His cancer apparently progressed rapidly, and the Lord took him home peacefully. More details will be forthcoming later from appropriate sources. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Update: Bishop Jecko’s Requiem will be at Christ, Church, Plano, TX on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 2:00 PM.
Lord, thank you for the life of your servant. I ask you be with his family and friends as they grieve.
We have lost a good friend, a great servant, and a powerful ally in the cause of orthodoxy — but he now sees face to face him whom he served so faithfully, and he knows more than ever the ultimate victor of our struggle.
I am so very sorry. A leader and mentor of many, gone.
I am in the Diocese of Florida and +Steve was and has always been a champion in my book. He believed in what I was doing when no one else did. We have a great representative in the whole company of saints. My prayers with Joan and the family.
I add my prayers for comfort and strength for his family, and my thanksgiving for his faithful witness and service. He will be missed.
–elfgirl
Even in the midst of sorrow, there is joy to be found. I am sad and grieve at Bishop Jecko’s passing. I did not know him well, but highly repsected him and enjoyed the times I was able to serve him as his deacon. I am also glad that he was spared a longer battle with pain and death. I pray that his family will be drawn closer to each other and closer to God in their grief.
In addition to being a Deacon, Priest, and Bishop, Bishop Jecko was also a pilot. This poem hung in my home growing up and I believe it speaks to the hearts of all faithful pilots:
The author was Pilot Officer Gillespie Magee of the 412 squadron, RCAF. He was killed 11 December 1941.
May Bishop Jecko rest in peace and may he rise to glory.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder
My prayers are with Bishop Jecko and his family. May his memory be eternal.
What a shock! We (my family and I) didn’t know him long, nor did we have much contact with him, but what we heard, saw and encountered in him was a man much alive in and committed to the Lord. Our prayers will be added to those already mentioned for his family.
In ’97 & ’98, I did my best to secure a call in SWF, CFL or FL as each diocese had a strong orthodox presence. Bp. Jecko was a strong reason to consider DFL.
Many will grieve in his larger family the next few days. +Steve was a strong supporter of Faith Alive and Bev and the Faith Alive Board are having their Annual Board Meeting at St. Mark’s on the Mesa in Albuquerque as I write this, I have emailed them, Bp Steenson and our intercessors of this news.
I just heard of his plight last night and was surprised to read this post of his death this morning. Truly, a great loss for the church. However, I rejoice, knowing that he is now with the Lord and enjoying His fellowship!
He will be missed. A Godly man and servant.
A man of great faith who encouraged many and never stopped working for the spread of the gospel. I give thanks to God for his ministry and pray that he may rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him.
Bishop Jecko confirmed me, and ordained my father a deacon and then priest. He was a godly man, a servant of God and the Church will miss him.
I am very saddened to hear this news. Steve Jecko was truly one
of the good guys……a faithful bishop, a tireless warrior for truth,
a good friend. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
I want to thank Philip for including the pilot’s prayer in #6 above. It reminded that dear +Steve was the one who first said, as best I can remember, that “we’re building this airplane while we’re flying it.” And so we are. +Steve was my bishop here in Florida, a tireless worker for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and a valued friend. He will be sorely missed. Ginny and I are praying for his dear wife Joan and the family.
Twenty-four years ago Bishop Jecko was our parish priest in Rome, New York. He was an wonderful counselor and priest and a good friend. Those who knew him will miss him. With God’s grace we will meet again. May his memory be eternal.
I am grieved that my old friend, Steve Jecko, has died, and as I thank the Lord for his life I am always reminded of the way the Salvation Army speaks of Christian dying: he has been promoted to glory
Bishop Steve was once described as a man who may be short in stature but he is one who has legs of steel for the gospel. I found this to be true. It was an honor to know him and call him friend and Bishop. He will be missed, prayers and hugs to Joan and the family.
