From the Editor’s Desk

Journey of Grace

By Fr. Gerald Curry, S.F.M.
January 1999

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It seems like yesterday that we sat in class together, played hockey and handball, and practiced the melodious tones of Gregorian music. We were young and getting ready to enter the world as priests, with strong faith and the zeal to do whatever was necessary to do good and to walk in the footsteps of the Master Himself.

This issue has been written as a tribute to and in memory of my friend and classmate George Marskell. It is also written in tribute to all those who served (and are serving) in Brazil, and to all Scarboro missionaries who gave and give of their lives in journeys of grace.

Together with Bishop George, all have been graced by God with the gift of faith, and have been privileged to share life and faith with many different peoples in many different cultures.

The list of those who now live with God could begin with Monsignor John Mary Fraser who died at the age of 82 in Osaka, Japan. He founded Scarboro Missions and helped to build 19 churches in China and Japan;

...Alphonse Chafe who spent most of his missionary career in Canada promoting our work among Canadians;

...Paul Pendergast who gave his life to the Bahamian people and helped to build up the Church there;

...Robert (Buddy) Smith whose sense of the dignity of people made him their champion;

...Ed Geier whose zeal for his work among the Japanese amazed us all;

...Harold Murphy, John Kelly, Cam MacDonald, Bill and Ben Schultz, Gerry Heffernan, Shane O’Brien, Rogers Pelow, Hugh Sharkey—to name just a few.

So, to the journey of grace which was George’s, we join in remembrance the journey of grace of all our Scarboro members who have gone before us. We shout “Presente!” as each name is mentioned. They are present to us and with us now more than ever. We still can almost see and hear them, and we remember their laughter, their tears, their strengths and their weaknesses... Our lives touched each other.

As you read this issue, you will understand a little about our brother George, about his journey—definitely a journey of grace. It is our way of remembering him and celebrating his life. As we celebrate George we celebrate, too, all of our Scarboro members whose lives were also grace-filled, and who gave witness to the graciousness of God.

The people of the Prelacy of Itacoatiara, Brazil, knew George and they miss him. Scarboro missionaries knew him and we, too, miss him. He truly “learned a little how to love,” and for George this is the greatest vocation.

“He made me proud to be Amazonian” are the words of Urania, a young woman from Itacoatiara. George made us proud to be members of the Scarboro Missions family.

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