A personal note from Alexander

In Memory
Fr. Paul Keenan
1946 - 2008

On Tuesday morning - Fr. Paul Keenan died suddenly and unexpectedly. He collapsed at Grand Central Station in NYC - and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

I have been a regular guest on Fr. Paul's show, As You Think, with the final appearance being just this past Sunday. You may listen to the audio recordings of these conversations by clicking in the Interviews section at www.quadratos.com

Fr. Paul had been on air in New York City for 25 years - first with WABC and then in 2006 he switched to The Catholic Channel airing on Sirius Satellite Radio. He also was head of communications for the Archdiocese of New York City. Last week he celebrated 35 years as a priest.

As I came to know him - on and off the air - he was a wise and gentle soul whose counsel and humor was a gift.

Not only was I on air with him for an hour Sunday - but he and I exchanged a series of emails on Monday about the upcoming July show - a draft of his endorsement of Quadratos and his plans to introduce Quadratos to wider media in New York City.

The suddeness of his departure brings renewed meaning to our last spoken words, "We'll speak in July, God-willing. Yes, God-willing."

The funeral liturgy is today - Friday, June 13th - on what would have been Fr. Paul's 62nd birthday.

His final email to me - received Tuesday morning - expressed regret that we ended the conversation on Sunday without noting the 45th anniversary of Pope John XXIII's death (June 3, 1963) - and John's 'three secrets' to the Christian life.

Allow me to share the 'secrets' with you. The first two are quotes from John XXIII - the last is one said about him.

1. "The secret of everything is to let yourself be carried by the Lord and to carry the Lord."
— on the occassion of his installation as Pope

2. "The secret of my ministry is in the crucifix ... Those open arms have been the program of my pontificate: they mean that Christ died for all, for all. No one is excluded from Christ's love, from Christ's forgiveness."
— on his deathbed

3. This was the secret of his personality: he loved people more than power.
— said of John XXIII by Yves Congar

Truely these were Fr. Paul's secrets as well.

Please remember him in your prayers - and remember all those who grieve this sudden loss.

In gratitude and in Jeru-Shalom God Speed Fr. Paul -

Alexander Shaia