After Bp. Jecko served in Rome, NY he was rector of St. Michael’s in Gainesville, FL. He had a strong ministry at St. Michael’s while my wife and I were at the Episcopal ministry at the University of Florida, also in Gainesville. From there he went on, I believe, to diocesan staff before he was elected Bishop of Florida. He was a valiant defender of the Christian faith and he will be sorely missed.
I knew Bp. Steve as a firm witness to the faith of Jesus Christ, and a valiant servant, willing to stand on the front lines and willing also to work quietly in the shadows for the sake of our Lord and His Church. From our perspective, we grieve one whom God seems to have taken too soon. But we pray that his presence among the saints will add to the strength of our own service. My prayers go out to his family at this time. May God uphold their hearts and faith.
I know that Bp Jecko’s Redeemer livith and is seated at the right hand of God. Because I know this I have no doubt that this good and faithful servant is being greeted with great joy by the saints. The Bishop a humble servant of our Lord while with us now wears a crown of glory. A sign of his share in the life and divinity of Christ.
He sings praises now to our almighty God and King.
The mourning of his friends and family is not unheard by our merciful Savior. Who because of His goodness has sent us the Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen us. May their hope in the resurrection and in the promise of the last day be a light to them in these dark times.
There is still no notice on the Diocese of Florida [or Dallas for that matter] web site.
SF & T19 have provided a much appreciated servant ministry by posting information that I have relayed to former Episcopalians in Jacksonville. They asked me to thank you, Greg and Kendall.
They and I Thank you.
Lord, receive him into your everlasting arms, and give the blessing of your presence to his family in their grief. As they mourn help them be prepared for the realization that he was not theirs alone, and give them the grace to receive the love and prayers of so many.
In Jesus’ Name.
Dear Bishop Stephen, Saint Triumphant, who encouraged me as a newly ordained priest in Dallas after my wife had major surgery:
“May the Angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem.”
I give thanks for the life and ministry of my retired Bishop of the Diocese of Florida. Our prayers are with Joan and the children during this time of loss. With the cancer spreading, the Lord was merciful in calling Bishop Steve to Himself to spare Steve prolonged suffering.
“We love you enough to let you go.”
Warmly in the Lord,
The Rev. Dr. Robert D. Askren,Ph.D.
Assisting Priest
St. John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville, Florida
Bishop Jecko did not know me when he came to my aid when the Bishop of Milwaukee decided I was no longer “worthy” to be a priest in TEC and began the process to depose me (praise God for setting this captive free!), but he immediately helped me become a priest of a holy church in a holy diocese with a holy bishop (+Robinson Cavalcanti of Recife), even if he hasn’t received his invitation to Lambeth.
+Steve’s thoughts were of the church and its people and clergy and his heart was with his Lord.
It was a joy to finally meet him and will be even a greater joy when we meet again in the presence of our Lord and Savior.
+Steve now is face to face with the Lover of our souls and he is no longer sick or heartbroken but fully alive and fully joyed. May he know forever the peace that passes understanding.
There is a comment on Stand Firm regarding the web site of the Diocese of Florida which states that Diocesan staff are away but that an e-mil was sent diocesan wide.
I am deeply sad to here the news about our dearly departed brother. +Jeko was a pioneer and allowed God to use him in a powerful way here in the diocese of Florida. We are ALL thankful for his leadership and Love of Jesus Christ.
My heart breaks for Joan and their family as they remain in our prayers. He is rejoycing with our Father in heaven, Amen.
Lenny Morey
Grace Anglican Church, AMIA
Orange Park, Florida
My thoughts and prayers are with Joan and her sons during this sad time. My late husband worked closely with Bishop Jecko as his Deputy in the diocesan office in Jacksonville. I admired Bishop Jecko’s commitment to standing firm for his beliefs whether popular or not. He was truly a godly man. The Jecko’s were strong support for us during my own husband’s illness. I regret that Joan and I have lost touch with one another these past three years. I hope that our paths will cross again. I felt a great loss when they left for Texas. The Jecko family will be in my prayers.