DEAR EDITOR:

It was a great joy and wonderful blessing to have Bishop George V. Murry, S.J., lead the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown during the last 13 years. He truly embodied the qualities that Pope Francis urges all members of Catholic ministries to embrace: hospitality, temperance, patience, gentleness, reliability and goodness of heart. This is in addition to his evident faith and spiritual life. Any time he celebrated the Mass, the gathered congregation could be assured of a meaningful homily, a warm presence and a reverent expression of the mysteries of the Catholic faith.

His humility was a notable hallmark of his character. Of course, as bishop, he was a “servant” of the faithful, but in a more literal sense, he was willing to serve others in many direct ways, whether it was assisting an elderly person with a food tray at a church gathering or stooping down to talk to a young child after Mass and offering his miter for the youngster to “try on.” I personally witnessed him doing both and so many other acts of personal charity and kindness.

I am reminded of the profound passage Saint Theresa of Lisieux wrote in her spiritual autobiography, The Story of a Soul, “In your heart, mine found a faithful echo.” For me, and I am sure many others, this aptly applies to Bishop Murry. He was always steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in love. May he rest in peace.

TIM WAGNER

Youngstown