Influences of the Religious
“The Anglican Diocese
of Guyana is one of eight within the Providence of the West Indies. Its cathedral is St. George’s Cathedral, Georgetown. The diocese came into being on August 24,
1842, when William Austin was consecrated the first bishop.”
Wikipedia, July 5, 2017
It was at St. George’s Cathedral I
was confirmed by Bishop Alan Knight (1937–1979), who
later became Archbishop of the West Indies (1950–1979). As a teenager what intrigued me most about
this process was the time I had spent studying the Gospels. Communicants had to present the notes on the
Anglican teachings to our priest. On the
day of my confirmation Archbishop Knight arrived for this ceremony at the
church. Gathered were members of
families, guests, and other attendees for the Mass. It was at this service I was initiated with
prayers, hymns, laying of hands, and received Holy Communion as a full-fledged
member of St. George’s.
After this rite I continued attending Sunday school classes
and became a choir boy. These were commitments
that continued through my high school days.
But by the time I was at the Guyana Teachers’ College (GTC) my
attendance at St. George’s came to a halt.
I still prayed for God’s guidance, but felt I wasn’t
missing anything being absent from church.
However, once I emigrated to the United States to pursue studies on the
mass media I never attended another church in Oregon.
For two years I was engrossed in my studies while at the
University of Oregon, Eugene. Just
before graduation as I started dating my wife Mary, I got to know her uncle
Father Joe Beno, who was a Catholic priest.
Fr. Joe was a rather interesting religious personality, and became one
of my role models. Fr. Joe graduated
from Scappoose High School, worked two years at Bonneville Power
Administration, before serving in the U.S. Army in the European Theatre during
World War ll. When he was discharged he
enrolled at the University of Portland where he earned an undergraduate degree. Having felt the called to a religious life he
entered Mt. Angel Seminary, and in 1957 completed his studies at St. Edward's
Seminary. On May 18, 1957, he was
ordained by Archbishop Edward Howard at St. Mary’s
Cathedral. The following day he said his
first Mass at St. Wenceslaus Church in Scappoose. Fr. Joe later served the Archdiocese of
Portland either a Pastor or Assistant Pastor in parishes throughout the
Archdiocese at St. Joseph’s Salem, St. Mary’s
Eugene, St. Michael’s Oakridge, St. Henry’s
Dexter, Sacred Heart Medford, and St. Monica’s Coos Bay before
retiring in 1993.
Fr. Joe had a passion for traveling, was proud of his Czech
heritage, a lifelong learner, and led international pilgrimages. He loved a party and was gifted with a
positive outlook. One of his favorite
sayings even when he was retired at the Blessing House in Tigard, Oregon, was
“Everything is beautiful.” He died
peacefully on May 6, 2017.
Another priest who also made an impact on my life was Father
Michael Ferguson. Father Ferguson was an
Episcopal priest at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Virginia Beach, where my
wife Mary and I attend church. After 30
years he retired as a Captain from the U.S. Naval Service. He was married to his wife Carolyn for 57
years, and was previously a priest at St. Anne’s Episcopal
Church, Appomattox, VA. It wasn’t
only Fr. Mike’s sermons that were enlightening, but he was a
gifted administrator, who cared for his parishioners. So in 2016, when I was admitted to Princess
Anne Hospital in Virginia Beach, suffering from a Unitary Tract Infection
(UTI), he visited, prayed, and anointed me.
On June 11, 2016 Fr. Mike passed away peacefully. His memorial service was held at Galilee
Episcopal Church, Virginia Beach, and his inurnment with military honors was at
St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.
Fellow parishioners of the Church of the Holy Apostles have
supported and blessed our family. They
do so while serving in their various ministries. But Mary and I do our part in social
ministry, where we shop for manna, and mail exam boxes to college students, and
provide for the homeless at our church’s shelter in
the summer. But since early 2019, I no
longer consider myself a Christian at our church. I have discovered being a religious
naturalist more akin to my spiritual goals as described in my published monograph
Dfurstane’s Spiritual Beliefs (2020).
@ https://www.bestprimalessence.com
(Dfurstane) Website
Erwin
K Thomas
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