D. Gill Ring 5/9/36–2/10/16   Photo by Mike Harp

What makes a great teacher? Witnessing to the truth. 

During my days as a student, I was blessed with many excellent teachers. In elementary school and high school, my favorite teachers taught English, religion and history. In college and graduate school, my best teachers taught English, philosophy and theology. Their influence on my life and work was powerful. Whatever gifts I now possess as a writer and consultant, while certainly God-given, were shaped and formed by the women and men who taught me everything I know and everything I believe. 

The best teacher I ever had was Gill Ring. I only had him in class for two semesters my senior year at Saint Meinrad. (He taught philosophy there for more than 45 years). But he continued to teach me outside the classroom in conversations that covered every subject imaginable, and in the process we became lifelong friends.

Why was Gill a great teacher? He was able to share with his students (with me) his own struggles—to understand, to accept, to believe. He was transparent in his search for truth, and he absolutely refused to accept false or shallow substitutes. 

To some, he appeared arrogant or rigid in his thinking. Others feared his powerful intellect which could easily intimidate the faint of heart. But he was like all truly great thinkers—driven by an insatiable desire to discover the truth of things. 

In fact, he was one of the kindest men I’ve ever known. He would stop whatever he was doing to help someone in need, especially someone (like me) struggling with inner demons, doubts or fears. 

We were friends for 45 years, and during this time he never stopped teaching me—sometimes with his words and stories but always by his example. His love for his wife, Gail, his conversion to the Catholic Church, and his determination to help students become authentic, critical thinkers inspired me and many others to listen carefully and then decide for ourselves. 

His final lesson came at the end of his life when because of a stroke he couldn’t say what was on his mind. It must have been pure hell for a man like Gill (a professional talker) to be tongue-tied, to be prevented from articulating his deepest thoughts and most basic desires. But he continued teaching—in the classroom as long as possible and in his daily life until the day his heart gave out and he died. 

Gill Ring was a great teacher. His entire life was a witness to the search for truth—in his marriage and family life, in his philosophy classes, in his friendships and, ultimately, in the way he let go of his considerable ego and surrendered to the mysterious will of God. 

There came a time in my young life when I said to myself in all seriousness: When I grow up, I want to be a man like Gill Ring. That’s still true today. 

Gratitude is contagious. Spread it freely!

At the very top of my “gratitude list” is my wife of almost 39 years, Sharon Ann (Hudec) Conway.

I could write a book (and maybe I will some day) about my love and appreciation for my beautiful, intelligent, talented and loving wife, Sharon, but for now here’s just one excerpt from this “gratitude story.”

Many years ago, when our children were little, I was given the task of getting the kids ready and the car packed for our annual Christmas trip to Cleveland while Sharon, a nurse, worked a half-day. Once Mom was home, we all jumped in the minivan and headed north. About half way there (definitely past the point of no return), Sharon asked me if I’d remembered to pack the Christmas presents that she and the kids planned to give Grandma and their aunts, uncles and cousins.

“What presents?” I said, knowing instantly that I had screwed-up big time.

Sharon and the kids were devastated. All their carefully wrapped presents were still at home where I left them. And there was no turning back.

After a few minutes of very uncharacteristic silence in the car, Sharon called her mother to say that we were well on our way and would arrive soon. “Unfortunately, we have a problem,” she said. We left all the Christmas presents at home, so we won’t be able to participate in the gift exchange. We’ll have to mail everyone’s presents when we get back.”

I was horrified, embarrassed and feeling more than a little foolish. But Sharon’s words to her mother struck me. She said, “We left the Christmas presents at home.” Not “Dan left the Christmas presents at home.”

It hit me then as never before. She believes that we are “one flesh” for better or worse, in good times and in careless, insensitive times like this.

Thank you, Sharon, for all the love and support you give me—and for putting up with me for nearly four decades. I love you.

Family is what Thanksgiving is all about. 

I’m thankful for my deceased parents and grandparents and all the aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who are no longer with us.

I’m thankful for my wife (Sharon) my children (Suzanne, Catherine, Margaret, Mary and Danny), my granddaughter (Jocelyn), all my in-laws (the Hudec family), my many aunts, uncles and cousins, and all my friends and colleagues. So many people, so many gifts to be thankful for.

Thanks be to God for blessings that far outweigh my troubles.

Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy’s nephew Brian keeps his uncle’s memory—and his stewardship message—alive this Thanksgiving. 

As many of you know, my uncle served the Catholic Church as a priest for just shy of 40 years. He was ordained in Chicago. His vocation brought him to serve as the Bishop of Great Falls-Billings, MT. At the time of his death in 1997, he served as the Archbishop of Seattle. 

He truly loved his vocation. One of his greatest skills was communication. His use of the written word enabled him to make meaningful connections with all the members of his flock - young and old, rich and poor, liberal or conservative. 

Throughout his almost 19 years as a bishop, he wrote a weekly column for the diocesan newspaper. All told he published more than 650 columns. For whatever reason, some of his most meaningful written works were penned during Thanksgiving time. 

The attached column was published on November 20, 1983. With Thanksgiving taking place tomorrow and the craziness of the Christmas season just around the corner, I wanted to share this column with you. 

I wish you and all of your families a happy and healthy Thanksgiving filled with many blessings. 

