He never gave up!
I met Fr. Harvey at my first Courage meeting on April 6, 1990. It was refreshing to meet a priest as understanding as him. He listened to my story and accepted me with love. I could now personally relate to the parable of the prodigal son with great assurance and thankfulness.
I also saw that Father Harvey was a man of humility. He took great care in what he wrote and he also took appropriate pride in his accomplishments, knowing it was a privilege to exercise the ministry to which he had been called. For three and a half years, I assisted part-time in the Courage office and there I saw first-hand how Father Harvey was a living example of the vow of obedience through many trials and frustrations. This was a servant of God who did it all for Jesus. Father would say “If we don’t do it for Jesus, we are fools.”
Father Harvey and Jim Beers
I especially appreciated Fr. Harvey’s feistiness and fearlessness when it came to upholding the Faith and defending Courage. He knew how to carefully work through and manage anger especially when it came to ministry and the apostolate. This wasn’t always the case when it came to NYC traffic. 😉 I remember walking with Fr. Harvey from the Courage office on 30th Street (St. John the Baptist Church) to his NYC residence at the rectory of St. Vincent De Paul on 24th Street. Fr. H’s “Irish” would flare up when cars and taxis wouldn’t stop when they were supposed to. It amazed me to hear him yelling at vehicles and to see him pound the rear of a taxi!
Father was very dedicated and so faithful to the apostolate. This had such a positive effect on me especially as he aged. He was commuting into NYC from Pennsylvania into his early 90’s. It was amazing! Father Harvey was determined to make sure the Church and world knew about Courage and EnCourage. HE NEVER GAVE UP!
In 2010, at the Courage Conference, I was surprised and honoured to receive the Courage Member of the Year award, an award presented annually since 2001. As I stepped forward to accept the award, I glanced over and saw Father Harvey. He was beaming. This was the last time that I would see that unforgettable Irish smile. I regret I didn’t say anything to him, but in my heart I thanked him for all he had done for me and for everybody in that room, and I continue to be thankful for him today
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James A. Beers was a faithful member of Courage, the apostolate founded by Fr. Harvey, for 32 years. Jim entered eternity on the morning of October 16, 2022, a few days after being interviewed for this piece. The above entry combines portions of that conversation with excerpts from Jim’s book Courage: A Ministry of Hope. His personal story can be found in this book on pages 131-134.
May Jim’s soul rest in eternal light, refreshment, and peace. +