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Father Gerry Bartholomew was enjoying a conversation with new Lakes members Spencer and Sherry Reed and their teenage boys, David and Justin. The Reeds lost a child to cancer and were trying to organize a charity event for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where their Jeffrey lost his final battle with the dreaded disease. The family was touring the vast campus of Lakes, enjoying the beautiful spring weather. The boys were tossing a football. The ball eluded one of the boys and rolled up to Gerry. He picked it up and launched a perfect spiral to David. David glanced at Justin with an expression of surprise at Gerry’s quarterbacking proficiency.
“Nice throw,” Justin marveled. “Where did you learn to throw a football like that?”
“Oh,” Gerry explained, “I played football at the seminary, and I coach our parish team in the local junior football league. You guys should try out. We have many other activities, including camping—my personal favorite—swimming, baseball, and choir. Can you guys sing? We also do a lot of charity work, especially with kids your age. Charity is one way God gives us to demonstrate our love and compassion for others. It is but one of the many miracles of pleasure God wants us to experience. After all, love of man is love of God. Don’t you agree?
“Doing what we love makes us happy, and I adore bonding with happy teenagers. We have a close-knit group. Much of my time here at Lakes is spent with our young people, and I love it. We’d love to have you join us.” Gerry was thoughtful and spiritual. When he spoke, one could almost hear the voice of God.
The boys promised to consider Gerry’s offer, and their parents were excited by the prospect of their boys participating. Gerry walked them to their car and waved as it disappeared down the road leading from the parish to the main highway.
Gerry Bartholomew was recently the assistant pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish in Ohio. He was thirty-six, approximately six feet tall and well built. He had dark brown, almost black eyes. One could hardly make out his pupils. He had long brown hair and a pale, almost milk-like complexion. He had two major passions: camping and teenagers. His sermons were powerful and memorable. He was charming—everywhere he’d been, parishioners loved him. The father of a fourteen-year-old boy once loaned him his camper to take his son and some other boys on an overnight camping trip. Activities and interactions with teenagers were the highlights of his priesthood.
Gerry didn’t want to leave Ohio or St. Patrick’s, but the church hierarchy decided it was time for him to move on. He fought reassignment. His work with parish teenagers was unappreciated and misunderstood. Gerry Bartholomew was sure he was going to be assigned out of parish work, perhaps to do charity work overseas, or to counsel the frail or sick.
In fact, his personnel records contained copious notes with strong recommendations that he receive these types of assignments. To his surprise, the notes were ignored. Gerry was placed at Our Lady of the Lakes. He was in Michigan. There were lush campsites all over the state, excellent sites within twenty-five miles of the parish. There, he met the Reed brothers as well as Jacob and Kenneth Tracey. Gerry Bartholomew was beside himself with joy.
