Exactly on this day and hour, a year ago, you were taken from us... Abruptly... So quickly...
We questioned why, we blamed even you for your neglect of yourself. But ultimately we all realized, God has a plan, we may not have understood exactly what it was, but indeed he had a plan.
He took you from us, with everything hanging in the balance, plans for the parish, plans for the pastoral center, plans of opening various centers to help our needy, everything just went a halt and all else left to chance... but God gave us the strength to move forward, the idea to push your ideals forward, to bond together to reach a common goal, to fulfill all your plans and complete everything you wanted to do, without you, your guidance. We learned about ourselves, and others too, but mostly, we learned about you...
About your endless love for your brethren... how you were a priest most of all. With all your shortcomings, mistakes, your infamous temper and all that, one thing was for certain, you touched the lives of so many people with your generosity, love for others and a kind and giving heart. I realized that even after you died, many of us, will never ever forget you. Many of us who remains here living will always have a void in our hearts left by your passing.
I know that you are happy where you are, dreams of you happy, celebrating the Holy Mass with other important people in your life who is already up there with you, content and excited for what we are doing to preserve your legacy and continue to help. Perhaps that is the most precious gift you have given me... the means to be able to help others, the opportunity to help, which wouldn't have really been that deep or involved lest you had lived.
I miss you. I miss your laughter, the way your whole body shakes when something amuses you. I miss your homilys. I miss your advise. How I wish you were still here to help guide my spiritual life and help in completing your own plans, but alas, you've gone home, so early to the Father and I know that your place is there now. Continue to pray for me, for us, for the foundation we built on your behalf, for all the projects we are planning. I hope one day, you will smile down from heaven and see the fruits of all our labors and the plans you have left half-baked come to fruition.
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