truth. Can't quite imagine what it took to get there, and the struggles required to do it (always kept close to the vest) are now far away. What is left is a pedastal, inviting and daunting. What is left is a legacy of guidance that touched many lives and a proud congregation. To be a part of it is to be a part of that legacy, but it makes the work of allowing God into our hearts no easier. We will miss his reminder, yet remain hopeful because of it.

Father Michael affected both of our lives deeply. My wife had known him for most of her life, and he was a cliff that broke open ocean storms. I was fortunate enough to meet and talk with him and hear his sermons, and he too affected me greatly. One homile in particular will always stay with and guide me, and I paraphrase (forgive me if I am getting it wrong): "God does not see us from on high, such as we look down and see ants, although compared to Him we are. If you want to know his perspective when he looks upon us, you only need to stand at Calvary and look at another. You only need to see people in a crowd, like those Christ saw as he made his into Jerusalem. The difference is that he loves each and every one. The real question is: how do we see him?"

--Jeremiah