Sunday, January 3, 2021
Father Ernie was the pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel many years ago in Wickliffe, Ohio, the parish where I grew up and went to parochial school. He became pastor while I was away in graduate school, but I got to hear his homilies whenever I came home. I learned later that he had been a professor at Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland before being assigned to OLMC. So, it was a pleasant and unexpected surprise to see him again in Aiken, many years later, when he assumed temporary parish administrator responsibilities at St. Mary’s shortly after I moved (and he “retired”) here. Fr. Ernie’s homilies always began with a joke, usually self-deprecating, and then a quick prayer, followed by his intended message. No notes, seemingly completely off the cuff, but obviously well planned and on the mark. I will miss those corny jokes and thought-provoking homilies. Rest in peace, Father Ernie!
