What a story about an American hero of our times! Mychal was a special human being, opened especially to the suffering of others, to the forgotten folks, to the lonely, to those who had no one to care for them. On the way to a dinner for VP’s, he would take time to bless the beggar along the way and to give him something to eat. Very proud of his Franciscan habit, he wore it as a symbol of the poor man of Assisi after whom he patterned his life. His life was one long story of the unconditional love he saw in the life of Jesus.

Mychal was never ashamed to say that he was an alcoholic and needed the support of AA meetings. It was there he met some folks who became his lifelong friends. Nor was Father Mychal hesitant to acknowledge that he was a priest who was also gay and who was willing to open his heart and his hands to those whom society shunned. He often offered funeral Masses for gay men when they were refused burial by other priests and ministers.

The frequent prayer of Father Mychal was:”Lord, take me where you want me to go; Let me meet who you want me to meet; tell me what you want me to say, and Keep me out of Your way.” He died as he had lived, serving others; the date was September 11, 2001.