Florida Catholic | Remembering Father Richard Schaefer

Remembering Father Richard Schaefer

FATHER JOHN J. PASQUINI | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Published: 07.31.08

On July 13, Father Richard Allen Schaefer was preparing to hear confessions for the parishioners of St. John of the Cross in Vero Beach. He had developed a reputation for being Vero’s “little Curé of Ars.”

Just before leaving for the church, he laid his head gently upon a pillow and entered into eternal glory. He died being what God called him to be: a priest, a healer of souls and “another Christ.”

The death of a friend reminds us of the very reason why the Son of God became incarnate.

Jesus came to share our journey and to show us the way to live and die authentically. Father Richard lived and died faithfully as a priest of God. Jesus reminded us that if we live in him, with him and for him, we shall enjoy our own resurrection to eternal glory in him, with him and for him.

Father Richard is now with his mom and dad in the sphere of perfection called heaven. He is closer now to us than ever before!

Just as he prayed for us and cared for us on this earthly journey, he is now doing so from heaven. Father Richard leaves this earthly journey saying to us:

“Death is nothing at all. Life changes, but never ends. Whatever we were to each other – that we still are. Call me by my familiar name. Speak to me in the easy way you always used to. Laugh as we laughed. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be the household name it always was. Life means all that it ever meant. I have not gone; I am closer to you now than ever before. There is an absolute unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of your mind and presence just because I am out of your sight? All is well. I am waiting for you. Someday we will all be together with God. Keep well, keep the faith. Nothing is past, nothing is lost. One blink of the eye and we will be together forever, for eternity with God. Life changes, but never ends.” (adapted from a prayer card, based on a sermon by Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918).

Farewell, good friend; farewell, good shepherd. Pray for me and for us all.

Father Pasquini is an author and columnist, and the pastor of St. John of the Cross in Vero Beach.

Return to Diocese of Palm Beach Front Page