Burke, Bass are genuine articles

John Hatcher is pastor of Outreach International Center, 1091 South Jeff Davis Drive, Fayetteville, Georgia 30215. 770-719-0303

By John Hatcher
Contributing Writer

“Genuineness” is a rare commodity in the market of flash and splash, bells and whistles, bling and wings, Wall Street and Hollywood. Even the board room on Apprentice is a fake, made just for TV. I’ve known for a long time that Beaver Cleaver’s house to be a fake, just a façade — the same one, in fact, used by Marcus Welby, M.D.

So when you find a spot or two of genuineness, you need to write home about it. That’s what I am doing: writing your homes about it. Two of the most genuine folks I know can be found in the hallways of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School.

For those who don’t know, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School is located on Highway 314 and you will know exactly where it is when I say it’s right across from Evander Holyfield’s estate. It’s probably one of the most quality high schools in south metro. Academics are priority. It has a healthy multi-cultural population. Faculty is happy to be there. And the students, for the most part, are grateful to be there.

But two people really stand out as the genuine articles: Father Paul Burke, the school’s chaplain, and Mary Bass, the school’s dietician. Neither one of them would feel comfortable with a spotlight on them as they scatter about doing their thing at the school.

Father Paul, a true Irishman, has degrees up to his collar and is still working on another degree. Yet, with all his book and church learning, he is as real and genuine as they come. He’s sharp as a tack, but as approachable as an ice cream cone. He does not work hard at his calling. His calling is himself. He is a true Catholic and as such follows Pope John Paul’s desire at breaking down walls that divide Christians. He initiated ecumenical Thanksgiving services for the school, inviting the leaders of the Christian faith to join in. Even one female pastor accepted the invitation and was welcomed with open arms. He is up every morning conducting Mass at 7:15. He conducts communion at the beginning of lunch. He teaches a couple of classes himself. Then, he pastors and counsels a host of students and staff, scurrying from one to another. He’s faith in motion. I would go to confession with Father Paul on the other side of the booth.

It would seem on the other side of the spectrum, you can find Mary Bass. Her hangout is the school’s state of the art kitchen. She plans, prepares, and serves up meals for hundreds of students and staff. Hers is a job of joy! You see, she’s a believer, too. Not a Catholic, though. She’s a Protestant, evangelical lover of God and people (boy, I hate to call Christians by different names: one Catholic and one Protestant).

Stop by her place of enjoyment one day and you will see these bright-eyed, bouncing students go up to Mary, one after another, and give her a big hug, right in the middle of her serving up smothered chicken. You see, they know she is a woman of care and prayer. She walks her talk. She lives her belief. She toughs it out when the going gets tough. Many believe that one Mary is the queen of heaven. This Mary, however, is queen of the kitchen. She loves and prays for the students and the students know it and reciprocate.

So, there you have it: two genuine articles. True the school is located officially in Fairburn, but it is just outside of the Fayette line. Close enough that we can claim them as our own.

If you want your kids to be influenced by two of the finest people on the planet, check out OLM (www.olmbobcats.org). If these two are so wonderful, just think what the rest of the crew must be like.