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March 12, 2010
Alexander Salamon
I had no idea how special that morning would turn out to be. The nine o’ clock mass at St. Francis de Sales on Feb. 21 would be the last time Father James Schleicher celebrated mass.
I was serving as a Eucharistic minister that morning. Upon seeing me, Father Schleicher asked my name due to his failing memory. I introduced myself and shook hands with him. As I looked him in the eye, he smiled as he remembered my name. He appeared to be getting stronger and doing well. Not 48 hours after that, he passed away. I couldn’t believe that a man who had been so involved in my life actually died. He married my parents, gave me my first communion, saw me through grade school and was the glue that held St. Francis de Sales together. He touched hundreds, if not a thousand, lives.
It is easy to take people for granted when you’ve known them all your life. You expect them to be there and you can’t imagine your life without them. Do not take relationships for granted and always be kind and cherish those you love.
Death is a natural part of life. It is hard to remember this yet easy to be depressed in reacting to a loved one’s death. Keep a positive mind by remembering the person for who they were, what they stood for and what they did during their lifetime. With the recent deaths of praiseworthy, moral and admirable men like Reverend James R. Schliecher, pastor Emeritus from St. Francis de Sales parish, and Coach Tom Goodall, it is easy to be overcome by grief and despair in remembering their lives. However, the least we can do in memory of them is to stand by what they stood for during their lifetime. They each made a difference in our community and impacted hundreds of lives. Let us pray that we may positively impact the lives we touch.
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