Dear Friends,

Yesterday, wardens, clergy, and other diocesan leaders received this email from the Rev. Canon Mally Lloyd, Canon to the Ordinary for the Diocese:

Dear Friends,

When Bishop Tom met with his doctors at the Dana Farber Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center today, they told him that the tumor removed from his brain last Friday is indeed cancerous.  This is hard news for all of us to hear.  Bishop Tom will begin both radiation treatment and chemotherapy in the next few weeks.  He has great confidence in his doctors, and he has great confidence in his life of prayer.

He asked me to once again express his appreciation for your continuing prayers and to convey how much he has enjoyed reading the many cards and letters that arrive daily at his home. He hopes to get back to work slowly next week by first of all attending the staff farewell on Wednesday for Suzette Phillips who is retiring on May 31 and then keeping a couple of appointments.  He also plans to work some from home.

This result is not what I have been praying for, but Bishop Tom assures me that continued prayer is what he wants most.  So we are sending this note in the midst of a holiday weekend in hopes that you will once again invite your congregations to pray for Bishop Tom on Sunday and beyond.

Cards and letters continue to be welcome and can be sent to Bishop Tom in care of The Monastery, Society of St. John the Evangelist, 980 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02138.

Peace,
Mally

I know all of us at St. John’s will be praying for Bishop Shaw on Sunday and in our own individual prayers. His own life of prayer is a defining mark of his life and vocation. After his visitation here with us last year, he continued to ask about several persons and situations he learned about,  for whom he was continuing to pray. As he has been with us in that way, we can be with him now.

Faithfully,

Tom