Oh Christ God, with the Saints, grant rest to the soul of your servant Joseph in a place where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing, but everlasting life.
I believe I met him one time. A friend of mine and I drove over to his church in Great Falls, for a reason that I do not recall. When I would hear people talking about him, rube that I was, I thought they were saying “Father Frank Avilla”, and did not understand why they found it necessary to use his entire name. Dona eis requiem / memory eternal!
Fr. Joseph was my pastor for several years and initiated my two eldest children into the Faith. A holy man who knew how to do liturgy right and deliver an amazing homily.
I was there when Fr. Hezekias was still just “Sabatino.” When I first started attending he pulled me up, stood me in the front with his family, and made sure I knew what was going on during the Liturgy (I’d been to Byzantine Liturgies before, but this was my first time at Holy T). I’ve imitated his example and any time I invite a friend to a Maronite Qurbono I have him/her sit with my family and I explain what’s taking place and why.
Fr. Hezekias was moderator for tonight’s God With Us Online webinar. He mentioned the passing of +Fr. Joseph and quoted him (this is from +Fr. Joseph):
“Where there is no expectation, there is no fulfillment.”
Fr. Hezekias encouraged everyone to start the Nativity Fast (Pylypka) this Friday Nov. 15 Look up God With Us Online - there’s a webinar on Dec. 18 re preparing for the Nativity of Our Lord.
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