Sorrow

Today, I arrived at Mary's t-ball game and was greeted by a group of teary-eyed friends. One of them approached, embraced me, and told me that our beloved priest had passed away this afternoon. Very unexpectedly, of a massive heart attack. We are in shock.

Our incredible Fr. Slider has greeted us so warmly into this community. Our first week at St. Agatha, he made a special point of introducing us to several other families so that we would make friends quickly. He went out of his way to get us connected and involved in our new neighborhood. When Mary had her appendix out, he called our home asking how she was and offering support. He was one-of-a-kind. In more ways than one.

He was a married Catholic priest. Yes, married. Because he converted to Catholicism and then decided to become a priest after he was already married, he received special approvals all the way up to the Pope himself. And his wife, Jacque, is our preschool teacher. Beloved as a gentle and wise teacher. She helps our children learn impeccable manners and also teaches them to love art as she helps them create masterpiece after masterpiece, each suitable for framing. She is a treasure. To know she is dealing with the loss of her husband has me literally sick to my stomach.

Tonight, I tried to explain to the girls that Fr. Slider is in heaven. Lucy barraged me with questions. The most notable was: "So when does he come back to live again?" And I said, "Oh, honey, he doesn't. He is in heaven forever now." Her reply: "But Fr. Slider is the one who told me about Jesus dying and coming back again. Doesn't he get to do this, too?"

Oh how I wish! Today our little neighborhood lost an amazing man.