It's such a little thing - a memento no larger than a jumbo egg - but gifted by a man with a heart as huge as the moon. Archbishop Patricio Flores gave me the white ceramic medallion at our conversation on June 26, 2001. I interviewed Flores as well as other bishops throughout the U.S. about lay preaching in the Catholic Church, the subject of my D.Min. paper. His parting words were: "If there is anything I can do for you and the word of God, let me know. I will do it."               

       Our working relationship started in 1989 when I was invited to join the Catholic Lay Preaching Guild, a cohort he initiated so that lay people would be spiritually formed, homiletically trained, and ready to preach sermons as needed, per canon law, in the shortage or absence of priests. He indeed was a prophet, making sure that the word of God would be available to all. Our CLPG met with him in his small apartment semi-annually, graced by his warm hospitality. He usually served carne guisada and beans that he had prepared. We were welcome at the same table in the same apartment at Assumption Seminary where Pope John Paul II also stayed during his 1987 visit. It made no difference; Flores was a friend to all, regardless of nationality or status.

       Archbishop Emeritus Patricio Flores was a lover of people - all people - a humble man who was a friend and a teacher. He had no classroom but his lessons remain written on my heart. In a conversation, shortly after being held hostage for 9 hours (June 28, 2000) by a man with a passport problem claiming to have a hand grenade, I asked, "How did you do it? (Remain peaceful and safe)" to which he replied, "I prayed, I kept my sense of humor, and I told stories."