Freeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel Thread ~ CARDINAL JOHN J. O’CONNOR ~ September 26, 2010

The Canteen Crew ^ | September 25, 2010 | Serving The Best Troops In The UNIVERSE AND BEYOND!

[Brad’s Gramma]

 

 

 

 

CARDINAL JOHN J. O’CONNOR

Cardinal John J. O’Connor passed away May 3, 2000 at the age of eighty. Much has been said and written about this remarkable man of faith. Most obituaries mentioned that he served as a Navy Chaplain, but failed to mention that at one time he headed all Chaplains in Vietnam, and then later served as Chief of Chaplains with the rank of Rear Admiral. As Cardinal for New York he reached out to people of all faiths and to people who had no faith. He cared for the homeless, AIDS victims, the destitute, as well as influencing the halls of power as a moral voice. When learning of his appointment to New York City, instead of basking in the media attention that attends such an appointment, he disappeared for three weeks to learn Spanish in an immersion program so he could better reach out to New York's Hispanic community.

He possessed a keen, intellectual mind and was able to clearly articulate complicated ideas in a way everyone could understand. He was kind and understanding, but no pushover, and he did not suffer fools gladly. It was said to be no picnic being a staff officer for him when he was Chief. He demanded excellence and he got it. Yet, he was tougher on no one than he was on himself. He routinely slept only four hours, using the other night hours for prayer, study and writing. His influence on the Chaplain Corps and the Navy reaches us to this very day. He forced the Navy to take a hard look at how it was doing on civil rights issues and brought about much-needed reform. We are all beneficiaries of many of the ideas he pushed through to become policy.

He was a remarkable man who deserves our deepest gratitude. This vignette from the life of Cardinal John J. O'Connor tells a lot about who he really was...

Four of the most liberating words that exist are "I’m sorry" and "I forgive." Here is a poignant reminder of how true this really is. . .

JIMMY CAGNEY’S FAREWELL

Jimmy Cagney, the famed actor, left his faith as a young man. His father took ill in a flu epidemic in 1918. He was dying and the family sent for the Priest. He never showed up. This incident remained with young Jimmy, and it was a spiritual roadblock that the actor could not overcome. Mr. Cagney died in 1986. At the funeral Mass in New York City, Cardinal John J. O’Connor (former Chief of Naval Chaplains) stepped forward to give the closing prayer. He then broke with tradition and said these words to Willi Cagney, Jimmy’s 86 year-old wife: "I feel a real obligation to say this. I want to tell you how sorry I am for any incident with an unkind Priest, anything that hurt your husband." Cardinal O'Connor then leaned over and kissed Willi. There was audible sigh in the congregation and many people were weeping, including political dignitaries and Hollywood celebrities.

Chaplain Mitch Schranz

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[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Click the pic for ….

Hall of Heroes: Finnis Dawson McCleery

NOTE: CANTEEN MUSIC
Posted daily and on the Music Thread
for the enjoyment of our troops and visitors.

[Grunthor]

We won. I am still feeling heart palpitations over it. What an ugly win. But I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss any time!

[blackie]

Thanks Kathy!

{{HUGS}}

[Kathy in Alaska]

Congratulations...you are right, it wasn’t pretty, but it was a win. LOL!