A Light in the Darkness – Letter from Our Executive Director

Dear Members, Partners, and Friends, 

Our community lost a dear and dedicated member and leader this past week with the death of Don McCrabb. Over the past few days, many people have reached out to me to express not only their shock and profound sorrow at Don’s sudden passing, but also a deep appreciation for the life he led and, most of all, the warmth and kindness with which he treated them. This was certainly my experience of Don, who was always available and supportive as I followed in his footsteps as USCMA’s executive director. He always championed my success, treating me as an equal despite his own nine years in the role and many more decades of experience in ministry.  

For many of us, losing this good and gentle disciple now, so close to Christmas and when he clearly had so much more to give, comes as yet another blow. In a year often beset by rancor, intolerance and violence, Don was a genuine light: committed to synodality, interculturality, health equity, restorative justice and, above all, the transformative love of Jesus Christ. It hurts to lose him. And yet, as someone told me last week, Don often reminded those who knew him to “prepare our hearts” during the Advent season. Amid these cold and ever darkening days of December, may we begin to understand anew that the Incarnation of God’s love into history arrives not as a radiant sun but, rather, a hopeful flicker. It is the candle glowing softly at the outskirts of an empire, the type of light we must seek out, so humble and quiet that we can easily drown it out with our preoccupied thoughts or race past it in our rush from one task to the other.  

Pope Francis, in his final public address, asked that “humanity never fail to be the hallmark of our daily actions.” Whatever the sorrow and suffering around us, our humanity affirms the goodness of God’s creation. This humanity finds its most urgent and resonant witness in Jesus. Don McCrabb, through his life of discipleship, accompaniment and prophetic witness, was a living testament to the exact type of humanity to which God calls us in Christ.  

As we journey on towards in Christmas, may we, like Don, be renewed in that challenge to recognize, respond to and emulate Christ in our midst. 

In mission and solidarity,  

Kevin Foy
Executive Director 

The details and arrangements for Don McCrabb’s Mass of Christian Burial are the following:

Shrine of the Sacred Heart
3211 Sacred Heart Way
Washington, DC 20010

January 10, 2026

10am – 12:00pm: Viewing
12:00pm: Mass

*Reception at the School after Mass

Other Encounter Updates from December 2025:

Board Candidates – Remember to Vote!
Congratulations to Our Episcopal Advisor
Annual Meeting Recap
End of Year Appeal
Member Opportunity – Share Your CST Impact!
World Mission News