Brian J. Murphy

Montana Catholic Register November 20, 1983

Reflections

by the

Most Reverend Thomas J. Murphy

Some November Thoughts

November is a unique time for many people. It seems to give out mixed messages of life and death, hope and fear. Maybe the grey skies and the first signs of winter create that environment which make us aware of our human fragility. But that is interrupted by the encroaching announcement of holiday sales and Christmas songs. For those of us who remember well the sudden death of a young president, November is always a reminder of the uncertainty of life itself and the futility of living for the future if we forget the gift of the present moment.

November begins in the aftermath of ghosts and goblins who usher in this month of mixed messages. As Christians, we greet all the saints of heaven, but the Church immediately calls our attention to those who died and who wait for their entrance into heaven. Next week, the secular world asks us to pause and to celebrate Thanksgiving, a reality which is ours as Catholics each day in the Eucharist. November usually ends, as it does this year, with the beginning of Advent and the opportunity to relive the whole mystery of salvation in a new liturgical year.

So much is crammed into such a short period of time. In so many ways, November is a
reflection of life itself. It marks the beginning and the end of time; it celebrates life and death, thanksgiving and hope. A brief glance at the endless miles of land in Eastern Montana could well prompt the initial observer to remark that the land is devoid of life. But we know full well the teeming forces of nature are preparing to burst forth into new life and energy in but a short time.

I come to this month with all the human awareness of the messages which November offers. But hopefully I come as a person of faith who recognizes the need for the Lord, the importance of the Church, the great gift of the Eucharist, and the importance of people. I come with a sense of hope that as individuals and a community of faith that we are open to renewal and reconciliation, that we are able to deepen our relationship to the Lord and grow as disciples of Jesus.

For some, November is a dreary month. For me, it is a graced time as any time is when we open ourselves to the presence of God. Happy Thanksgiving!

Wisdom from Nashville Bishop-Elect J. Mark Spalding. From a homily November 12, 2017 (the day before he learned that Pope Francis had called him to be Bishop of Nashville):

1. Take death seriously.

2. Choose your friends carefully.

3. Know that “no” is often the most loving thing you can say.

Bishop-Elect Spalding (right) with his good friend Archbishop Chuck Thompson of Indianapolis. Both are Kentucky natives formed in the American Holy Land and blessed with pastoral gifts that inspire others to cast off the sin of indifference and be passionate missionary disciples.

“The wonderful parishioners whom I have served know of my constant reminder to them and to myself: ‘To whom much is given, much will be required,’ ” Bishop-elect Spalding said during the press conference. “I pledge to demand much from myself as I work with the priests, deacons, consecrated religious, seminarians, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Nashville to inspire a zeal for the Gospel, serve those in need, promote vocations, provide lifelong formation through strong Catholic schools and parish formation programs, call forth the gifts of our youth and young adults, provide a place of welcome for persons of every race, culture and language, and support families in their vocation as schools of love.”

Bishop-elect Spalding told the crowd at the press conference, “I’m a passionate preacher. I love preaching. You speak the word in a way that is reverent but also in a way that inspires others,” he said.

Bishop-elect Spalding said he will take his episcopal motto from Mary’s hymn of praise, the Magnificat. God has lifted up the lowly.

“With God’s grace and Mary’s yes as my guide, I will seek always to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.”

Still amazed by the news that our pastor, Father Mark Spalding, has been appointed Bishop of Nashville by Pope Francis. It’s a great call. Fr. Mark is a superb pastor and an outstanding preacher. He will be sorely missed at our parish, but the Church in Nashville will be greatly blessed by their new bishop’s ministry. 

A child’s smile is one of the most beautiful, hope-filled gifts we can receive. Woe to us if we cause our children to suffer in mind, body or spirit!

The innocence and vulnerability of a child is a precious thing to be cherished and enjoyed. But it is also a grave responsibility. All of us—parents, family, community and society as a whole share responsibility for nurturing, protecting, educating and rearing our children from conception to adulthood. If we neglect this sacred duty, individual children suffer but so does society.

Aren’t you tired of reading about the outrageous sexual behavior of powerful men? 

I am. As a man, a husband, father and grandfather, I am deeply disturbed by the seemingly endless revelations of totally unacceptable actions (and talk) by men in high places in our society. 

What’s going on here? I’m afraid it’s evidence of serious moral decay. Men who can’t control their impulses are not men. They’re boys whose emotional growth is stunted and whose character is deeply flawed. No mature man forces himself on a woman, another man or a child! No man who has reached physical, emotional or mental maturity allows his aggressive sexual urges to dominate his behavior toward others. These are men with serious problems. They need help. They do not belong in positions of authority or power over others. 

In recent years we’ve seen that sexual predators can be found where we least expect them to be—occupying positions of trust and confidence in the Church, in government, in the entertainment industry, in business and in fact anywhere there are opportunities to exercise power and influence over others. 


It’s tempting to blame the so-called sexual revolution of the 1960s for this outbreak of sexual abusiveness, but those of us who grew up in the 1950s experienced its powerful behind-the-scenes effects. Sexual abuse is out in the open now, and that’s a good thing, but it doesn’t make it easier to stomach. 

We need to rethink our understanding of the meaning and purpose of human sexuality. And many of us—especially rich and powerful men—-need to change the way we express ourselves sexually. 

St. John Paul II offered us all a profoundly simple, life-affirming way to regard the mystery of human sexuality. Through his theology of the body, he reminded us that holiness and spirituality have a physical dimension. We express who we are as persons through our sexuality, and we show our reverence and concern for others by treating them with genuine care and respect physically as well as emotionally. 

There is no excuse for the abusive behavior of powerful men (or anyone). The sooner we make this clear to all, the healthier we will be as individuals and as a society.