The last time I saw Father Ron Stanley

I may have been the last person (among our group of friends) to see Fr. Ron prior to his missions trip to Dominican Republic. So instead of trying to recall his countless works as a priest, missionary, mentor and friend, I would like to paint a picture of him when I came to visit him to drop off some donations for his last trip.

It was the 17th of May, 2012, a little over 6 pm in the afternoon. I pulled over the parking lot of the Church of Nativity in Midland Park, NJ and gave him a phone call. It turned out I was in the wrong parking lot, so I moved over to the next lot. As I pass by a renovated farmhouse adjacent to the church, he came out of the door with a big smile on his face. He was wearing a white shirt, it may have been one of those Catholic Center t-shirts. He was wearing a short, a white socks and a high-cut black boots. Around his neck was his usual mini-Cross that looks like its made out of crystal. It was hanging by a thin thread. It wasn't fancy, but when the sun hits the cross, it looks like its glowing and that is the first thing you'll notice around his neck. He had his usual clean beard (he reminds me of Bono from U2 actually), his hair was a lot more gray than the last time we saw him, but he still looks the same Fr. Ron to me. There were some visible light spots on his face, arms and legs that looks like bruises. But even with his leukemia, he didnt show any weakness, although he did mention that he gets tired easily. He brought me into the old farmhouse and introduced me to a college student who was helping him. He brought me to the basement and showed me the water barrels that he fills up with donations and afterwards they use it to collect rain water in the DR. There were still other donations lying around, but they could not fit all of them anymore. Then we went to an adjacent room where there were duffel bags and he asked me to put some of the stuff in there, and so I did. Afterwards, we went out to my car and he scoured the donations in the trunk. He was very meticulous in selecting the items, they were all new, but he picked the ones that they could use, and the smaller ones that matter the most, like pencils, erasers, wall clocks, some books, clothing...he picked the best of the bunch for the poorest of the poor. Once we all sorted it out, I gave the ones that passed the grade to the female college student with us and loaded it to her car.

I stayed for a bit because Fr. Ron wanted me and the other college student to see the house where he lives. It's funny how I worked in Mahwah for several years and I never get to see him, but now I am farther, I get to see him. We walked inside the beautiful compound and there was a nice garden area, a small chapel, a grotto, lots of trees and grass fields...he then showed us the  patio and the house. I was imagining our friends gathering in the patio for a reunion, even the grass field area is big enough to host lots of people. His house, next to the church was very nice. They have a nice kitchen and a nice dining room, and a living room with a fireplace (I just want to sit there a read books...lol). I believe there were several priests that were living there...we met some of them. His new place was a big difference from his more simple home at The Catholic Center in Rutgers. But despite his recent nicer living conditions, he never forgot about the poor and living simply. After that we went out and chatted a bit. He said he will be going ahead of the students to prepare the place for them and assign them houses and families. Being an avid cycling fan myself, we talk about biking together, he said that he likes to bike around the area for exercise and buying groceries. He said, that is his form of exercise to keep up with the physical activities in the DR and with the students. He also did say that it will be his last trip to the DR...maybe he knows something that I dont, but I dont see any sadness in his face, he was more excited to go and could not wait to leave for his last mission. After that, we said our goodbyes and wishing him well for his last trip, but instead of the normal handshake...I felt the urge to hug him...for the last time...maybe I was feeling it too...that it would be our last meeting...and so there goes Fr. Ron...

We love you Fr. Ron...pray for us in heaven. And please whisper to Jesus that we love Him. Till we meet again...