All around the diocese I have come to encounter many profound examples of "Discipleship as a way of life." Loretta Koester is one of them.
In 1987 I moved to Effingham and from my first days of ministry there I heard of this woman of faith, defender of Life. It is one thing to say "I am pro-life" (which is good), but to be one who totally commits their life to defending human life from womb to tomb is true.
Discipleship as a way of life. George Schnelton, Daniel and Angela Michael, Shirley Smith, Leon Luber, Joan Riffel, Lowell and Denise Wellen and so many others have done as well.
Catholic education and formation is so vital to Catholic life in our diocese. I think first of Sister Pauletta, a Dominican Sister and founder of Little Flower School in Springfield. Soon to celebrate her 101st birthday, she continues to be a staunch advocate for Catholic schools. Never will you find a better, or more loved principal of a Catholic school than this "woman of faith." Ray Heilmann, Mary Ann Buenerkemper, Doug and Diane Villhard, Barb Kaiser, Trudy Dreier, Renee Mitchell, Father Leo Enlow, Sister Jane Hotze, Peg Bodinet, John and Shirley Gibbons, Margie Meyer, Mary Thole and so many others who have done as well. So many teachers and school personnel have made such an impact on the lives of faith of so many students like us who love and live their faith by being inspired by these "disciples."
Serving the needs of the poor is core to what our Catholic Church holds dear as true Gospel ministry, heeding Jesus' call to give food, drink, clothes, shelter, caring for the most needy. People at St. John's Breadline, HSHS Franciscan Sisters Outreach, Catholic Charities, Ladies of Charity in Quincy, Second Hand Rose in Effingham, all our diocesan parishes who have adopted a third world parish in the twinning programs, and others where hundreds commit daily to these outreach centers and programs. Mary Ann Borries, Mary Lenane, Len and Alice Daiber, Shelly Heideman, Dr. Jim McDermott, Bill and Marge Basler, Father Paul Kala, Vicki Dhabalt Compton, Sister Justine Henley, and so many others who have done so well.
Serving the church at the parish level is so important to strengthening parish life and creating more vibrant Catholic communities. Gwen Berutti, Sam Schwarztrauber, Renee Saunches, Pat Kalous, Mary Lou Meridith, Father Kevin Laughery, Jim and Sue Morris, Jim McDowell, Jerry Eberhardt, Rose Mary Messner, Dennis Hollbrook, Joe and Sheryl Geisler, John and Becky Esselman, Linda Keller, John Maxwell, Pat Beard, and so many others who have done so well.
As a priest some days I have stood in awe at the life and witness that so many folks have shown me. It is remarkable to see the Gospel come alive in their daily commitment to "heed the Gospel" with joy.
Earlier this month, I concelebrated the funeral of Jack and Shirley Cygan, a beautiful Catholic couple, united more than 64 years ago in Christ. They lived the Gospel as youth ministers in East St. Louis, and then over 30 years at St. Paul Parish in Highland.
They both died in a house fire on Nov. 29. Hundreds of Catholic adults, who were once youth in our Catholic Church, now live a deeply committed Catholic faith because they were cared for, and blessed by Jack and Shirley's "yes" to the Lord for over 40 years. St. Paul Church was packed four years ago at their 60th wedding anniversary, where over 600 former youth came to celebrate and say "thanks." It was a wonderful celebration of faith, ministry and love of God, and neighbor. I joined hundreds at their wake and Mass of Christian Burial. All 13 hours of visitation and worship truly was a celebration. A 1997 St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote of them and their ministry. in an article titled "Shepherding youth has become a way of life." This is discipleship.
Father Anthony Tamulis, well known for his work with the Litchfield deanery youth and at Mt. Olive, used to say to his servers after each Mass, "Great job serving, You're the best." He too inspired many hundreds of youth to live a more committed Catholic faith. I am sure God has welcomed Jack and Shirley into heaven. They died in each other's arms on the floor near the front door of their home. They didn't make it, but I have no doubt they walked into the gates of heaven together, if not they may have even danced a polka to the joy of all the angels and saints.
Discipleship is our daily call as we travel this journey seeking the kingdom of God. Look around your parishes and communities and celebrate the discipleship of so many great servants in our churches. Tell them thanks for their gift. May they inspire each of us to embrace more seriously this call to be "intentional disciples."
Our lives, parishes, communities and our world will only be better for our "yes" to "discipleship as a way of life." One day our hope will be that we will gain entrance into heaven's gates only to hear our God say "Well done good and faithful disciple, Come sit at my table and join in the feast."