Today, we celebrated Fr. George Lane, SJ, who is now beginning his new role as President Emeritus of Loyola Press. Fr.George has been at Loyola Press since 1969 and has served as President since 1989. I had the honor of offering a few words at today’s celebration and here’s what I said, making reference to Fr. George’s wonderful practice of stopping by EVERY employee’s office/cubicle each and every day:
Fr. George, many of us today have made reference to your practice of stopping to say hi to each of us every day. Well, you need to know just how much that meant to us and that your visits were much more than just a “warm fuzzy.” I’m reminded of the story in the Acts of the Apostles and how, when St. Peter would walk through the streets of town, people would lay the sick on a bed or pallet so that, as Peter walked by, even his shadow might fall upon them. They believed that the power of grace that was present in Peter was so powerful that it even extended to his shadow and that if touched by his shadow, they would be connected to this grace and thus, transformed.
Fr. George, every morning at Loyola Press, each of us would eagerly await that moment when your shadow would fall upon us, giving each of us a sense of being connected to the grace that flows through you and through Loyola Press, enabling us to recognize that we are connected to something much greater than ourselves. For that and for you, we are deeply grateful!
Ad multos annos, Fr. George Lane!
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