As a child growing up in
Beaver Falls, PA, I knew two very wonderful priests whose kindness always stayed with me. The first was Father Joseph Lemp who passed in September of 2005. Father Lemp was our parish priest for years and had a sort of "
Obi Wan Kenobi" quality to him. What I remember best about him is that he always remembered me even after he was assigned to another parish. His words were a very welcome surprise when I received a card from him following my high school graduation and again when I got married. I'll never forget him.
The other just so happens to be the newly appointed Bishop of the
Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop Dave Zubick or - as his former students know him - Father Dave.
My first 5 years of school were spent in
Mount Gallitzin Academy in Baden, PA. It was there that I met Father Dave. Now, understand, this was a HUGE deal for me. Up to that point in my life, I was raised to address priests only by their last name. I seem to remember telling my Lola (grandmother in Tagalog) about him and then getting admonished for being disrespectful by using his first name. My parents, I think, explained to her that this was just one of the many ways he related to the students at the school. Every week, we'd go to mass during school. I don't remember a single time when Father Dave was dull or ordinary during a homily. From my elementary schooler's vantage point, Father Dave was larger than life. You could tell that everyone just loved being around him.
The best memory I have of him was my first reconciliation. When I was a kid, you did first communion and first reconciliation at around the same time. I was nervous. There were some pretty doggone serious things that were weighing in on my mind (well, serious for a second grader at least) not to mention that we were required to memorize the act of contrition. So there I was, standing in line waiting to see Father Dave - wondering what my penance would be for lying to my Mom about eating the entire roll of Lifesavers from her purse or taking 50 cents from my Dad's coin jar so I could buy ice cream from the
Good Humor man. When I walked into the room, there he was with a single chair across from him where I was to sit. I remember feeling my heart beating like college band snare drum. But of course, he noticed my apprehension and spoke to me, calling me by name because he knew all of the kids at the church. He told me how wonderful it would be because Jesus would be right there with us the whole time. No one will get angry with you and no one will tell you that you were bad. Whatever I tell him about will be forgiven by God. When I began to speak, he closed his eyes and the words just flowed from me.
I don't remember what I said, but I do remember the feeling of tranquility and prayer during the entire time. Looking back on that really reveals something to me about Father Dave. He is, without a doubt, one of the more powerful instruments of God I've ever met. He really seemed to put himself aside and let God's work happen. I suppose that's what has helped him rise to where he is.
So that's my lesson for today -
live life in such a way that God works through me.
Welcome home, Father Dave .... ummm, I mean ... Bishop Dave!