My Dear Doubters of Great Faith,
It is with great sadness that I must announce the passing into the company of the angels and saints my fellow priest and our beloved brother Doubter on the journey here at St. Thomas the Apostle, the Rev. Raymond Carl Ball.
In a year already full of sorrow and loss, the swiftness of Fr. Ray’s transition into God’s greater glory seems to sting even more. The outpouring of love in the form of tributes of fellow clergy, parishioners, and folks from across the Diocese of Dallas and beyond, in the form of e-mails, cards, notes, and Facebook posts, attest to the impact that Fr. Ray has had (and will continue to have) on countless numbers of lives, within our Church family, and far beyond.
I did not have the privilege of knowing Fr. Ray until I showed up at St. Thomas in February of this year, but his reputation is well-known throughout the Diocese of Fort Worth, where he played an instrumental role in educating so many of that diocese’s clergy and lay people through the Anglican School of Theology. And so, when I sat down with Fr. Ray, back in February, I was humbled and honored that he would consider allowing me, a baby priest, to be his rector. I remember telling him that there was so much that I wanted to learn from him as I grow into the fullness of what being a rector might mean, and he was warm, and gracious, and proper, and dignified, and charming, as he always proved himself to be, in letting me know that he would do anything to support me in that cause. Because, as we all know and believe, the Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle must succeed! Its vision of radical, hospitable welcome to ALL is much too important not to succeed!
And Fr. Ray went about doing every single thing he could to insure that!
When we needed a Lenten program, Fr. Ray stepped into the gap. When we needed to prepare catechumens for confirmation, Fr. Ray stepped into that gap as well. Education was among this priest’s passion and gifting, and it showed and shined, as so many of you have witnessed!
St. Thomas the Apostle is blessed beyond imagine in the “retired-but-not-retiring” bench of clergy that have and continue to grace these halls. First, there is no such thing as a retired priest; once you are a priest of God, you are ALWAYS a priest of God, set apart for the special work God has called priests to do. To my way of thinking, retirement simply means that you get to do the things that you want to do, and not the things you don’t want to do.
I am so grateful that the Rev. Stephen Waller, the Rev. Virginia Holleman, the Rev. Andy McCarthy, and the Rev. Ray Ball have walked with me through the many trials of the first 9 months of my “rectorship” at St. Thomas the Apostle. That they are gracious, and loving, and tender, and merciful with your new rector is something I celebrate every day. They have standing invitations to do and to be all that they want to be, and nothing that they do not, as they continue to inspire each of us, and all of us, in our Doubter community and beyond.
I will miss Fr. Ray greatly. I know that you will as well. And I know that he will be cheering us on from the other side, knowing that our most crucial work of welcoming the stranger, welcoming ALL must go on!
The Rev. Raymond Carl Ball
August 25, 1952 – October 18, 2020
Due to COVID-19, pending services for Fr. Ray Ball will be private, including the immediate family and clergy of the Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle. The family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to St. Thomas the Apostle in Fr. Ball’s memory. Please continue to hold Fr. Ray’s wife Bridgette and family in prayer.
Eternal rest grant to Ray, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May Ray’s soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Yours in Light,
Fr. Christopher+
