A Visit Newsletter 2021
-
-
A Personal Reflection on Life and Death
In December 2019 my sister Yvonne died the day after her and her twin sister's 73rd birthday. Shortly after that, Fr. Bob Jones, CM, a friend, priest/chaplain and mentor, died in one of our hospital waiting rooms. Then, COVID hit us all. In January 2021 my eldest niece Jeanne died of COVID followed a few days later by Aunt Norma & her best friend Sue, then nephew Jeff. My brother Frank Ponnet died in July and, in September, we lost our friend John August Swanson.
These eight amazing people will not be around the family holiday tables. My pain, separation and tears are real. My daily practice of praying the Litany of Saints at the bedside of those dying has become a very personal moment—naming saints of the Church, family ancestors, and these friends and family.
During the pain and tears, I believe they are alive and cheering us all along. Yvonne’s gift of joy and dance continues to inspire me. Fr Bob’s “bag of many things”; Aunt Norma and her friend Sue and their “Peruvian Jell-O” and family stories; Jeff caring deeply for Lisa, Michael and Erin. My brother Frank was such a friend and man of faith who loved Dawn, Stacey and Luke above all while his spirituality was a role model for me and touched thousands of lives. John Swanson was such a gentle prophet and artist. His colors and stories glow in our St. Camillus renovated chapel. I was honored to lead their memorial services. All their living continues. All their loving continues. All their faith continues. All their hope continues.
As we gather around family tables with empty chairs, we believe they are still with us, forever.
Fr. Chris Ponnet -
Saint Camillus Chapel Rededication, October 24, 2021
BackForwardPauseCaption -
Save the Date! Sunday, April 24, 2022
Our Annual
Saint Camillus Center Awards Luncheon
at theSan Antonio Winery
In person and via Zoom -
Los Angeles County Burial of Unclaimed Persons, December 1Welcome to this holy and somber place where LAC has gathered since 1896 to remember and honor. 2021, we gather during a week of Thanksgiving, Advent, Hannukah and World AIDS Day. Again, we gather to care. Again, we gather to remember. Again, we gather to honor. Again, we gather to pray.
Welcome to this annual blessing of the remains of those who have died and whose cremated remains have now been laid to rest. They lived among us and died 3 years ago. Family, relationships, finances, medications, mental and physical illness, addictions, and just human tragedy bring us to this moment.
People from around the world and our own land, join us in this sober moment of human lives disconnected for various reasons and we together as a community and as people of various spiritual paths raise our voices in honor them in their lives and in their deaths. Join us in these brief moments to pause in your own place of spirit or energy, the place of fear of being forgotten or relationships needing healing. We pause in music, song and word we say they are remembered, they are honored, and they are not forgotten.
Fr. Chris Ponnet, gathering words at the 2021 Los Angeles County Burial of Unclaimed Persons -
Together in 2021
- 35,000 Chaplain Visits
- 400 Emergency Calls Responded To
- 52 ZOOM Masses
- 10 CPE Students
- 3000 Students Hours at LAC+USC
- 7000 Patient Visits by CPE Students
- 550 Quilts for Act of Kindness Day
- 1780 Persons Unclaimed Burial Interfaith Service
Let us have a good journey together! May we be pilgrims in love with the Gospel and open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit. 
