Bishop Edward Slattery’s Final Goodbye: A Letter to His Flock (Father Simon Says)

Alright, grab a tissue for this one. 😢 On Father Simon Says, Fr. Richard Simon shared a super personal and emotional letter written by his dear friend, Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa, just days before he passed away. This isn’t your typical goodbye letter.   Bishop Slattery wrote this heartfelt message days before slipping into a coma, and honestly, it’s hard not to get emotional. Fr. Simon even had to take a breather while reading it. The bishop reflects on being on his deathbed and is just overwhelmed with gratitude for all the gifts God gave him throughout his life—especially his priesthood and his time as the Bishop of Tulsa. He’s like, “Look, I didn’t deserve any of this, but Jesus still gave me everything."   He talks about how he’s loved and celebrated the Eucharist since he was a kid growing up in Chicago (thanks to his Catholic parents 🙌). Now, facing death, he’s realizing the full weight of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross—something he only now understands as he’s about to meet Jesus face to face. 🕊️   Get this: he even thanks God for the gift of death. Yup, you heard that right. He’s at peace, knowing that through death, he’s going to experience the love of Christ in a way that’s beyond this world. His final prayer? That God would welcome him as His beloved child and bring him into eternity.   If you ever wondered what it looks like to trust God completely, this is it. ✝️    We offer our sincere condolences to his friends, family, and the Diocese of Tulsa. You're always in our prayers.      The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.