Just hours after Pope Francis died Monday, at age 88, it just so happened to be time for the monthly gathering of the St. Mary’s Seniors women’s group at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, in Los Gatos.
Shortly after noon, the ladies reflected on the passing of the first Jesuit pope.
“A lot of us were touched—the fact that he was able to celebrate Easter,” said Zina Lou Dyer, a parishioner there for seven decades, “—and in his Popemobile, besides.”
At 93 years young, she’s seen her fair share of popes.
She liked how John XXIII helped the church progress, she said, adding she feels Francis carried on with these advances.
“We had a wonderful, open pope,” she said, referring to the most recent one. “He was welcoming to all.
‘we had a wonderful, open pope’
—Zina Lou Dyer, parishioner
“We are all thinking of all the cardinals who have to go to Rome—everyone under 80,” Dyer noted. “My message is that, I would invite people to pray for wisdom and prudence for the cardinals.”
The death of the pope didn’t exactly come as a surprise to these local women.
“He looked feeble,” Dyer said.
“It was his time,” Marcia Green chimed in. “Life is fragile.”
Green said she’s optimistic about the future of her religious tradition.
“The Holy Spirit will continue, as always, to guide the church,” she said. “We’ve been around for 2000 years.”
Sharon Martin, the organizer of the group said their mission is “service, support, friendship and fun.”
“It brings a group together who can make a difference by volunteering,” she said.
The next St. Mary’s Seniors women’s group meeting will be held on May 19 at noon at St. Mary’s. Attendees are asked to bring a bag lunch. Coffee will be provided.
