I wrote a post on Sunday several hours after hearing of Bishop Kelsey’s death. In those hours, in our household of brothers, we were all in terrible shock and dealt privately with that feeling of loss. On Sunday night around 9, we had a service for Jim and on Monday morning we went to Mass at the sisters’ house presided by our own wonderful Bishop Marc Andrus, who not only worked with Jim in the house of bishops but was a dear friend.
I was amazed how each of us, in grief, supported one another. I felt God’s presence among us. Christ’s living presence is the comfortor. By having a religious context and a community context, we have space for loss and a language for grief.
We will have another Mass for Jim tomorrow night at our house. Our minister provincials will go up to Michigan later for the funeral. I feel that through these services, we honor Bishop Kelsey in a good way.
Growing up, I did not feel that we had this way of honoring our dead. Emotional and spiritual support are part of the infrastructure of religious life and for this I am thankful.
Brother Jacob,
I have great feeling of connection when I read your blogs about Bishop James Kelsey (Jim). I have had the pleasure of knowing, working, laughing with Jim, but I really did not know Jim. I feel he had so much more to teach me and teach others in God’s world. I still have a feeling that this is just a bad dream that I will wake up and Jim will have posted something on UPCHAT (our email correspondence), or he will be down for a workshop, or he will be here for visit. I always looked forward to seeing him, seeing his grin, the warmth a hug. I was going to approach Jim about being identified for Ordination. My excitement, my questions, and uncertainties now will need to be answered by others. Jim’s insight fullness and honesty would have been more welcomed. But I find myself in some instances so far where I’m saying to myself What would Jim Do? It dawned on me WWJD is what would Jesus Do. Hmmm I find them parallel and I find comfort in them both.
Life can be difficult at times but with the support of those around us and with prayer life goes on. I pray that I will be as accepting of all people and God’s creations as Jim was. May he keep my mind clear of what is important in God’s Creation.
My heart is with all of you as we continue on in our Father’s world…
Mathew Metor