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| Father Paul Michael Mayer 1931-2013 |
Life is indeed a wonder… When we are young, new,
and experiencing the world around us for the first time, we are amazed with
everything... This amazement fades for many of us as we grow, hopefully to renew
itself, as we get older and begin to see more family and friends make their
final journey. It is at these times that many people start to once again see how
amazing and sacred our own earthly journeys are… It is at these times we begin
to understand how little time we really have... Like the flash of a firefly in
the night…
So, here I sit contemplating what an amazing journey life is, having just returned from the incredible memorial service of an extraordinary man I had the honor to call friend, comrade, spiritual brother, and mentor, Father Paul Michael Mayer…
So, here I sit contemplating what an amazing journey life is, having just returned from the incredible memorial service of an extraordinary man I had the honor to call friend, comrade, spiritual brother, and mentor, Father Paul Michael Mayer…
I cannot help but to smile as I think about
Father Paul… He certainly knew how
blessed we all are to be here on Earth and share this sacred moment in time
together.
Father Paul Mayer was a young Jewish boy who lived in Germany during the
rise of Nazism. Most of his family was killed in the Holocaust. In 1938, he along with
his mother, father, and brother were able to escape this horror and come to the
U.S. As a teen he converted to Christianity; Paul then became a Benedictine
monk and an ordained Priest in the Roman Catholic faith. He always considered
himself a Jew, however, often stating Jesus was also a Jew. Paul was relieved
of his commitment to the Church by the Vatican when he fell in love with and married
a nun, Naomi, he met while traveling to Mexico. He always considered himself a
Priest, continuing his spiritual service as an ordained Inter-Faith Minister. During
his days as a monk, much to the dismay of the Church hierarchy, he traveled to
Selma, Alabama to meet with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1965 voting
rights campaign.
Father Paul also had an immense respect for the World’s Indigenous Peoples. He considered “Black Elk Speaks” a holy book. He worked with indigenous Spiritual leaders around the U.S. and beyond. Father Paul was also a fierce advocate for children, social justice issues, and the environment, especially climate change. He considered himself an Earth Guardian.
Father Paul also had an immense respect for the World’s Indigenous Peoples. He considered “Black Elk Speaks” a holy book. He worked with indigenous Spiritual leaders around the U.S. and beyond. Father Paul was also a fierce advocate for children, social justice issues, and the environment, especially climate change. He considered himself an Earth Guardian.
My dear friend Pamela Kraft introduced me to Father Paul in the
early 1990s. We became close friends and served together on the board of the
organization Pamela founded, Tribal Link Foundation. On a personal level, he
offered me much support and council during turbulent times. He helped me to see
the connection between political and spiritual understandings, and the
importance of teaching and activism. Paul seemed to always have a smile on,
except of course when speaking about injustice. Then his face would change,
become very serious, and warrior-like.
During his memorial this evening, his audacity was mentioned.
Many of us were very amused with this truth. It was Father Paul, for example,
who arranged for me to meet and speak with Fidel Castro during one of his last
visits to the U.S. Paul met Fidel after he
and others were arrested for defying the U.S. embargo to bring bibles and
humanitarian aid to Cuba. Fidel was
impressed with his passion and commitment.
Father Paul’s commitment to social justice spanned half a century, as he
was even active recently climbing a fence and then being arrested with a new generation of youth activists at Occupy Wall Street. As one can imagine, there are so many tales to
tell about his life.
Father Paul succumbed to a battle with brain cancer in November
2013 at 82. He is survived by his son Peter, daughter Maria, and his grandchildren.
Thank you Peter and family for blessing me with the opportunity to open
tonight’s incredible memorial service and share some words and a Taino song for
Father Paul.
Father Paul, my friend and spiritual brother, I
miss your physical presence, but I know you are with all of us in Spirit. You
have touched many lives on your incredible life journey, and I for one am a
better human being for knowing you. Yours was
indeed a life well lived. 
