People send me news articles all the time. The rarely touch my heart as this piece did. It’s about a seriously ill 11-year-old boy, Brett Haubrich, whose lifelong wish came true. But Brett’s wish didn’t involve a dream vacation or meeting a famous celebrity. No – his wish involved being a priest for a day.
Suprisingly, this amazing story also has a tie to Cross Catholic Outreach. One of our board members, Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, helped make Brett’s dream a reality. After learning of the boy’s special wish, Archbishop Carlson invited the boy to participate in two Masses — the Chrism Mass and the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
It’s an amazing story and the photographs are heartwarming. They show a sixth-grade boy not just standing on the sidelines but actively participating in priestly duties. All of this came to pass because the Archbishop took a personal interest in a make-a-wish request and fulfilled the dream of a child.
Certainly, it’s enough that Archbishop Carlson answered the prayers of a young boy, but in my mind, this act actually highlights a greater truth. In Archbishop Carlson we see the power of compassion and the value of responding to the specific needs of others. For those of us who know Archbishop Carlson’s heart for the poor through his role at Cross Catholic Outreach, his sacrifice and service come as no surprise. This is clearly a man who daily models a Christ-like approach to addressing the needs of others.
-Chris M.
