Deacon Charles "Rusty" Read indeed passed away yesterday. He fought bravely against the effects of ALS, known to many as Lou Gehrig's disease. I know in recent weeks and months that things were getting tough for Deacon Rusty but still he carried on. I last saw him about 4 months ago during the services for Archbishop Hannan, who Deacon Rusty helped for many years.
Deacon Rusty was my mentor. Sometime during the early part of formation we were told that a deacon would be mentoring us and soon after I met Deacon Rusty. He was to mentor me and one of my classmates so we developed a long standing routine of going to an early morning Mass where he would be assisting and then meet up for breakfast. Happily, this went on for several years and we even benefitted from his counsel when formation was suspended temporarily after Hurricane Katrina. He was always helpful and supportive and full of great advice on how to navigate the choppy waters of formation. At ordination Deacon Rusty would be there in one of his favorite roles, that of a master of ceremony at a Mass with a Bishop. He indeed was a liturgy purist.
Rusty freely and openly shared his battles with ALS with the diaconate community and in a more personal way with the small group of deacons and wives who gathered monthly here on the Northshore of New Orleans. He will be forever missed and I can never forget the vital role Deacon Rusty played in my formation. For that I say another fond, heartfelt thank you.
I will be thinking of Deacon Rusty quite a bit in the days ahead and praying for peace and strength for his wife Cookie and his daughters and family. And I will remember his many kindnesses as my mentor and try to imitate his example as I now mentor others.
Rest in peace Deacon Rusty.
No comments:
Post a Comment