On my ordination day in 2014, as the candidates were lining up a few minutes before the start of the Ordination Mass outside the cathedral entrance, somebody went up to me and started talking to me.
I don't remember what we talked about, other than that he did over 1,000 baptisms. This amazed me and stuck with me ever since. I told people about it throughout the years, and I would often remember this encounter whenever I was assigned to administer baptisms for little ones.
In fact, just last week, during the Rite of Election, I was talking to one of the cathedral deacons in Santa Rosa, and I mentioned in passing that I knew a deacon that administered over a thousand baptisms. He replied he had only baptized six babies, and at that point I said I didn't remember the guy's name. However, I did remember his face and his kind words to me those many years ago.
Well, just today, I received a memo from the Sacramento Diocese announcing the death of Deacon Gill at age 87. He was ordained in 1981, around his late 50s.
I was grateful that the Diocese included a picture of him instead of just releasing his name because I would not have recognized the name. So when I saw his photo in the memo, I recognized it was him.
He was the one who spoke to me for a mere few minutes many years ago, yet it has been seared on my mind and heart.
Please say a prayer for his wife, Helen, and his family.
+ Eternal rest grant unto the soul of Gill Parra, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Thank you, Brother.
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