Father Barnabas Offline

God is real: I wish everybody had the honor of knowing a person like you Dash. You were one of the best things wireclub had. You will be greatly missed. May our Lord give us peace for i am sure that you are already at rest for eternity. May we be able to shake hands in heaven one day.

locksley69: Several weeks ago when Father Barnabas announced Dash's bone cancer, coupled to a prognosis of no more than 2 months, I felt instantly drained of emotion and wondered why God wd take him in what was promising to be a happy retirement.

But that emptiness was soon filled with work. Dash wanted me to help him choose elements of liturgy for his funeral Mass. He definitely wanted the majestic Protestant hymn, "How Great Thou Art," and said, from beyond the grave he'd curse anyone who even hummed that theological mishmash, "On Eagle's Wings"!

Fr Barnabas told me that Dash shd get his pastor and the proper parish committee involved with his funeral Mass. I relayed this to Dash and he snorted a bluntly derisive reply. He paused. then added, "If you ever quote me about this you better say instead, 'They'll just mess it up,' or 'They'll just screw it up.'"

Dash was insistent that the Greek of the Kyrie, and Latin responses of the Ordinary of the Mass be chanted, primarily so his granddaughter, Agnus, wd hear her name in the three-fold invocation to Jesus as the Lamb of God, "Agnus Dei". He thought it important for her to hear the source of her name.

Speaking of names, the first time I called the hospice and introduced myself, Carolyn seemed to know my name, While speaking to Dash, he mentioned that he gave one of his granddaughters, who was present, a copy of the cookbook I wrote. In the background I heard Carolyn say, "Oh! He's that guy." The next time I called, when Carolyn answered I said, "Hi Carolyn. It's that guy." She laughed appreciatively then handed the phone to Dash saying, "It's that guy again.".

Whenever we spoke on the phone time seemed to melt away. One night Carolyn told Dash to get off the line cuz we'd been talking for 3 hours. "It's 10 minutes to midnight and I want some sleep!" Another time Dash called when I was in the middle of ordering a pizza. "Oh good Lord, call me back. You're doing something important right now!"

As sad as we are at his passing, Dash, an inveterate punster, was forever open to wordplay and always enjoyed laughter. Hope I've provided a few chuckles.

roosen790: My condolences. Dash was such a nice and friendly man. Hope he rests in peace and his soul are with our Lord for eternity