Submitted by Mary Witzman
The holy season of Lent has come and gone�the fasting has ended�whatever we "gave up" is now reinstated�our "good works" are complete, and life goes on.
For Jerry's family this was a very different Lent�one that will remain with us forever. Because we believe Christ lives in each of us, we spent this Lent in the presence of the suffering "Christ." We truly entered into and experienced the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, The Way of the Cross, and the scripture reading of the Passion and Death of Christ. Just as Jesus accepted his cup on Holy Thursday so we had to accept Jerry's "cup" - we realized what was about to happen and we had to submit to God's will. Jerry's body was condemned to death�each new stroke did more damage until there was little he could do for himself. He suffered the humiliation of needing help just to get dressed, clean himself, and the little things we take for granted. He stumbled and fell on the way as he got weaker and weaker.
Simon was there to help Jesus carry his cross, and we had Hospice and the children to help Jerry. There was little we could do but stand by and weep and occasionally wipe his face and provide assistance and comfort where possible. The time he spent in a coma was his "tomb." His body was still with us but his spirit had moved on, so we stood at his bedside and kept vigil. his Good Friday was now complete and we had to quietly and tearfully comment his spirit to the heavenly Father. Like Mary we knew that this, too, had to be�so we watched in silence and kept all these things in our hearts. With his funeral we could finally enter into the joy of the Resurrection knowing he had gone safely "home."
Jerry was a dependable and invested member of any group to which he belonged and he gave generously of his time and abilities. He spent about 35 years in the Boy Scout movement where he held various leadership positions within the scout troop and the scout council, served on the Catholic Committee on Scouting and was a member of the Order of the Arrow where his Indian name meant "He who serves the Lord." He received the St. George Award, the highest Catholic award in scouting.
He was active in the St. Bridget parish community where he served as Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Altar Server, sang in the choir, usher, fund raiser, vacation bible school craft director for the junior high students, and helped when ever asked.
He was just as diligent when he entered the Secular Franciscan Order in March 1980. Just after profession he served as Director of Formation and prepared a number of presentations for the on-going program.
He had a crippling stroke in 1986 (18 years ago) but he never complained�never asked why�he knew this was God's plan for him. Making rosaries restored his hand coordination and gave him a purpose in life. He made about 5,000 rosaries a year for First Communion and Confirmation students, prisons throughout the U.S., and missions all over the world. When he could no longer make the wire rosaries, he simply started making string rosaries. he always had a positive attitude, there was always a smile on his face, he always wanted to please, always wanted to help. He was an inspiration to all of us.
May he rest in peace!
Reprinted from Regional Tracings Summer 2003
Jerry and Mary were members of St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity in North Minneapolis until they moved to Elk River. They were part of the second group to make profession in the youthful days of our fraternity, and each took leadership positions for the fraternity. After moving to Elk River, they were together instrumental in forming San Damiano fraternity.
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Email: StAnthonySFO@queenofpeaceregion.org
Mail: Tom McGrath, 1360F University Ave W # 197, Saint Paul, MN 55104