Philly Philosophical

This is really not an art-related posting, but I felt I had to put something out there in the universe about it. It's hard to encapsulate in one word who Mike Ryan was, but I'd say the best way to put it is that he was my friend, and he died on Monday. Mike used to be Fr. Mike, and to all of us at Corpus Christi Church and School, he was a mentor, spiritual guide, shoulder to lean on, leader, and most of all, friend. I was raised under the Catholic faith and attended Catholic schools my whole life. I've spent many years being taught what it is to be a good Catholic and a good person in general. To me, Mike was the epitome of those teachings.

We worked together closely on the Confirmation program at Corpus Christi. When I was in high school, Mike decided to leave the priesthood, and he moved to New Jersey. He remained close to my parents, but us "kids" lost touch with him, regrettably. I think it was an odd time for us, and I know I was not sure how to act. Heck, I wasn't sure how to act around anyone when I was 16.

Mike got married to a wonderful woman and had a beautiful daughter. On Monday, he died after a long battle with leukemia. When my dad told me the news via email, I sat at my desk and cried for a half an hour. I couldn't stop. I had no idea what a profound impact this man had on my little life, and I had no idea how much I missed him. He was one of those people who made you want to be a better person. It wasn't about church doctrine or rules, it was about God in the purest sense of the word and community. Mike was about helping people, and that's all he did.

Even now when I'm in my new church in my new city getting ready to start my new life as a wife and, hopefully soon, a mother, I'm flooded with memories of our retreats, our programs, our talks, our camaraderie. Our youth group was unbelievable, and I know I would be a much different person had I not had that in my life.

Am I going to get on a soapbox about the clergy? No. I will mention that my dad told me that Mike's former order is barely acknowledging his death. I won't go on about how un-Christian that is. It speaks for itself.

I simply want anyone reading this to know that there was a man named Mike Ryan who was one of the best human beings I've ever met. May God bless him and keep him.