Father Joe is leaving a wonderful legacy,
one that calls us all

She would bake a cake for each birthday, a cake large enough to serve all the boys in residence at the time. When there were 30 boys Bernice was challenged to bake three and maybe more cakes per month.

Then came the Christmas mailings. My wife Helen and two of our young children would fold, stuff, stamp and mail these “begging” letters (some 500 in number) around Thanksgiving time. Since I had access to computer systems, I automated the Ranch donor contact list and thereby became “involved” with the magic of Father Joe. With automation to assist, the donor list grew over time to 20,000 names. It has since been reduced to a more reasonable list of about half that number.

One involvement with the Ranch and Father Joe led to another, and in 1976 Father asked me to join the Board of Directors. Forty years later he still finds a way to keep me working for him and the boys. This ability to attract people to help him help boys has served him well over the years.

His beginning in this journey was accomplished with meager assets in terms of money, brick and mortar, transportation and at times even food and clothing. Through it all he found people to help and he got the job done.

Father Joe never begged people. He was able to solicit their aid simply by asking. He always had a story that would touch just the right button -- and the need was answered. Of course those stories most always involved a boy in his care or in need of his care. Picture a Pied Piper sporting a white collar.

One of my favorite stories involved a very young boy Father found sitting on the steps of the Murphy House one summer day holding his head in his hands. Father asked the boy why he looked so dejected. The boy simply looked up and with tears in his eyes and very softly asked, “Father Joe, what’s going to happen to me?”

How can you not help someone who is providing a boy like this an opportunity for a future?

Members of the Morning Star Board of Directors have almost universally been hand selected by Father Joe. These individuals come from all walks of life, each offering his or her own unique talents to assist in providing a loving, caring environment for young boys. One active member has worked tirelessly for 38 years to help get the job done. This type of loyalty is a tribute both to the cause and to the leadership of Father Joe.

As long as I have known Father Joe he has always placed his mission first. He has worked tirelessly for nearly 50 years to make a home for youth who are too often living their lives with virtually no other choices. Before this year is out that number will exceed 1,300 boys. This is such a wonderful legacy that he leaves for others to carry on. I hope and pray that as he hands off Morning Star Boys’ Ranch into the care of those he has chosen to continue his work, he will find a retirement full of the peace and serenity he so richly deserves.

J. Robert "Bob" Durgan
President, Board of Directors