Faithful and beloved servant of the Lord, Father John Arnone, was welcomed into his eternal life on May 5, 2017.

Father John had a way of bringing people together. After hearing news that he fell ill, thousands of people who knew and loved him flooded Heaven with prayer. They, in turn, invited their friends, family and other loved ones to join them in prayer. From the moment Father John was initially hospitalized, there must have continuously been at least a dozen people at once praying on his behalf.

He was faithful to God. He was ordained 18 years ago and spent those 18 years loving and serving others as Christ did. He was faithful to his Archdiocese. He served numerous parishes in the South Louisiana area. According to the Clarion Harold, "Father Arnone, ordained in 1999, served as a parochial vicar at St. Cletus in Gretna and at St. Benilde in Metairie, before assuming pastorates, beginning in 2002, at Holy Name of Mary in Algiers, St. Stephen in New Orleans, Our Lady of Lourdes in Violet and St. Bernard in St. Bernard. For the last four years, he has been pastor at St. Rita Church in Harahan". He was also serving as a Notre Dame Seminary Faculty member. He was faithful to everyone in need of prayer and always willing to help anyone in need.

Since his passing, hundreds of people have shared their beautiful memories with him. He was a man who loved celebrating life, and living in New Orleans, he knew how to live a full life. Jazz Fest, Endymion, festivals, feast days and holidays; you could spot Father John at every single one of these events.

Although John lived a short life on this earth, it was a life well lived. He knew and trusted the Lord like nobody I have ever known before. His beloved sister in law, Dr. Mari Ann Callais, posted to Facebook that, "John has spent his entire life preparing for this part of his journey". This is only a glimpse of the way that he lived his life. He lived knowing that this world is not our home.

For those of us here on earth, the day God took him home was a day that changed our lives as we know it. It's the day where we were left in shock, denial, anger, and sadness. It's a day that shook us to our core and made us say, "this was much too soon". For those who loved and knew him best, you are allowed to feel those strong emotions, but I also hope that you can find comfort and peace. Knowing that Father John left this earth peacefully according to God's will is the most comforting piece of the heartbreak that remains. In Heaven, the day God took him home was a joyful one. It was the day where God welcomed His son into eternal life with Him. There is not a single doubt in my mind that Father John is where he is supposed to be right now. God's will is one we may never be able to understand, but just as Father John did, we must trust it.

I personally wish I had known Father John better. He was a man who impacted the lives of hundreds of people that I know and love, including close family members of mine. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

To view the obituary and funeral arrangements, please click here.

Photo by Dr. Mari Ann Callais