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Melinda Sue Warner's avatar

I remember Kip Tiernan well. The Summer and Fall before we married, Huan & I practiced making a wedding cake every 2-3 weeks. Each time, since the cake had to feed 150 people, we carried it down to Rosie's place as our contribution to the women who came to lunch at that church. It was a labor of love in both the making and thw giving.

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Maura Casey's avatar

I love this story!

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Elizabeth Kaeton's avatar

I fell in love with Kip the first time she opened her mouth to speak.. I was at Mass at the Paulist Center in Boston. She was the preacher. A woman. At a RC mass. Let's start with that. Those guys knew she would preach the gospel. Hell, she lived the gospel. She was profound. She used the truth of the gospel like a blunt weapon. Her words turned over tables and whipped the congregation to attention. Among other things she said that night was this gem: "Justice is not three hots and a cot. Justice is having your own key." Thanks for this memory of Kip. I'll never forget her. She changed my life.

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Maura Casey's avatar

Liz, how lucky you are to have known her!

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Elizabeth Kaeton's avatar

Lucky and richly blessed. Happened to be in the right place at the right time.

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Dr. Carole Rollins's avatar

Thanks Maura. Thank you for introducing us to another wonderful person in the world. Your stories about people doing such wonderful things, are enchanting. Thank you for sharing and describing so vividly their works and their person.

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Maura Casey's avatar

It's a nice break from the news to write about them! Thank you, Carole!

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Susan Kietzman's avatar

An inspirational story. There are many heroes who draw attention to the work rather than to themselves. That you met one and heard her powerful words is something you will always remember, notebooks or not. Though I do love that you're reading them.

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Blue Thoughts From a Red State's avatar

Immediately recognized your name, wit and prankish voice in your writing, just like in the interview you did on Julie G.’s show. Those diaries are like small treasure chests waiting to be found and opened. Glad their location was never forgotten.

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Maura Casey's avatar

Thank you, my friend!

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Bethe Dufresne's avatar

I especially admire this quote: "Never forget that charity is scraps from the table and justice is a seat at the table. Charity is giving to others what belongs to you. Justice is giving others what belongs to them.”

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Maura Casey's avatar

She was blunt as hell and very quoteable! I remember she wrote something for the Boston Globe on the need for more shelters in the cold weather, and the lede was something like this: "It's winter, and the snow does not give a soft, white damn about the homeless."

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Roberta Baskin's avatar

Maura, thanks for this tribute to an inspiring woman who demanded justice for others. The world needs more Kips.

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Maura Casey's avatar

Well, we have YOU, sweet Roberta! You have far more in common with Kip than nearly anyone I know!

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