Holy Vatican See
22-04-2005, 04:55
It has been a very difficult year for us. Those who remember the little group of players who used the "Holy Vatican See" nation here on Nation States may be saddened to know that in February, we lost one of our dear brothers.
Terry had a wonderful sense of humor, fun, and joy. He was responsible for 'recruiting' two others to create the "Holy Vatican See" in an attempt to provide Nation States with a "Church" analog that accurately reflected our experience of the real-world Church and how it might respond in the fantasy situations imagined on Nation States. His great enthusiasm and considerable writing skills were exercised and engaged by involvement in Nation States; he loved the imagination and creativity it provoked. And the friends and acquaintances here (you know who you are) that made us all so welcome were warmly remembered in his prayers and in his last illness.
Our 'collective' includes Americans, Irish, South African, and Canadian-Italian players. Most of us are scholars, teachers, or social workers; the common thread that brought us together is knowledge of the Catholic Church and interest in both international affairs and writing. Some of us have more formal connections with the Church, others have not. Terry was an Irishman and a member of a religious Order who had come to America many years ago, and he worked and shared a house with two other members of the 'HVS collective.' He was a deeply devout Catholic who worked hard to reconcile his own progressive views and adventurous spirituality with the more orthodox demands of his work and life in the Church.
Last year, some of you may remember, Terry suffered what was then believed to be a mild heart attack. In fact, the attack was a secondary symptom of an undiagnosed cancer that had already affected his spleen and circulatory system. By the time the diagnosis was finally made, the prognosis was poor but he always believed he would have as much time as he needed to accomplish 'whatever I'm here for,' as he put it. He had, indeed, achieved much in his life, and touched thousands of young people and their families over the years as teacher, coach, and spiritual advisor.
Nation States and his friends here were often in Terry's thoughts even as his health deteriorated. He admonished us many times 'not to abandon NS,' but to 'go back and stay in touch.' Although all of our members have been overwhelmed with Terry's illness and/or other professional and personal matters in the last many months, we've continued to maintain the collective's e-mail account and attempted to keep the Nation alive here on NS. There hasn't been the time (or the spirit) for more, but as that changes we hope that some of us will be able to resume some activity on NS.
We apologize for not briefing you sooner and keeping in touch during this time; some of you would certainly have wanted to communicate best wishes and support, we know. Time has been a great challenge; some of us have had to curtail a number of personal and professional responsibilities. The powers of the collective are much diminished and will remain so for some time. But you are in our thoughts and prayers often, and the See will (we hope) find some time over the approaching summer to join in a storyline or two.
With affection,
the Players of HVS
Terry had a wonderful sense of humor, fun, and joy. He was responsible for 'recruiting' two others to create the "Holy Vatican See" in an attempt to provide Nation States with a "Church" analog that accurately reflected our experience of the real-world Church and how it might respond in the fantasy situations imagined on Nation States. His great enthusiasm and considerable writing skills were exercised and engaged by involvement in Nation States; he loved the imagination and creativity it provoked. And the friends and acquaintances here (you know who you are) that made us all so welcome were warmly remembered in his prayers and in his last illness.
Our 'collective' includes Americans, Irish, South African, and Canadian-Italian players. Most of us are scholars, teachers, or social workers; the common thread that brought us together is knowledge of the Catholic Church and interest in both international affairs and writing. Some of us have more formal connections with the Church, others have not. Terry was an Irishman and a member of a religious Order who had come to America many years ago, and he worked and shared a house with two other members of the 'HVS collective.' He was a deeply devout Catholic who worked hard to reconcile his own progressive views and adventurous spirituality with the more orthodox demands of his work and life in the Church.
Last year, some of you may remember, Terry suffered what was then believed to be a mild heart attack. In fact, the attack was a secondary symptom of an undiagnosed cancer that had already affected his spleen and circulatory system. By the time the diagnosis was finally made, the prognosis was poor but he always believed he would have as much time as he needed to accomplish 'whatever I'm here for,' as he put it. He had, indeed, achieved much in his life, and touched thousands of young people and their families over the years as teacher, coach, and spiritual advisor.
Nation States and his friends here were often in Terry's thoughts even as his health deteriorated. He admonished us many times 'not to abandon NS,' but to 'go back and stay in touch.' Although all of our members have been overwhelmed with Terry's illness and/or other professional and personal matters in the last many months, we've continued to maintain the collective's e-mail account and attempted to keep the Nation alive here on NS. There hasn't been the time (or the spirit) for more, but as that changes we hope that some of us will be able to resume some activity on NS.
We apologize for not briefing you sooner and keeping in touch during this time; some of you would certainly have wanted to communicate best wishes and support, we know. Time has been a great challenge; some of us have had to curtail a number of personal and professional responsibilities. The powers of the collective are much diminished and will remain so for some time. But you are in our thoughts and prayers often, and the See will (we hope) find some time over the approaching summer to join in a storyline or two.
With affection,
the Players of HVS