National Donor Sabbath
November 13-15, 2015
Franciscan Priest Receives New Voice Thanks to Lung Transplant
When doctors delivered the grim diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary
fibrosis, a lethal lung disease, to Father Peter, he wasn’t ready to give up
on life. A Franciscan priest of more than 50 years, Father Peter had felt
God calling him to serve since the age of 13, and he knew he still had
work to do.
His condition caused great difficulty with breathing and triggered
coughing fits that rendered him unable to speak.
“A priest who can’t say Mass is a priest who is not fulfilling his calling,” Father Peter remembers thinking
before his lifesaving lung transplant. Today, thanks to the gift of an organ donor, he is back to spreading
messages of hope to others – one of faith, and one of gratitude for donation and transplantation.