Gina who?

Tonight I told Joe that Gina had called.   His reply was “Gina who?”    It’s the first time for this.   I said you know Gina from church who I worked under.    “Oh yes I know she was umm, yeah I remember”

Gina who????    I don’t even know how many years I worked as a catechist for Gina, how many years we had meetings, we talked, we prayed together.   I can’t even really remember the first time I met Gina.   She has been such a strong faith role model for me for so long.   

When my kids were little Gina was the High School Faith Formation leader eventually she became in charge of the entire program, my DRE, Director of Religious Education.    It’s kinda funny now but there was a time I never wanted to teach high school religious education.   I didn’t teach 9th grade but Liz has a horrible experience that year and convinced me to teach her 10th grade class.  The very first class I had kids who had no idea who the Angel was that asked Mary to be the Mother of Jesus.  I knew Liz knew the answer and wouldn’t let her speak.  Eventually I told them it was Gabriel.   One girl yelled “Oh My God!!!   There are boy angels!!!”    I was on the second floor of the Parish center and I knew if I threw myself out the window it wouldn’t do enough damage.   Gina would still make me come back the following week.  

Gina was my mentor for so long.   I would go to her with so many issues.   One night I was ready to bang my head against a wall.   It had been such a bad night.   Gina told me that night what has sustained me ever since.  My job is not to make a difference today or even this year.   My job is to plant the seed to the best of my ability and let God water it along the way.  I may never see the fruits of my planting but that doesn’t matter.  I cannot begin to tell you what a weight that lifted for me.   At that moment and ever since I realize all i can do is my best today and hope these kids are fed along the way.  

Gina has been such a strong, incredible faith influence in my life.   I have been on weekend high school retreats with her.   I have planned with her and she has been a very influential person in my life.   It seems all who know me in my faith life know who Gina is particularly my family.    To have Joe say to me tonight “Gina who?”  was a huge moment of loss.   A moment that can only make me want to cry for what we have lost and are losing.