Page 5 - Catholic Extension Magazine Summer2020

Extension | Summer 2020 5

Even before there was a “
power of that love to become
a life-giving force even in the Everything good that ever happened to me in my life began in
most dire and dangerous of the Church. I ask you to do three things: Stay close to God. Stay
times and circumstances. close to one another as a family. Stay close to the Church.”

pandemic, economic down- —CATHERINE WALL, Fr. Jack’s mother
turn and civil unrest, we
know that there has always
been another kind of “social
distancing” in the world. We
are especially conscious of
the distancing between “the
haves” and “have nots” in
society.
We can never ever let dis-
tance become the reason for
a lack of concern or compas-
sion for others. Physical dis-
tance must not mean discon- Pope Francis says, “Mercy is Last year, as we celebrated Catherine Wall,
nection from one another nor truly the beating heart of the her 100th birthday, she said, Father Jack’s
desertion of those in need. Gospel.” “Everything good that ever mother, passed
We have come to know If there is one thing that happened to me in my life away on May 1 at
the age of 101.
through our experience of Catholic Extension has come began in the Church. I ask
encountering and accompa- to mean and has attempted you to do three things: Stay
nying so many good people in to do every day for decades close to God. Stay close to
our Extension Dioceses that and decades is to hear the cry one another as a family. Stay
the one thing that bridges of the poor in our land. More close to the Church.”
My mother was so support-
every form of social distanc- importantly is our response ive of our work at Catholic
to those cries by bridging the
ing and division is mercy. As
“ people living on the periph- daily. I am passing on her
distance between donors and
Extension and prayed for us
Priests, women reli-
beautiful advice to you be-
eries and by supporting our
gious and laypeople
cause it is at the heart of what
lay, religious and ordained
are re-imagining their
them to embrace God’s suf-
to accomplish in being pres-
ministries and finding ministers whose faith calls Catholic Extension is seeking
fering people, pour out mer-
ent to America’s poorest faith
new ways to keep cy in abundance and work communities.
daily to build a more just and Thank you for your loyal
their communities peaceful society. support.
connected with God, On a very personal note, Yours in Christ,
with the Church, and I want to let you know I
am mourning the death of
with each other during my mother, Catherine, who
this time of isolation passed away on May 1 at the Rev. John J. Wall
age of 101. She was one of the PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC EXTENSION
and unrest.”
biggest blessings of my life.