The Mission Continues
Dear Friends,
This October is going to be a very special and deeply personal month for me.
We are preparing to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death, or Transitus, of St. Francis of Assisi. For those of us who follow the Franciscan way, the Transitus is not simply a remembrance of a saint who died eight centuries ago. It is a reminder that a life faithfully lived can continue to bear fruit long after we are gone.
This year, that message has become especially personal for me.
On September 14, my Franciscan mentor and friend, Tom O'Loughlin, passed away. His funeral will be celebrated this Friday, October 2 at St. Mark, Huntersville—the eve of the Transitus of St. Francis.
I find that timing deeply meaningful.
Tom helped me understand that being Franciscan is not simply about admiring St. Francis. It is about trying to live the Gospel in the circumstances in which God has placed us—with humility, simplicity, fraternity, peace and a willingness to serve.
One of the greatest gifts a mentor can give us is not simply knowledge, but a desire to carry something forward.
That thought has been very much on my heart as we look at the future of Carolina Catholic.
But our desire to bring the truth, beauty and hope of the Catholic faith to Catholics throughout the Carolinas remains.
Perhaps that is one of the lessons St. Francis continues to teach us.
We are not called to control every detail of the future. We are called to be faithful to what God places before us today—and to trust Him with what comes tomorrow.
As a Secular Franciscan, I am especially grateful for the people God has placed along my own journey. Tom was one of those people. His example, friendship and guidance will remain part of my life and vocation.
And perhaps the most meaningful way to honor those who have gone before us is to continue the work they helped us begin.
So as we enter this special Franciscan anniversary, I ask you to pray for Tom, for his family and for all those who have helped build Carolina Catholic.
And I ask you to continue walking with us.
We may not know exactly what the next chapter will look like.
But the mission continues.
May St. Francis intercede for us, and may the Lord give us the grace to faithfully carry forward what has been entrusted to us.
Peace and all good,
David
David M. Papandrea, OFS
Chairman and Founder
Carolina Catholic Media
