Last night Father Bill 'Bix' Bichsel passed on in Tacoma, Washington. Fr. Bix is one of the most revered peace activists in the northwest where he founded a Catholic Worker community that serves the poor and homeless with much love and hospitality. He was one of the leaders in the longtime peace protests at the Bangor nuclear submarine base in Washington state.
Fr. Bix recently took about a dozen people from his community to sit-in at the gates of the Navy base being built in Gangjeong village on Jeju Island. Just before passing away Fr. Bix was reported to have said Gangjeong is one of the holiest places on our planet.
Fr. Bix will be missed by everyone who has come to know and love him. I had the great fortune to meet him several times, the most recent time was when I went to the west coast in January to walk on the MLK peace walk. We spent two nights in Bix's home. He was weak then but still had the energy and desire to sit with us to ask about the work we are all doing.
Fr. Bix was a great man. Fr. Bix presente!
Glad you were able to meet with him one last time in January. I know you will carry Fr. Bix's work forward, Bruce.
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