We have public heroes and we have private heroes. Here are a few that make my personal Mount Rushmore:
- The man who stood in front of the tank in Tianmen Square during the democracy uprising in Beijing.
- Kevin O’Donnell, S.J., an “obscure” Irishman who worked hard, forgave much and was as kind and gentle as you can possibly imagine.
- My sister, Sheila, a Medical Missionary of Mary in the steamy northeast of Brazil whose ministry is with prostitutes.
- Teri, Linda and all those whose children have died and who still manage to put one foot in front of the other.
- Larry Gillick, S.J. who calls his blindness a “terrible gift” and who sees into my heart better than anyone I know.
Who are your personal heroes?
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Michelle 02.16.09 at 11:16 am
This is a great post. A few of my personal heroes:
1. Walter Burghardt, SJ – one of the most inspirational & profound homilists I have ever heard.
2. My mom who was selfless in caring for my dad for 18 years of his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
3. Larry Corcoran, SJ – a Boston Jesuit who lead a retreat that changed my life. He later became my spiritual director.
4.Rainer Maria Rilke – poet who brings depth to a new level.
5. Rose Pacatte, FSP who finds God on the silver screen & even though she suffers from MS, lives life to the full.
6. Vivaldi whose music can calm my most stressful day
Paul 02.16.09 at 3:20 pm
Michelle,
I ‘ve met Walter Burghardt and Rose Pacatte. I’m thrilled that I’ve encountered two of your 6 in person. Vivaldi and Rilke are known to me through their music and poetry, so that only leaves me with Larry Corcoran and your mother left to encounter…
Paul
Eric 02.16.09 at 4:01 pm
1. Paul Bernadicou, SJ, who has been my faithful friend and guide for almost 40 years. He has served University students, Jesuits for whom he was rector, and currently the priests of the archdioces of Los Angeles in a house of prayer.
2. Jim Hanley, SJ, who as my spiritual director who taught me to allow God’s love to overwhelm me and do so in my life with ALS.
3. Jeffrey Wood of eHope who assembles communities of care for ALS and cancer patients in Maine.
4. My cousin Dr. Jeannie Gillian who established and runs Hope Center in Tennessee, a facility for caring for people dying of AIDS.
5. My cousin Sr. Judy Vaughan, CSJ, who established and runs Alexandria House in Los Angeles, a home for single mothers and their children to live in while the mothers get job training or education sufficient to become independent.
6. Norb Sinski, who works long hours providing psychological and spiritual guidance to AIDS patients in New York City.
7. My daughter, Robyn, who is making a career of caring for kids too troubled, too abused, too disturbed to function in foster care.
8. My devoted, loving wife Ruth and my dear friend, Lee Urban in Maine, and all primary caregivers to ALS patients.
Maureen 02.17.09 at 7:31 am
Paul, Michelle, Eric–Thank you for opening my eyes and heart to your heroes. Now they are with me as well–what a gift. Also, I am practicing today opening my heart and mind to the heroes in my life.
Paul 02.17.09 at 8:04 am
Maureen,
Thank you for your gracious and lovely comment.
Paul
Paul 02.17.09 at 8:12 am
Eric,
Paul Bernardicou was my Rector while I lived at Loyola Marymount University. What a prince! An excellent person with whom to fill your list of obviously generous and open-hearted souls. Isn’t it comforting to know that there are people like them who are close to us?
Paul
readergirl 02.17.09 at 10:36 pm
erma bombeck: for not being afraid to share her dreams and humor with the world (she was 40 before she ever wrote professionally) and for facing her illness and death with dignity and humility (and even humor).
you: tough for you to hear, i know, but you have been with me since i was young, to listen, to guide, to push and now you do the same for my kiddos and it is a precious gift
my friend louisa: because while her 12 year old son was battling a brain tumor, she mustered her strength to fight for him, cried only when he wasn’t their to see, made sure her other kids were well cared for, stayed on the same team as her husband and painted and wrote her way through her fear. she is a gal with a great and enduring faith.
Paul 02.18.09 at 8:27 am
Reader Girl (or should I say ‘readergirl’ because you’ve got that whole e.e. cummings thing going for you?),
I read your response and sort of went into shock. To be matched in the ‘personal heroes’ stakes with the incomparable Erma Bombeck and with the mother of a child with a brain tumor is, to say the least, startling.
I would never have suspected that I’d make your list. I am simultaneously honored and humbled. I am now fervently praying that I never let you down!
Paul
Maura 02.18.09 at 8:31 am
This one took alot of thought.
My parents for so many reasons. They toughed it out and worked to make their marriage better instead of walking away in the early 70′s when divorce was something everyone was doing. They were actively involved in the Pro Life movement for years. They helped my siblings and I thru the horrible year when both of their fathers and their youngest child died within 7 months of eachother. My mom is a person of tremendous prayer who is willing to put herself out for others even though she is sometimes taken advantage of and judged harshly for her generosity of spirit. My Dad who is a convert and is still as passionate about his faith as when he first came into the church 40 years ago. He has served as a catechist to highschool students for more than 20 years and was one of my inspirations for getting into this field.
My beloved husband. As a nurse thru out his career he has always choosen to work in the less glamorous fields with people many would shun because he sees value in each human person whether they are developmentally disabled or “morally” disabled (inmates at the prison where he works). He sees what he does as a vocation and I believe it is.
My best friend amd duet partner from highschool Sr. Mary Catharine who has become a contemplative dominican, author, novice mistress. The joy with which she lives her faith is simply infectious.
Ruth P. a friend and coworker in the pro life movement of my mom’s who
died of cancer shortly after giving birth to her youngest child. Thru out her life and even into her last days she still worked tirelessly to proclaim that each life is precious in the sight of God. She didn’t just stand on street corners proclaiming the truth she lived her belief in the way she raised her family and treated each person she encountered.
Bl. Anna Maria Tiage. Mother wife and mystic who balanced all those with grace. I only wish I could walk thru my life with a smidg of that kind of balance and a lot more grace.
There are of course many more but those are my top 5 .
Paul 02.18.09 at 8:43 am
Maura,
As I read your list, I thought to myself, “How lovely.” To have your parents, your husband and a best friend on your list is a great blessing. I hope that each of these people knows that you hold them so dear to your heart.
Thank you for sharing these good people with us.
Paul
Maura 02.18.09 at 7:01 pm
Paul
I think many of us are blessed to have had the most amazing people put their fingerprints on our souls. Our “everyday” heroes are sometimes overshadowed by the famous or infamous folks we’ve met or been inspired by. (The tales I could tell about some of my professors!)
Sad to say I often take the people God has put into my life for granted. I find that I dont’ take the time to see these blessed folk for the wonders they are or tell them what they mean to me.
Peace
Maura