Sister Colleen

A cheap blue rosary with a plastic white crucifix hangs

From the rearview mirror of my car

A gift you sent me through Sister Colleen

On St. Catherine’s Day this year

Dispatch sent me a call to pick her up

To take her to Mass

I always love my rides with Sister Colleen

She must be at least 90 years old if not past it

I fold up her walker and gently help her into the backseat

She likes to teach me about the Saints and

She starts talking to me about St. Catherine

A Doctor of the church

Known for her writings

Sister Colleen’s knowledge is immense,

Her presence is calming

She is soft spoken

And she radiates a love and spirituality hewn through years

and a lifetime of meditation, prayer and study

My grief for you the night before was so overwhelming

Tossing, turning and crying out

I prayed so hard for a sign that you were still with me

I could always feel you but I just didn’t know if it was you

or my tremendous desire to keep you close and not let go

As we pulled into the Parish parking lot,

I was sad our conversation was ending

When Sister Colleen touched my shoulder

And handed me a small baggie

With the simple rosary inside

Chills ran through me

My scalp started to tingle.

I felt the tears about to start again

I knew it was from you

I knew you had sent this to me

I was born and raised Lutheran

But you were such a big, strong Irish Catholic man

So full of love and words

You were the dreams that built my heart.

Your faith was so strong.

You wrote, sang, and spoke of rosaries so frequently.

I knew this was from you

The beads on the rosary were blue,

the same blue as your eyes

And I knew, I knew, I knew

You were there in the car with me

And that your love for me did not die with the cancer that

Destroyed your mortal body.

Love does not die

- Julie O'Hara

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