I stopped by the Chapel at Saint Francis today to say goodbye to an old friend. Fr. Christian Oravec was the first person I can ever remember who seemed larger than life. Tall and broad-shouldered, Fr. Christian left you with the first impression that he was bulletproof....the feeling that you had met a superhero disguised as a priest! This man walked with purpose; neither slow, nor fast, while emanating a sense of intention, the feeling that he, himself, was the force of nature who was making things move around HIM. As quick with a joke as he was contemplative, Fr. Christian was never at a loss for words, nor did he use words carelessly. Sitting in a high-level meeting or in a noisy cafeteria with this man in black, there was no question who was in charge. Fr. Christian came from an era when people swore loyalty to employers as a reciprocal agreement, a time when employees looked to their leaders not just as power brokers but as role models: people who could teach them things. It was not uncommon to see Fr. Christian casually sitting with students around campus or at lunch, just to see what was on the minds of the younger set. As a freshmen here in the fall of 1991, this man welcomed me to a place that would become my second home. Seeing him today in quiet repose instills a sense of gratitude in me for the good life Ive enjoyed since arriving here so many years ago. For this reason, and so many more, Fr. Christian will remain a key role model in my life. Rest in peace, Fr. Christian, and thanks for the memories.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 20:38:47 +0000
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