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Joe Callahan Born: July 22, 1929 Born into Eternal Life Tuesday, April 27, 1999 As Joe celebrates with Jesus, we celebrate his life with us and mourn his leaving us. The prayers of the parish and all of us who loved him are with Joe and Nancy

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To live in the hearts
we leave behind
is not to die.

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"Deacon Joe"

When through one man
a little more love and goodness,
a little more light and truth
come into the world -
then that man's life has had meaning.

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Dear Joe,

It is hard to say goodbye to you, fiend of so many years, deacon who served us at St. Julie Parish with such kindness, wit, and obvious enjoyment.

Your gifts were many, Joe; you were a gentle listener – a friend who soothed hurts, lifted spirits, and brightened many a day with your wry humors Somehow we took it for granted that you would always be with us.

All of us prayed for a miracle, Joe; perhaps the miracle we received is the example you have left us of what it means to give your life to God and still enjoy it!

As our very first deacon, we expect you now to continue your job in heaven: remember us to Jesus, Joe, and keep an eye on St. Julie Parish.

We Love you, Joe, and we miss you. But life doesn't end; it changes. Thank you for all you have been for us and done for us until we see you and hear you say once more:

“Fooled 'em again!”

Your Friends at St. Julie

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Joe's recent message to the parish:

Thanks to One and All

Thank you to Fr. Rich, the Parish Staff, Parish Council and special thanks to all the members of St. Julie.

It was a very special moment for Nancy and I as we were honored on the occasion of my retirement as a full-time Pastoral Associate here at St. Julie.

Again, thank you for your kind words and generous gifts.

HOW GOOD IS THE GOOD GOD
GOOD, VERY GOOD INDEED

Lovingly,
Joe Callahan
Deacon Associate, Retired

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Parish Celebration

On Sunday, February 21st,
following the 12:15 p.m. Mass,
there was a reception in the Parish Hall
to honor our recently retired deacon
Joe Callahan
and his lovely wife,
Nancy

We celebrate JOE -

• our reverent Deacon Associate,

• our humble homilist,

• our fun-filled co-worker,

• our understanding counselor,

• our patient listener,

• our compassionate minister of care,

• our helpful healer,

• our prayerful peacemaker,

• and most of all, our most gracious FRIEND!!

Deacon Joe and Nancy Callahan

Ordained April 26, 1986
Retired December 31, 1998

Blessing

May the God of peace be with you
Each and every day:
May the Father in His Goodness
Keep you in His care.

May the Spirit rest within you
Making you His own;
May the Grace and Joy of Jesus
Be yours ever more.

May the road rise up to greet you
With every step you take;
May the Lord look down upon you
With kindness in His face.

May the God of Grace and Peace be
With you ever more;
May the Love of Jesus fill you
Always to remain ...........Now and ever more!!

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In Memory of those who have served
the people of
St Julie Billiart Parish

Endings and Beginnings
(Pastor's message of 5/30/99)

The other day I was reminded of the story of the caravans crossing the Sahara Desert, where every so often the Bedouin camel drivers will not budge for a day or more, no matter how hard- pressed or behind schedule they may be. When called to explain their refusal to move, they say they are taking time to let their souls catch up.

This story came to mind because it's kind of how I feel. I think I need time to pause and let my soul catch up, because every time I walk through the offices in the rectory, it's still hard to believe that Joe Callahan and Pat Radecky won't ever be there again, sitting at their desks and doing all that they did to make St. Julie the great parish that it is.

In the space of just three weeks, the parish has lost two extremely competent and valuable members of our Staff, and I, as pastor, have never known St. Julie without Joe and Pat being right at the center of everything. It struck me the other evening that future priests assigned here will not have known Pat or Joe at all. Because of that, their experiences of the parish will be totally different from the rest of us, and it will be their loss.

I think part of my difficulty, as with other people here on the Staff, is that there is no time off to grieve. We can't just do what the camel drivers do, and sit down under a palm tree in an oasis and refuse to budge. Everything that we have been involved in just keeps grinding on, but now without Joe and Pat contributing all that they did.

Yet in the midst of the emptiness I feel, as my spirit gradually catches up, I am filled with gratitude to God for the twelve years I knew Pat and Joe as friends and as co-ministers in the Lord. They were truly great gifts in my life, and I'm sure they continue to look down on us all as the new guardian angels of St. Julie Parish!

God bless,

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