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My Faithful Friend

Mrs. Grace Bausch is the sister of our Fr. Barnabas Barker, T.O.R. who passed away on February 3, 2004. This poem was written by her during the month of June 2000. She wrote this beautiful poem about her brother while he was still living and it was read at his funeral Mass.

Father Barnabas was the Catholic chaplain at the Mental Health Institute in Mount Pleasant, Iowa for many years. In a Province correspondence, Father Barnabas wrote:  “I had a great desire to help the mentally ill and God gave me that joy.”  Father Barnabas also served for many years as the chaplain at the Mount Pleasant Correctional Institute. He retired from active ministry in 1997 but continued to volunteer to offer Mass for the prisoners. Father Barnabas will be fondly remembered for his uniqueness, sense of humor, and frankness.  He lived a quiet life among his beloved animals, his friends and the outcasts of society that he served so faithfully for many years.

Fr._Barnabas.jpg (3627 bytes)

My Faithful Friend

When Heaven's gates were finally closed
and all were safely gathered in
God looked around at all of those
who mingled so loveingly close to Him.

Men of honor, Kings and Queens
Preachers, held in high esteem
Presidents, leaders, men of science
all standing there in His great presence.

The little people stood in awe
of all the greatness that they saw,
and humbly bowed their simple heads,
to hear just what the Father said.

He called a name that no one knew,
and said "I have great love for you.
You represent the silent few
whose service hardly any knew.

You reached in love to those in need,
whose voice no other heart would heed
and stopped amid a busy pace
to wipe the tear drops from their face.

You fed the poor with never a thought
and heard the words the Master taught,
while others sought the world's spot light
you sought to live a servant's life.

And no one gave you great applause,
nor singled you out for grand awards.
Few understood, and few could see
you did it for your love of Me."

And midst the crowd of worlds great men,
He called out women, called out men
who no one knew, yet each one cared
for the love of the Savior these people shared.

And the savior's voice rang clear and loud,
it echoed through the gathering crowd,
they hear it from beginning to end
"Well done my faithful servant, friend."

So if you feel that no one knows
the thoughtful many things you do,

just wait until the end, my friend,
and you"ll hear Him say the same to you.

By: Mrs. Grace Bausch
June 2000

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