In the Christian tradition, November 2 is All Souls Day, the Day of the Dead, a day to remember those we knew who have died. We believe we are surrounded and supported by a community of souls who have completed their life on earth, a great crowd of witnesses upholding our toil in this plane of existence -- whatever that means.
This year I am particularly remembering two among those witnesses who left us this year.
Raquel was a Roman Catholic sister of the Presentation order who left her native Los Angeles to live among and serve the poor in Peru and Nicaragua. Father David Forbes was quite simply the kindest and holiest man I have ever known, an educator, liturgist, canon of the Episcopal cathedral in San Francisco, and sometime interim parish priest. From different worlds, their memorial services fell on the same day last April.
In this commemoration of saints gone before, I must mention the passing of John Crew who was a warrior for justice in the criminal justice realm and a fierce critic of biassed policing. Gone at age 65 which seems too young, he will be sorely missed among advocates for reform and constraint on the San Francisco Police department. He did not shrink from the good fight.
May they - one and all - rest in eternal peace.
ReplyDeleteFrom this report and tribute - you all "done good" in your service to others. There is no more noble cause...
I didn't know the others, but John Crew will be deeply missed by his daughters and the community of friends.
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