I read with interest your announcement of the Foot Washing Conference to be held this summer. I am a retired Mennonite Minister in Des Allemands, LA. I would love to attend your conference. But that is not possible. Instead I will share this testimony:
Among my friends was Father “Mac” McCallion, the priest at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church in our town. He and I were planners of an inter-Faith Easter Service which included the local Southern Baptist Church, the Black Baptist Church, The Mennonite Church, Sanctified Pentecostal Church, Assembly of God Church and St Gertrude’s Catholic Church. I was directing a play, “Were You There, When They Crucified My Lord?” Father Mac was quite excited about what we were doing and confided in me that since we couldn’t share the Eucharist why couldn’t we wash each other’s feet. He said I’ll wash your feet and you wash mine. I agreed that it was a beautiful example from our Lord but what do you think about observing it like my congregation does? We Mennonites wash each other’s feet as parishioners washing each other’s feet. Father Mac was really excited about this.
The service was to be held April 18, 1984 on a Wednesday evening at the First Assembly Of God Church in Des Allemands. We are located in the wetlands of Louisiana south of the New Orleans airport. You can imagine the shock of the community to learn that Father Mac passed away in his sleep March 23, 1984. The stunned members of his congregation got in touch with me. We had been practicing our play and the plans for an ecumenical foot washing ceremony were common knowledge. Key persons at St. Gertrude’s contacted Archbishop Philip Hannan and explained what had happened. A specific request was made asking that a priest be sent from New Orleans who would honor the plans Father Mac and I had made and officiate as his substitute.
I remember meeting the priest. I don’t remember his name but I do remember that he asked me to lead that part of the service. I read the chapter from the Gospel of John where Jesus girded himself with a towel and proceeded to wash his disciples feet. I explained that we would place basins and towels throughout the sanctuary and the priest from New Orleans and myself would initiate the service by washing each other’s feet as a symbol of humility and servanthood. The surprise that followed was awesome. After a few moments of awkwardness the several hundred people in attendance began to spontaneously wash each other’s feet. Blacks were washing White feet, Catholics washed Assembly of God feet, Mennonites washed Baptist’s feet. As the service proceeded the Choir from St. Gertrude sang several foot washing choruses. There were hugs and tears. As I left the church that evening, person after person thanked me for the beautiful service. When will we do this again? It indeed was if Jesus Christ had walked among us and washed our feet. It was very special. What a beautiful memory it gives me of Father Mac and a wonderful preview of heaven on the Bayou!
Rev. Robert O. Zehr
http://members.cox.net/bobzehr
I read with interest your announcement of the Foot Washing Conference to be held this summer. I am a retired Mennonite Minister in Des Allemands, LA. I would love to attend your conference. But that is not possible.
Among my friends was Father “Mac” McCallion, the priest at St. Gertrude’s Catholic Church in our town. He and I were planners of an inter-Faith Easter Service which included the local Southern Baptist Church, the Black Baptist Church, The Mennonite Church, Sanctified Pentecostal Church, Assembly of God Church and St Gertrude’s Catholic Church. I was directing a play, “Were You There, When They Crucified My Lord?” Father Mac was quite excited about what we were doing and confided in me that since we couldn’t share the Eucharist why couldn’t we wash each other’s feet. He said I’ll wash your feet and you wash mine. I agreed that it was a beautiful example from our Lord but what do you think about observing it like my congregation does? We Mennonites wash each other’s feet as parishioners washing each other’s feet. Father Mac was really excited about this.
The service was to be held April 18, 1984 on a Wednesday evening at the First Assembly Of God Church in Des Allemands. We are located in the wetlands of Louisiana south of the New Orleans airport. You can imagine the shock of the community to learn that Father Mac passed away in his sleep March 23, 1984. The stunned members of his congregation got in touch with me. We had been practicing our play and the plans for an ecumenical foot washing ceremony were common knowledge. Key persons at St. Gertrude’s contacted Archbishop Philip Hannan and explained what had happened. A specific request was made asking that a priest be sent from New Orleans who would honor the plans Father Mac and I had made and officiate as his substitute.
I remember meeting the priest. I don’t remember his name but I do remember that he asked me to lead that part of the service. I read the chapter from the Gospel of John where Jesus girded himself with a towel and proceeded to wash his disciples feet. I explained that we would place basins and towels throughout the sanctuary and the priest from New Orleans and myself would initiate the service by washing each other’s feet as a symbol of humility and servanthood. The surprise that followed was awesome. After a few moments of awkwardness the several hundred people in attendance began to spontaneously wash each other’s feet. Blacks were washing White feet, Catholics washed Assembly of God feet, Mennonites washed Baptist’s feet. As the service proceeded the Choir from St. Gertrude sang several foot washing choruses. There were hugs and tears. As I left the church that evening, person after person thanked me for the beautiful service. When will we do this again? It indeed was if Jesus Christ had walked among us and washed our feet. It was very special. What a beautiful memory it gives me of Father Mac and a wonderful preview of heaven on the Bayou!
Rev. Robert O. Zehr ( Bob)