Parish of St. Margaret and St. Mary Churches

THE PASSING OF SOMEONE ELSE: Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.

Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Someone Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "let Someone Else do it". Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else" can work with that group.

It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most generous givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.

Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who was going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?

When you are asked to help this year, remember – we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.

Just a gentle (and hopefully humorous) reminder that as we look at the life of our parish community, it really takes each and every one of us becoming involved to make this a special community.

So, as we are looking for members for the Parish Council, attendance at the Parish Picnic, Altar Servers for our masses, people to come to our half-day mini-retreat next month and more, we can't leave it all to Someone Else. It has to be each one of us.

The best way we can honor Someone Else upon their passing is to step up and take their place.