Last spring, I had the great honor of participating in a Christ Renews His Parish Outreach Weekend in Madison, Indiana. One of the members of our outreach team was a wonderful woman of faith, with whom I had shared outreach weekends before. But, this was a special one, because it was her last. During our trip from Indianapolis to Madison, Indiana, Mary Theresa pulled out a CD with your music and witness on it. We alternately laughed and cried as we listened on the drive, and through Mary, I have enjoyed your music and message. It is interesting, my brother and his family live in Hammond, not far from Mandeville, and I have eaten at Nuvolare’s (that is probably not spelled correctly) in Mandeville. I’m getting off track. In April, Mary has hospitalized. She had experienced belly pain for a good while (and is very stubborn) and put off going to the Doctor, until they had to remove her gall bladder in a hurry one day. A few days later, after pathology revealed gall bladder cancer, she was back in the hospital having more extensive surgery. I visited her at that time, and she asked for our prayers for only one thing: that she would know how God wanted to use her during this time of illness, to know what His will is for her. I believe she knew already that this illness would take her life, and despite some very encouraging results to chemo in the summer, she died on Christmas Eve. I remarked to friends that it will not surprise me to learn some day that Christ wanted his faithful servant home with him on Christmas. And while she leaves a husband and two young children (her son is 11 and her daughter just had her First Communion this Spring – so she is about 7), I know that they will, in time, understand what a truly holy woman she was. I lost my Mom when I was almost 13 and, in time, I came to realize just how important her Catholic faith was to her. When I finally came to a fuller life in Christ myself, I was thankful for her faithfulness, her example, and I have no doubt about her fullness of life with Christ after her death. Please say a prayer for my friend, Mary Theresa Schwering, of Indianapolis. Perhaps the next time you have an opportunity to sing, “You Are Mineâ€, you will think of her. I know I do. Thank you for your beautiful music and witness.