A Time for Remembering

Christmas is a time of joy and happiness, a time to celebrate God's love for us and also love of family and friends. This special time for remembering motivates Stauros to recall our founder, Fr. Flavian Dougherty, C.P. It is seven years now since Fr. Flavian was diagnosed with a brain tumor, when he began the last lap of his journey, the journey that was to end on February 12, 1990. Seven years is a fitting time for remembering, it is a kairos time. In the Bible seven is the perfect number. The seventh year is the sabbatical year. And so, we celebrate the seventh anniversary of this significant person, Fr. Flavian Dougherty.

I have often asked you to tell me how you came to know about Stauros, how you came to be on our mailing list. Many of you responded enabling us to know more about you by placing you in your setting. But during this past year I came to know so many of you through an unsolicited though by no means surprising mode. The publication of Fr. Rian Clancy's book, Flavian Dougherty, C.P., Stauros in Chicago, 1981-89, brought forth a torrent of memories about Flavian. Nearly every person who requested a copy of the book wrote something about his or her friendship with Flavian Dougherty. Let me share with you some of these comments:

• From Maryland: "Fr. Flavian was a kind and loving priest, and a good friend."
• From Connecticut: "He was a grand person, so full of life." From Philadelphia: "The Flavian dynamism and smile are still missed."
• From Massachusetts: "Fr. Flavian was a close friend of our family, he watched me grow up, was supposed to celebrate my Nuptial Mass but was stranded by a storm. We visited him on our honeymoon and he finagled 2 tickets for the sold out Broadway show, The Sound of Music. His sources were limitless as was his spirit and his love for his Lord and for people who touched his life."
• From Illinois: "Fr. Flavian grew up with my father, he was there when Mom and Dad were married, he blessed our house, he was always there' for us."
• From New Jersey: "My husband, Flave and I were dear friends from grammar school on, our friendship solidified and Flave baptized our children, was present for First Communions, graduations, weddings, officiated at my husband's funeral, gave so much comfort, was our children's other father.' We experienced profound sorrow when God called vibrant, loving, charismatic, very human, Father Flavian home."
• From Pennsylvania: "My friendship with Flave began in high school and continued to grow, we never lost touch, he was a wonderful friend and compassionate person."
• From Buffalo: "He was one of God's special people."

Stauros is very proud of and grateful to its founder. Flavian laid the foundation, paved the way, initiated most of the Stauros programs, and his spirit still pervades this office. We want to remember him in a special way at the time of his seventh anniversary. This year Stauros is producing a series of television programs about various forms of suffering. We are happy to inform you that this project will perpetuate Flavian's dream. This series of dialogues will be dedicated to the memory of the founder of Stauros USA, Rev. Flavian Dougherty, C.P.