Time flies when you're having fun, or time flies when you're busy, or time flies as you get older, or just plain old tempus fugit. Most of us have heard these or similar expressions but IÕve just picked up a new one, at least for me: ÒTime flies when you're in great companyÓ (substitute wonderful, loving, caring, friendly and so forth).
It started for me with a call from Nassau telling me that the Catholic Archbishop of Nassau, The Rev Lawrence Burke, SJ, had accepted my invitation to be our guest at the villas for most of his pastoral visit to Abaco, the first time in many years for him to visit some of the places north of us in Treasure Cay. We had just acquired our new Pastor Fr Roger and assistant Pastor Fr Ramon, both from the Philippines and both appointed by the Archbishop. Our former Pastor, Fr Stan Kolasa, had transferred back to the US after over twelve years of very active service for all of Abaco. As the only Catholic priest, Fr Stan was much beloved by many and a champion of numerous causes which are bedrock to Christian philosophy. He was also known to deliver spellbinding sermons. A pastoral visit is just as it sounds and so the Archbishop decided it would be a good time, especially with two new priests from a distant land with different language and customs, to grace us with his presence.
By the way, 'Your Grace' is the formal way to address an archbishop but I have tell you that our Archbishop does not seem to me to be taken up the formalities of rank or titles. He rarely wore the mitre (the big hat) with which bishops around the world are associated, nor did he engage in the long practised ring kissing very much. He is, however, very grace-ious and easy to be with, which makes for great company.
Since we were all writing the book on this special occasion, IÕll share with you some of my experience in writing my pages of the book. It was quickly determined that while the Archbishop was accompanied by one or both of the two priests during the daily activities, he was staying by himself in one of our villas while I was also solo in my villa, since my family was away. We have a newly designated Parish Council, although we have been working together for many years under Fr Stan without that title. Anne Bootle is our Council President with Judy Kratch, Laura Davies and myself the other three members. All of this was formalised by Fr Roger at the time of his arrival. Folks like Frank Kratch, Janet Lang, Joan Knowles, Diane Solomon, Donna and Norman Claridge and their son Matthew, David Price, Marge Chance, plus many other parishioners, local Bahamians, second homeowners and so on, are also very active in supporting the needs of our Parish Council. Members Judy and Laura were off the Island on previously planned trips which left it to Anne and I as far as the council went.
When I looked at the schedule we had coming up and found that the two priests were to return to home base in Marsh Harbour each evening without the Archbishop, I decided to rent a nice car from OC at Cornish Rentals for the Archbishop and make the activities planned, since we were the only ones at the villas. I had the pleasure and honour of fixing early breakfast for the both of us each morning which gave us the benefit of some quiet time together before the day's busyness began. It was not only these quiet times but also when the Archbishop and Anne and I were coming and going in the car, plus a wonderful private dinner which Anne provided at her home for us on one of the evenings, that we could discuss some of the issues which were germane to his pastoral visit.
Now these were not secret meetings but anyone who has been involved
in any kind of organisation knows the value of being able to speak freely
when necessary. Even when I was involved in government with all of the needed
'Sunshine' laws, we were permitted to have executive sessions to discuss
(not vote on) legal, personnel, or financial planning matters. In summary,
the Archbishop had visited Treasure Cay with a dinner at the Touch of Class
restaurant one evening, taken the ferry to Man-O-War, the ferry to Green
Turtle, visited the Bahamas Star Ltd farm north of Treasure Cay, and of course
Marsh Harbour (did I skip Guana?). On each of these visits he had celebrated
mass. The last time I had the pleasure of his company was after the mass
Sunday morning in Marsh Harbour as he was getting into a car to take the
ferry to Hope Town. My drive back to Treasure Cay in the quiet of a Sunday
afternoon, gave me the opportunity to reflect on all the activities of the
previous days, and on how the company of this wonderful man had truly uplifted
my spirits and left me with some great memories. It was indeed a time which
had passed too quickly.