Letters to the editor
‘Just Love The Guy’
Monica Little, Abbotsford, BC
Volume 30 Issue 4, 5 & 6 | Posted: July 7, 2016
Confident that the ICN would carry an article on Father Jack Sproule who just passed away, I don’t know if your paper has a little section for my words of admiration for this good old friend that so many were privileged to know, but if not, it is all the same worth sharing with you individually. I am sure you have many positive thoughts of him also. If you do want to include this in your paper, I don’t mind feedback on your part before doing so.
Confident that the ICN would carry an article on Father Jack Sproule who just passed away, I don’t know if your paper has a little section for my words of admiration for this good old friend that so many were privileged to know, but if not, it is all the same worth sharing with you individually. I am sure you have many positive thoughts of him also. If you do want to include this in your paper, I don’t mind feedback on your part before doing so.
Father Jack became our parish priest in Nanaimo in 1980 and joined a diverse church community there at the top of the hill for 5 years. He fit in well and facilitated many adult members to blossom in their own spiritual journey. He left our church to go to Sidney leaving behind many wonderful memories such as the joyful Sunday morning celebrations he partook in and to which he encouraged everyone to add their tidbit to add to the rejoicing, and such as the individual encounters and discussions each of us had with him. These are my brief thoughts of Fr Jack from a person who experienced his wisdom and openness in her ‘forming’ years as a teenager.
As I think of the many visits he blessed us with at the Little farm, especially for Sunday Roast Beef & Yorkshire pudding dinners (he was a wise man), I have these fond memories of Father Jack that I am sure will ring for many. It was great to have Jack to be part of a catalyst of the times that allowed our minds to blossom because he said in his simple way that it was okay to not agree, it was okay to ask questions.
He had his questions too but seemed to express optimistically his recognition or hope for the downfalls of the Catholic community rooted in the Catholic regiment or however you may want to define it.
Sometimes we discussed just un-Catholic things that were still part of a spiritual enlightenment, but most importantly he had his opinions and he ‘wondered’ along with us.
And he was just a fun guy with a great sense of humour. He was a good listener, who looked solidly into your eyes and really absorbed what you had to say, appreciating your opinion and making you feel that you indeed had rich valid thoughts. He was in a position of power and influence yet he turned around and gave us that power and opportunity to influence better outcomes for all. Just love the guy!
Monica Little was part of the young folk singers-guitar group in Jack’s time with the St Peter’s parish in Nanaimo
Monica Little, Abbotsford, BC