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'Choose life' full of faith and joy
Eulogy for John Williamson, Jr. delivered Feb. 1 by John Williamson, Sr.
John Williamson, Sr.
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Ed-Op
Three weeks ago I said to my wife, we really have three wonderful children. How are we so lucky? Each of them is a better person than I. All three of them are Eucharist ministers. All of them attend Sunday mass.
Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from Immaculata University. She had a perfect 4.0 average. She could have taught anywhere, but she will only teach in Catholic schools. She is the head of the language department at St. Pius X High School.
Danny, a Notre Dame graduate, walked into church a few weeks ago while we were there for confession. He too was there to confess his sins.
Johnny sometimes went to confession every three weeks. He was in the choir here at St. Agatha & St. James. He was also a member of the Drexel Newman Club. On Easter Sunday, he was going to be the sponsor for his girlfriend Jamie Duncan's conversion into the Catholic faith.
Johnny always wanted to follow his big brother to Notre Dame, and he had the accomplishments to do so. He made the All-Catholic band at Cardinal O'Hara high school for four years. He was also All-Catholic in track. He scored 1380 in his college boards. He was in the top 12 in his class. He lettered in cross country and track for four years. He ran a 4:40 mile. He taught CCD for two years. He was a National Merit Scholar. He was an Archdiocesan Scholar. Finally, he won the Heart of the Lion Award his senior year. But Notre Dame would not let him in. He also played Scrooge in the Christmas Carol and in Godspell, he played Jesus. How could Notre Dame turn down Jesus? I prayed and he prayed and my wife prayed, but they still wouldn't let him in.
This past Monday night I finally figured out why he did not get into Notre Dame. There was a prayer vigil at Drexel for Johnny and Ian. A young man walked up to me, hugged me and told me "you don't know me but three months ago, I returned to the Catholic Church because of Johnny Williamson." This was the third time someone told me how Johnny led to their conversion. It finally dawned on me why he did not get into Notre Dame. He was needed here at Drexel.
Elizabeth graduated summa cum laude from Immaculata University. She had a perfect 4.0 average. She could have taught anywhere, but she will only teach in Catholic schools. She is the head of the language department at St. Pius X High School.
Danny, a Notre Dame graduate, walked into church a few weeks ago while we were there for confession. He too was there to confess his sins.
Johnny sometimes went to confession every three weeks. He was in the choir here at St. Agatha & St. James. He was also a member of the Drexel Newman Club. On Easter Sunday, he was going to be the sponsor for his girlfriend Jamie Duncan's conversion into the Catholic faith.
Johnny always wanted to follow his big brother to Notre Dame, and he had the accomplishments to do so. He made the All-Catholic band at Cardinal O'Hara high school for four years. He was also All-Catholic in track. He scored 1380 in his college boards. He was in the top 12 in his class. He lettered in cross country and track for four years. He ran a 4:40 mile. He taught CCD for two years. He was a National Merit Scholar. He was an Archdiocesan Scholar. Finally, he won the Heart of the Lion Award his senior year. But Notre Dame would not let him in. He also played Scrooge in the Christmas Carol and in Godspell, he played Jesus. How could Notre Dame turn down Jesus? I prayed and he prayed and my wife prayed, but they still wouldn't let him in.
This past Monday night I finally figured out why he did not get into Notre Dame. There was a prayer vigil at Drexel for Johnny and Ian. A young man walked up to me, hugged me and told me "you don't know me but three months ago, I returned to the Catholic Church because of Johnny Williamson." This was the third time someone told me how Johnny led to their conversion. It finally dawned on me why he did not get into Notre Dame. He was needed here at Drexel.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Donna Marie Williamson
posted 2/06/09 @ 5:56 PM EST
Dear Editor and Staff of The Triangle:
I have no words but thank you for honoring my Johnny. Sincerely,
Donna Marie Williamson, Drexel '84 and Johnny's mom. (Continued…)
Jared Lucchesi
posted 2/09/09 @ 11:54 AM EST
Johnny...thank-you.
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