Today is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas.
Today is also the birthday of my friend Father Jerry. I’ve know Jerry in one way or another for about 20 years, but for seven years when I was superintendent of the Diocese of Orange, he was my boss. Whenever I introduced him as my boss to others, he would quickly correct me, “colleague” and he meant it. For seven years we had a highly collaborative and supportive relationship that was one of my best parts of my time as superintendent. Jerry had been superintendent before me, so he had a true understanding of the joys and challenges of the position. I spent many an afternoon in his office strategizing, sharing details of my day, or commiserating over a failure or frustration.
Beyond work conversations, Jerry and I enjoy talking many other joys in life. He has an endless capacity for whimsy and enjoyment. We bonded over our common love of movies. No one sees more movies than he, and no one has more successfully woven movie stories into homilies at mass. He instilled in our office a sense of fun and play that wasn’t felt anywhere else on campus including Admin Assistants Day celebrations with boat rides and water guns, a yearly Epiphany party with trivia contests and hilarious gift exchanges (I have to write about these some time), tiny gifts for virtually all holidays and Saint days, and a fascination with Minions.
From the first Despicable Me movie, Jerry loved the Minions. He had pictures in his office, wove regular mentions into his homilies, and shared with me with glee when he discovered an online English-to-Minion translator. One year about five years ago, the members of the office bought him a blow-up Minion Christmas decoration to greet him in his office on his birthday. His laughter is infectious and his love of life is unbounded.
We left the office on the same day, and though we went somewhat separate ways, we have stayed in close contact, having wonderful breakfasts, dinners, and drinks, with fond (and not so fond) memories, new experiences, and lots of laughter. I am so grateful for his friendship through the years.
Jerry has had health problems this year, and he has been caught in Italy for the past few months during his time of recovery. However, he is coming back home this weekend, a wonderful birthday present for him, and a wonderful Christmas present for all of us who love him.
Banana!
Wonderfully stated sentiments.