Heaven is Pink is a collection of beautiful moments I shared with friends of Christ in San Francisco. Friends who were Redemptorists, Franciscan Religious, a committed Filipino pastor, and a retired bishop. Pink for the walls of Saint Anne of the Sunset Parish hold these memories of a beautiful chapter in life.

I frequently visited the rectory of Saint Anne of the Sunset. During these visits, I met Bishop Daniel Walsh, the newly retired bishop of Santa Rosa. He returned to his childhood home in the Sunset district. He took residence in one of the many rooms of the parish rectory.

His presence struck me. He was serious yet cordial, and he always had a story to tell about his many years in ministry. Etched in my heart was the rhythm of rectory life. With a bishop as a companion, we gathered for Evening Prayer in the pastor’s suite. We had appetizers. Then we regularly moved to the dining room for dinner. It was a bond of brotherhood that sustained my love for Jesus during those years.

What struck me most was the bishop’s prayer life. One of his first initiatives was to convert an empty room in the rectory into a small chapel. The chapel included the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. As I woke up each day to make my holy hour, I found the bishop praying there. He came to the close of his hour and left quietly. When my prayer concluded, I often found him in the kitchen, and we would carry out some meaningful conversations.

I learned from Bishop Walsh the art of being a Master of Ceremonies for liturgies. He allowed me to serve him often, and I quickly learned from my mistakes. He was a great liturgical teacher in that sense. I am indebted to him for this gift.

Heaven is Pink … memories of a time in the heart of the Inner Sunset District.