A Greater Love

“Greater love has no man than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Fortunately, most of us are not called upon to lay down—or even risk—our lives for a friend, although we wonder if we’d have the courage to do so. Throughout history, ordinary people have proven they had extraordinary resilience and valor to protect other persons even if it meant risking or losing their own lives.

We are all called to serve, summoned to Diakonia, service to others; however, rarely are we called to serve in what the world would deem extraordinary ways. Yet it does happen every day. Most of these narratives don’t make headlines; books are rarely written about everyday heroes. Yet some acts of courage are exceptional nonetheless, and perhaps most amazing of these are the men and women who submit to major surgery to donate an organ to insure another person's life.

That is what Joe Murphy did for a stranger named Jack Pfeifer.

Jack, a diabetic, was diagnosed with end stage renal disease during his first year of the Diaconal Formation Program at Philadelphia’s St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Although he was told by doctors that his kidney function was less than 10 percent of normal, Jack, a father of two grown children, gave himself over into the hands of God, accepting what may come. He tried not to let his illness prevent him from living as normally as he could, and he was determined to continue his studies at the seminary to fulfill a vocation to which he felt he was being called.

In a short amount of time his symptoms worsened and he was on a substantial regimen of dialysis and medications, becoming weaker by the day, yet he continued to look toward the future, unwilling to give in to hopelessness.

He was placed on a list for a kidney transplant. People who were willing to be tested—ten that they know of—were either not a match, had health issues identified through the testing, or changed their minds in the eleventh hour.

Jack and his wife, Maureen, had unwavering faith in God, “We trusted that whatever happened was part of God's plan.”

In February of 2010, the Office for Permanent Deacons put Jack on the prayer list, asking that the diaconate community pray that a donor be found for Jack. “My life was connected to and depended upon a dialysis machine at that time. I needed to find a donor soon, and I needed prayers to help sustain me.”

Joe Murphy, who was in an upper class in the Saint Charles’ formation program but had never met Jack, saw the email and it moved him. They arranged to meet, and Joe informed Jack during the conversation that he had decided to be tested and if he was a match, he would donate his kidney to Jack.

The decision to donate his kidney didn’t come casually. Joe and his wife were still mourning the death of their son, Joseph, who had died the year before. At first, he told no one about what he was thinking of doing; he didn’t want to cause his wife and living children any anxiety. Yet he wanted to do something to honor his son who had been a kind and compassionate young man. He believed donating a kidney to save Jack’s life would be a supreme way to honor his son’s memory. His family agreed.

“Joe Murphy made a prayerful and loving decision that is truly God’s concrete presence in my life,” Jack says.

The testing—stress tests, blood tests, and CT scans—proved he was a match. The operation was a success. Jack was up and walking the day after his surgery. He was able to go back to work, and continue his studies at Saint Charles Seminary. He was well enough to have a pancreatic transplant eight months later to regain his health completely, and is no longer dependent on insulin.

Recovery for Joe took longer. He was one of the oldest, non-family member donors at the age of 63 and had been warned that it may take a while to recover. He asked for a leave of absence from the Diaconate until he was completely well, which they granted. After much prayer and thought, Joe didn’t return to the diaconate formation program, choosing to serve God in different ministries. “It took a while for me to realize it, but the delay in my recovery wasn’t only due to the kidney donation, it was everything else I had gone through. The full impact of my son’s death hit me after the surgery, and I needed to heal from that terrible loss. I also realize that God had placed me where I needed to be for Jack's sake.”

Now in good health, Jack completed his formation, and was ordained in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on June 10, 2017. Joe was invited to proclaim the first reading at the Mass in the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, and he proudly accepted.

“This was one of the happiest days of my life,” Joe said, celebrating with Jack and his family after the ordination. The men and their wives have become very close friends.

“I don’t think Joe realizes that I am alive today because of his and his family’s selfless donation,” Jack said.

During the Rite of Ordination of Deacons, the Bishop hands the Book of the Gospels to each candidate and says, “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, live what you teach.”

This instruction is not only for a deacon candidate, but for every Christian. Joe believed in Jesus' words, and teaches us what he believes through his selfless act to save a life.

Jack and Joe are two followers of Christ who have responded to His call to Diakonia—to serve God and His people in whatever way God wants—even if it meant to “lay down one’s life.”

No greater love, indeed.

For more information about the Catholic Church’s stance on organ donation, visit: http://www.catholiceducation.org/en/science/ethical-issues/play-it-again-organ-donation.html

For information about organ donation: https://www.organdonor.gov/about/process.html