A Personal Reflection from Fr. Brian:

I had an experience that really shook me back in the late 90’s. I was in a parish in southern California at the time as Pastoral Associate and as a religious brother. My father had just had his second heart attack in less than a year back in Indiana and had been recuperating from the first heart attack living at my sister’s house. It became a burden to her so I asked my Provincial if I could go back to help her with my father. My Provincial gave me permission to go back to Indiana, do ministry and be near my father.

I left California and returned to Indiana to live at my father’s house while he was living with my sister and to look for some ministry to do.

While at my father’s house late one afternoon I was working on an arts & craft project in the basement and just had a lamp on, the only light in the room. Apparently, the neighbor behind us thought I was a burglar. She didn’t know I was staying there.

As I worked, there came a very loud knock on the basement door. Of course, I was dressed in my casual clothes. I went to the door and opened it to see a large, tall sheriff pointing a loaded gun directly at my head! I thought, O my God! I’ve never had a loaded gun pointed directly at my head before. I got really nervous, not knowing what this sheriff was going to do. He told me to step outside while continuing to hold his loaded gun pointed at my head.

I stepped outside, shaking. He asked, “Who are you?” I said, “I live here! This is my father’s house!” He looked at me suspiciously and asked to see some ID. I took out my wallet and showed him my religious order ID card. He said, “The lady that lives behind you called about a burglar in the house.”

I assured him that I was living at my father’s house while he was recuperating from a heart attack.

Well, to make a long story short, he eventually believed me and the situation deescalated. He apologized and left.

I can understand the fear that people have with law enforcement from this episode in my life. The fear I felt that day with a loaded gun pointed directly at my head will never go away. Let us pray for greater understanding between law enforcement and the public in regards to police-ing our communities.

Blessings, pono and pule!

Fr. Brian Guerrini, ss.cc.
Priest
Molokai