The Rev'd Dr Louis Tarsitano

To friends and correspondents:

Greetings in this Epiphany Season, January 7th.

Yesterday I told you about Lou Tarsitano (see below) and asked for your prayers for him, his wife, daughter, two sons and family (his mother lives with them).

Today I was able to speak with him in the Savannah Hospital where he is receiving pain relief and care but no aggressive medical action to deal with his heart and his kidneys which are failing. He is expecting to be placed under the care of the local hospice (1/2 mile from his home) and even be cared for at home for as long as he lives, be that a day or week or whatever.

He is very conscious of being a pilgrim on his way to the City of God, an exile going to his heavenly home and a forgiven sinner looking forward to the heavenly banquet and the vision of the Father in the face of Jesus Christ, the Saviour.

I told him of the high privilege that has been mine to share a lot of thinking, debating and writing with him over the last decade on the Anglican Way and such basics as the Catechism and I thanked him for sharing much with me and others.

Two faithful priests in Savannah have visited him for sacrament and prayer and one or two laymen have also gone along to offer their prayer and concern. Several others are on their way to Savannah to see him. The nurse said that he seemed to so many friends.

His relatives have arrived from Chicago and all the family is gathered in Savannah for him. His wife, to whom I spoke also, is acting with grace and faith.

Unless there is a miracle it seems that Lou will be called home very soon. His doctors seem surprised that he is lasted this long, but he is in the hands of the Lord, who gives and takes away according to his perfect will and good pleasure. Please continue to thank God for him and to pray for him and all the family, which is a close, loving family.

Peter

The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon)
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NOTE of 6th Jan.

To all my friends and correspondents:

Greetings on the Feast of the Epiphany.

Today, my learned and good friend, Lou Tarsitano, lies in a bed in the hospital in Savannah, GA, where his heart is ceasing to work aright and the doctors do not know of any cure but a transplant. He may not live into the 7th of Jan.

We commend him into the care of his and our heavenly Father and into the bosom of his Master and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

If he is to go to be with his Lord then may it be as the passing of Simeon,

"Lord lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word."

It has been my high privilege to work with Lou on many projects and to publish with him books and booklets. He has the finest Anglican mind I have encountered in the USA.

Pray with me for him, his wife Sally, his children John, Richard, Mary Margaret, and his mother who lives with them all.

Peter