Monsignor Wil Davis speaks to St. Luke's on CRS - Sept 5, 2010

This weekend we welcome one of my oldest friends to St. Luke’s. I met Monsignor Wil Davis in Louvain during my third year of theological studies. Wil was already a priest and came to do a sabbatical year. We became fast friends as we experienced student life in Belgium. Student life included basketball games, seminars, trips to the local bars, and more serious things like retreats and pastoral outreach activities. Simply put we bonded and have been close friends ever since. We have traveled to many places in this wonderful world: California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece, Australia, northern Europe, Chile and the major European capitals.

For five years Wil was a missionary with Maryknoll in Chile. I visited him in 1994 and went by horseback to his most isolated communities. He has a real sense of adventure and awe in the presence of God. This weekend he will speak to us of the work of Catholic Relief Services. Everytime there is a crisis in the world CRS is there to help and assist. In many countries it improves the living standards of the people. As a Church we are called to be on mission. The Mass ends with the challenge, “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” This weekend we hear the story of a compassionate priest who for 46 years has responded to that challenge. Ministry has brought him to several parishes in Orange County, to seminary formation work, and now in retirement to further the missionary nature of our Church’s mission. Welcome to St. Luke’s, Monsignor Davis.

Fr. Bob Hawkins