Prayers Needed

On the same day that I went to the hospital recently, another priest of the Archdiocese of Washington was taken to Frederick Hospital from his mother's home where he was visiting. In just a few days shy of one month that priest, Fr. Walter Lawrence, lies in a deep coma, very close to death. After just a few hours at Frederick Hospital, Fr. Lawrence's doctors determined he was suffering Acute Leukemia. He was immediately helicoptered to Johns Hopkins Hospital. A very challenging and painful course of chemotherapy was initiate with an awareness that this was just an attempt to determine if anything could be done to begin gaining control. After two weeks of the debilitating chemo, Fr. Lawrence's doctors ended the therapy. He was brought back to a hospice in Frederick to be near his mother and sister for the final days of his life.

Fr. Lawrence was serving as Pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Barnesville. He also had served as Pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in Kensington. Fr. Lawrence was a few years behind me at Gonzaga ... but certainly way ahead of me with Greek and Latin.

As he draws closer to the moment of his meeting the God who called him to priesthood, as he prepares to step into a new life, filled with love, filled with the graces of God, remember him along with his wonderful Mom and sister.

Why God would call home to himself someone so young (60 years old) is a mystery. I surely believe Walter will be in a better place. Imagine what he will encounter: being in the presence of God, being with his father again. He will now no longer say the words of consecration; he will speak personally with God.

Lastly, remember to pray for the priests of the Archdiocese ... we are about to lose of wonderful colleague, a deeply spiritual brother, and a man who cared for others. Deaths like this one do shake us all. It is only human that we are sad, we become lonely because a brother is no longer at the altar with us. We are happy he is with the Lord but we will miss his presence. Thanks.