It’d been two weeks since my mom started chemo and the effects of her cancer were showing. On Friday morning, I got up for daily Mass. My mom wanted to go too. After she finished showering, she said she needed to clean the shower. I told her I’d take care of it, because I was ready and I didn’t want her to feel rushed.
When I looked at the shower, I saw clumps of her hair. I knew hair loss was typical when going through chemo and usually happened two to four weeks after starting. I was aware she was losing her hair. That’s why she’d been wearing baseball caps. However, seeing it on the shower drain and floor hit me. It was a visual reminder my mom was sick. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t, because I didn’t want my mom to see or hear me. It took all the strength I had not to.
Anointing of the Sick
When we got to the church, we saw Therese, so I introduced her to my mom. She told us she’d let Father Konopa know we were there. After Mass, my mom and I waited in our pew holding hands and Father Konopa came over. I introduced him to my mom and he asked her if she’d like to be anointed. She did. It was special to be there with my mom when she received those graces. Seeing my mom receive Anointing of the Sick, took the focus off the physical effects of her cancer.
Preparing to Cantor One Last Time
A few hours later, I went back to Mary, Mother of the Church to practice some of the music for Mass on Saturday afternoon. I saw Father Konopa and he seemed surprised my mom was in La Crosse. I told him I hadn’t said anything, because I didn’t know if she was going to feel up to coming given the effects of her cancer.
My parents had planned to leave on Friday, but my mom wanted to stay to help me get more stuff organized and come back to Richfield with me on Saturday after Mass. After my dad left with some of my stuff, I went to buy my mom a couple of hats and a shirt so she had something to wear for Mass.
I was glad my mom was able to hear me sing at Mass, despite the fact that she’d heard me many times over the years. Thankfully she held up fine, despite the fact that her cancer effects were showing. During the Sign of Peace, Father Konopa told me he’d talk with me after Mass.
Saying Good Bye
After Mass I said good bye to Joseph and Therese. Plus, I gave my music back to Mary Jo, who’s the music director at Mary, Mother of the Church. Mary Jo was my accompanist that weekend and I met her that day. She told me she’d pray for my mom. My mom and I also met Deacon Sage. Then, my mom and I went out the front entrance to say good bye to Father Konopa. He hugged us and told my mom he was bummed she was taking her daughter, but he understood. There was a Baptism at Mass that afternoon, and one of the family members was talking with Father Konopa when my mom and I came out. The family member told me to “keep singing.” I thanked him and then my mom and I left. I was surprised and humbled. It’s amazing how much your involvement in a parish can impact others.
God Gives Us What We Need
After my mom and I got back to Richfield, I emailed Father Konopa to thank him for anointing my mom and for all the support he’d given me. He told me God puts the right people and events in your life and he was glad to be part of the journey. Seeing his response made me think about how God had worked in my life after my mom’s cancer diagnosis. You never know what saying, “yes” might lead to.
If I hadn’t agreed to cantor, I probably wouldn’t have met Therese and Father Konopa. I probably wouldn’t have emailed the prayer chain to ask for prayers for my mom, if I hadn’t joined the parish. If I hadn’t emailed the prayer chain, Therese probably wouldn’t have known who I was. Plus, she wouldn’t have known to tell Father Konopa why I was moving back home. If Father Konopa hadn’t known who I was, he probably wouldn’t have called me. My mom probably also wouldn’t have been anointed by Father Konopa if I hadn’t met Therese.
