Remembering Archbishop Drexel Gomez With Rev. Allison Dean

The passing of Archbishop Drexel Gomez has stirred deep reflection across this Diocese. Among the many tributes shared in his honour, the Rev. Allison Dean, Rector of St. Luke’s Parish in South Eleuthera, shared a moving remembrance that captures the essence of a man whose leadership and faith shaped generations.

Her words reveal not only the depth of his intellect and pastoral care but also the quiet, transformative ways in which he touched the lives of those around him.

Rev. Dean began her reflection with a memory familiar to many who sat under Archbishop Gomez’s preaching at St. Agnes Church:

“In my early twenties, I didn’t always appreciate Bishop Gomez’s 45-minute sermons at 7:00 AM on Sunday mornings at St. Agnes. But in the years since then, I grew to respect and value the brilliant theological mind with which he was blessed, and I will be forever grateful for his willingness to share some of that with me.”

That mind—sharp, disciplined, and rooted in scripture, was matched by a heart that sought to bring others along with him. For Rev. Dean, one of his greatest gifts was his ability to form and empower others in ministry.

“When the Sunday School asked him to write something for them, he told me to do it for him because he couldn’t possibly keep to their low word limit. When he was asked to write an essay on religion in an independent Bahamas for a 50th anniversary publication, I had the great privilege of helping him outline and flesh out his thoughts.”

These moments reveal a teacher who preferred partnership over distance. By inviting others into his work, Archbishop Gomez turned ordinary interactions into lessons in faith and theology.

“Of course, he could have done both things and many others on his own, but involving me helped me to grow into a theologian in my own right,” she wrote. “He saw something in me that he wanted to mold and shape to help me become not simply the best that I could be, but all that God had called me to be.”

Beyond his intellect, Archbishop Gomez’s influence was deeply personal. He was known for his pastoral presence, a shepherd who walked alongside those he served through every stage of life and ministry.

“From when I first began to wrestle with a call to ordained ministry to the day he ordained me deacon, through five years of ministry, Bishop Gomez was a constant unfailing presence in my life,” Rev. Dean shared. “Since the phone calls stopped in March, there have been many moments I felt lost without him.”

For many, such recollections mirror their own experiences of the late Archbishop: a leader who was equally at home in the pulpit, the classroom, or a quiet pastoral conversation. He led with conviction but guided with gentleness while seeing potential in others long before they saw it themselves.

Rev. Dean captured this quality beautifully when she wrote,

“Bishop Gomez was more than a bishop to me. He was confidant, counselor, spiritual director, confessor, and friend.”

In the weeks following his passing, Rev. Dean admitted that the absence of his familiar voice and steady counsel left a void. Yet, as she reflected on his life, she found comfort in the continued presence of his wisdom, alive in memory and in faith.

“My life was forever changed by his presence and no one can ever replace him. But in my study and in my writing, I hear his voice more clearly now than I ever have before.”

That influence, she suggested, is part of his lasting gift to the Church. Even in death, his example continues to inspire clergy and laity alike to pursue deeper faith, rigorous thought, and compassionate service.

Rev. Dean concluded her tribute with a line from the beloved hymn by William Henry Draper—words that resonate as both thanksgiving and farewell:

“In our day of thanksgiving one psalm let us offer; for the saints who before us have found their reward. When the shadow of death fell upon them, we sorrowed, but now we rejoice that they rest in the Lord.”

She closed:

“May God grant to His servant Drexel eternal light and rest.”

Watch the full tribute here.