A Word of Thanks from Deacon Tim

As most of you have probably heard by now, I had two significant losses in my life in September. My mother, Barbara, went to her eternal reward on September 12, and my wife, Chris, went to meet the Lord on September 25. While the first wasn't entirely unexpected (my mother had been in Marian Manor for two years with some pretty heavy-duty dementia), the second was something I would not have predicted even two weeks before she went on hospice for her last 10 days.

I trust that God will know the love both of them had for him and their dedication to him here on this earth and will treat them with justice in everlasting life and they will know eternal peace and joy. This gives me great consolation when my thoughts begin to turn to sadness when I remember them. 

But my greatest consolation (and the one that makes my eyes tear-up even more than my thoughts of them) is the outpouring of support from my brothers and sisters of Archangel Gabriel Parish. Be it cards, emails, Facebook messages, words of sympathy at stores and at Mass, your thoughts and prayers for my family and me have been overwhelming, and I can't thank you all enough for being there. The way Archangel Gabriel Parish came together for me I'm seeing more and more in our love and care for one another. May peace be with you all - not as the world gives peace, but Christ's peace! Thank you so much.

Deacon Tim