Jack Gorsuch and Rick Schroeder
Cherry Haisten
Our contemplative community in the Northwest has lost two more of its early leaders whom many of you will remember.
Jack Gorsuch, dearly beloved of so many and responsible for launching so many on the path of centering prayer, died suddenly on February 15 in Milwaukee. Services were held on Sunday, February 26, at Chapel-St. John's at the Lake, 1840 Prospect Avenue, Milwaukee, WI. Here are a couple of links with more information and the possibility of sending a message to Jack’s family:
http://www.northshorefuneral.com/2017/rev-john-jack-phillip-gorsuch/
http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/jsonline/john-phillip-gorsuch-jack-condolences/184182146?cid=full
An obituary also appeared in The Seattle Times on February 19. I have attached the biography sent out by Bishop Greg Rickel of the Diocese of Olympia where Jack served for many years and mentored both clergy and laity. What the biographies don’t mention is that Jack, along with Paul Peterhans who founded Contemplative Outreach Northwest, was instrumental in bringing Fr. Keating here to Seattle in the late 1980s and thus launching the centering prayer movement here in our area.
Rick Schroeder served as coordinator of Contemplative Outreach NW in the mid-1990s when much growth was occurring in CONW with the formation of numerous centering prayer presenters and numerous prayer groups around the Sound. I am attaching what little information I have about Rick for you. Here is a link for his obituary which I have not been able to get to work. Maybe you can: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/frederick-schroeder-obituary?pid=1000000184244743
I am sorry not to get this information to you before the memorial services for these two leaders took place. I’m sure that their families would still appreciate messages from you and memories you have to share. Feel free to respond to this email with your memories too.
Let us keep these men and their families in our prayers.
Father of all, we pray to you for our brothers Jack and Rick, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servants Jack and Rick. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, sheep of your own fold, lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming. Receive them into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen.
Again for all of us this prayer from John Henry Cardinal Newman:
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done. Then in thy mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.
With gratitude for these lives and many blessings for all of you,
cherry
Cherry Haisten
415 16th Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98112
206-726-3074 home
206-909-1736 cell