Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the passage of David Downs. David was a very visible member of our community, and his absence will be keenly felt.

Over the last several years, David served our community by organizing and stocking the Cursillo storage shed at Chanco, earning him the title of "Shed Head". He performed this ministry with great faithfulness, and even created many of the linens we use on Cursillo weekends. He was a regular presence on Cursillo teams, and for a time organized his area Ultreya.

In addition, David maintained a (very) extensive email list, and was often called upon to communicate information to his many contacts. His distribution of a prayer request was inevitably accompanied by a beautifully crafted prayer tailor-made for the occasion. Those prayers revealed a tender and deeply spiritual heart.

The following information about funeral arrangements was taken from the Washington Post website, where you may also leave a message for the family:

DOWNS DAVID A. DOWNS On Tuesday, January 12, 2010. The beloved brother of Jean Dunlap, James (Mary) Downs and Mary (Scott) Vining; uncle of Cindy Vining. He is also survived by three nieces, three nephews and 11 great-nieces and great-nephews. Family and friends are invited to David''s Life Celebration at GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Friday, January 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. where service will be held on Saturday, January 16 at 11 a.m. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of one''s choice. Please sign guestbook www.KalasFuneralHomes.com

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Your sister in Christ,

Deb Love
Cursillo #92