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Show #~, page 2 Liebler in St Mark's Cathedral, Salt Lake City. A great contribution to the beauty and dignity of the service was provided by another friend of many years, Doris (Mrs Bailey) Thompson, who is a fine organist, and with her husband had travelled nearly 300 miles to offer her talent as a tribute to Father. San Juan Mission in Farmington, New Mexico, loaned a beautiful white and turquoise pall. After the Bishop had censed and sprinkled holy water over the casket, it was moved to the vestibule of the church, where it was opened so that the nearly 200 people present could pay their last respects. Father's body was appropriately clothed in his priestly vestments. The white and turquoise chasuble had been made for him by an altar guild in Miami, Florida, and the alb, made for him by his mother, had been carefully preserved for many years, as it was his wish that he be buried in it. His hands held a small, very old, Bible, presented to him at his ordination on October 4·, 1914 by Bishop William Webb, and which Father had requested be buried with him. Led by Deputy Sheriff Rudy Cook of Bluff, the cavalcade of some 22 cars set out for St Christopher,' s Mission. A grave had been opened in the fenced-in area where the original log church had stood before it was buxned down. Bishop Putnam read the Committal; Father Valentine Young, O.F.M. read a burial praJer in Navajo; and Father Steven Plummer and his with his wife, Kathy, led the singing of two hymns in Navajo while the casket was lowered into the grave. And now Father's mortal remains lie near the high altar, which he built with his own hands, and watched over by the statue of the Navajo Madonna and Child, both of which have survived the fire. Helen has been unable to contribute to this Message as she has had to get out of the cold weather and spend the winter months in Sun City, Arizona. Also her eyes have been giving her considerable trouble recently. She expects to return here around April. Brother Juniper's memoir: ''We are just beginning to realize that Father is gone, that the Lord has called him to be with Him forever. Over the years we had gotten used to his temporary absences as he visited the various parts of the Utah strip of the Navajo Reservation. He held services at St Mary of the Moonlight at Oljeto and at St John the Baptizer, Montezuma Creek, and at the AnethBoarding School, as well as at St Christopher's in Bluff. Much of the time he was away from Bluff was spent in visiting the people and celebrating Mass in their hogans. Now we are missing his stories and his puns (some of which were pretty terrible!). We miss his kindly counselling and his readiness to help in time of need. He was always ready either to drive himself or delegate some staff member to take a sick or injured Navajo to the nearest medical facility that would take Indians, and in the early days that often meant a round-trip of some 400 miles. At . times he would be gone on cross-country trips to give talks to raise funds so that the work could continue. He was never too busy writing letters or books to visit with both Navajo and Anglos who stopped in, either with problems or just to visit. Many of these wanted to take pictures, and these took time. In these he was always smiling, even though he might have a deadline with the mail. Now the friendly smile, the eagerness to help, the stories and puns are gone. We are like a Navajo family who, after the death of their grandmother, told one of our workers, "Won't you come and help us, be our grandmother, for we have no one to help us and tell us what .t o do." May he rest in peace in the glory of the Lord." Finally, I must ask your indulgence in this: sympathy cards and letters, Christmas cards and gifts, have been coming in on top of each other, so that I despair of managing to acknowledge them all. Will you please allow me to use this Message as a heartfelt thank-you from all three of us for all your loving words, good wishes and gifts? It is quite overwhelming, and inde~d we need your prayers and support so much at this time. We will try to get out another Message early next year. We hope this one will reach you before Epiphany so we can still wish you all a blessed and happy Christmastide - and of course all God's blessings in the New year ..... from Joan, Helen and Brother Juniper |