A History of WWCCR

Our Beloved Friend
by Virginia King

Our Bookkeeper, Bea Fitzpatrick, received the ultimate healing and went to her final reward on February 7, 2005. Bea was 82 years old when she died.

Bea worked at the WWCCR office until she had her stroke last November. She came to work for us in 1987 after she had retired from her work with the unions. She was really a gift from God to us. She would ask me if we didn’t want to find someone younger to do the job, because she worried that she might not be doing it well enough. But we couldn’t have asked for a more efficient or careful bookkeeper and I always reassured her of that. I also tried to reassure her that when she was ready to really retire, we’d find someone to take her place. But she seemed to enjoy the work and, as I said, she was really very good at what she did. And she took a huge burden off my shoulders. Through all the years that Bea worked for us, the money was always very tight. Many were the months when we didn’t know how we would pay our bills. And I know this was a big concern for her. I used to tease her saying, "Bea I don’t have to worry about the money because you’re doing the worrying for me."

But above all, I think she kept working all those years because she really believed in the mission of WWCCR. She wanted to do her part to make the ministry flourish.

Bea’s introduction to Catholic Charismatic Renewal came in the early 70’s, when she was baptized in the Holy Spirit during a Life in the Spirit Seminar. Bea had been suffering from depression and was under treatment by a psychologist at the time. But after being baptized in the Spirit, she realized that she had received tremendous healing and relief from the depression. Ever since that time, she has had a desire to help other people experience the same kind of healing and freedom that she experienced.

A Poem to Jesus The morning comes, and I awake With anxious heart; I undertake To do the work that I must do. And then I pause, and think of You. You came to save, to teach, to share Your goodness, love and all Your care. You healed the sick of body and heart. From us You said You’d never part. The loving heart You’ve shared with man, The words You spoke, "With Me, you can!" Alone, my path is never clear. But Jesus, as long as You are near My day is right, I need not fear. All things can be, when You are here. I close my eyes; I give You praise, I thank You for the coming days. Your peace, Your love, flows thru my will I feel my heart grow lighter still. It surely bursts with love for You. The joy, the peace, flow softly through. Today is new, Your gift to me, I will not fear, because You’ll be Close by my side, guiding me. And Jesus, now I really see Without Your love, I could not be. This poem was written by Bea Fitzpatrick from a inspiration in prayer in 1978.

She was part of the first charismatic prayer group at St. John Vianney Parish. She was involved along with Pat & Rudy Corwin and Earl & Marie Holzknecht and so many others. She participated in Life in the Spirit seminars. She prayed with people for healing. She had a beautiful, gentle wisdom that came from God and she used it to make other people’s lives better. She used the gifts that God gave her in every arena of her life: to strengthen her marriage to Tom; to help her pray for her children and grandchildren, all of whom she loved very much; to reach out to others through the Stephen’s Ministry; to proclaim the Word of God as a lector; to be a friend to all of us.

Speaking of being a lector, Bea had said that she would never have been able to do that if it weren’t for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Before that, she was just too shy and self-conscious. But once she had the courage to try it, she loved it. I know that she really looked forward to every opportunity to read at Mass and she prepared the readings very carefully.

One time she got to church and realized that she had two different colored shoes on. She was embarrassed and thought that she couldn’t get up in front of the church that way. She even whispered to Tom to run home and get the right shoe for her, so they would match. Tom, of course, wouldn’t do it and told her not to worry about it. She continued to be anxious, but before it was time to go up to do the reading, she felt like God was saying to her, "Don’t worry. The people are not here to look at you. They’re here to look at Jesus."

That was a specially graced moment that really helped her. She could laugh at herself, and not take herself too seriously. And at the same time, she was very serious about her faith and about pointing other people to Jesus as the source of strength and happiness.

And Bea really didn’t take herself too seriously. She had a great sense of humor. She came to work two days a week and we knew that those would be days of laughter. She often brought in a new joke or a funny looking animal picture to show us. Bea loved to tell a good story or joke! She would get a mischievous twinkle in her eye and share it with you for a good laugh. At the WWCCR office, we celebrate staff birthdays by having a potluck and exchanging funny cards. We could always count on Bea to bring the most outrageous card.

The other thing we do is pray for one another on our birthdays or at times of difficulty. Bea always prayed very sensitive and honest prayers. We know that from her new home in heaven, she will continue to pray for us.

She was more than a co-worker. Bea was an excellent role model, someone that we all admired and learned from. We could tell that she was filled with the Spirit of her God. She brought into every situation a positive outlook, good humor, and common sense. Her dazzling smile is one of the things we will remember the most! She had an adventuresome spirit! She had remarkable grace and dignity in her bearing, she was a classy lady, yet laughed easily at herself and the circumstances of life.

She was a confidante, a big sister and a beloved friend to all of us. It’s still hard to realize that she is gone. We will miss her a lot until we are reunited with her in heaven.