Farewells

He stopped in mid-sentence.
Not a child or adult stirred.

His face was beet red.
His voice was choked.

No one had to search Fr. Peter Tân's face. We all knew he was crying. It was the way he was.

A man of tears.
It worried a lot of parishioners that a priest who could cry so frequently in front of his flock would not be able to lead a parish.

They forgot that Jesus wept. (John 11:15)
They forgot that Jesus never had a one-year, three-year, or five-year plan.
They forgot that Jesus, the high priest, never built a multi-million dollar facility.

Jesus came to sick people's houses.
Jesus blessed and held little children.
Jesus asked his friends and followers to have a little more faith.

That is why tears flowed freely at St. Peter's Vietnamese Catholic Parish the past Sunday.
They knew they were losing a good priest.
Hours and weeks poured into the farewell Mass and reception.

This week we're losing another good priest.
One who told good stories.
One who worked late and woke up early.
One who risked his reputation to win a prostitute's trust.

He's leaving this Friday.
Every year, for over 2000 years, he's left this Friday.

Will you come and bid him farewell?
He "leaves" when the lives of many babies are taken before they are given a chance to live.
He "leaves" when so many women and men intentionally or unintentionally hurt themselves by rejecting motherhood and fatherhood.

Here are two ways to bid him farewell.
Come to Greenville Avenue in Dallas at noon.
https://www.prolifedallas.org/files/Good_Friday_Stations_of_the_Cross_April_22_2011.pdf
Come to South Henderson in Fort Worth at 1pm.

The third way can be any day.
Come to church and look upon the cross.

Are you coming to say farewell?

ps. Photo credit http://web-page-development.com/Harmony/Gallery/slideshow.php?set_albumName=

ps2. For more information on praying for the unborn on the Fort Worth side:
On Friday, April 22nd, the annual Good Friday Prayer Vigil with Bishop Kevin
Vann, hosted by Catholics United for Life and Mother and Unborn Baby
Care, will be held at 1:00pm at Planned Parenthood, 301 S. Henderson, Ft.
Worth. Please plan to attend and pray for an end to abortion.

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