The kingdom of heaven belongs to Annie the little Tiger

Homily

Funeral Mass for Annie Koester

31 July 2026

St. Ann Catholic Church  - Prairie Village, KS

AMDG

In 2012 I was recruiting priests for the Archdiocese as vocation director.  I knew of a 6'8" kid at St. James who was a 5 start basketball recruit.  He was the tallest altar server I ever knew.  He served at Mass regularly, just like Annie Koester, though he was a lot bigger than her.  Connor died at age 17 before he could become a priest or a national champion for KU!  Everyone was so devastated.  The Kansas City star wrote an article, saying that this remarkable young man with so much potential had lost his battle with brain cancer.  I reposted the story on facebook, wanting to share the news of this incredible young man who just wanted to glorify God with his life.  Within minutes one of his classmates sharply commented on my post, saying I shouldn't have reposted that article.  She was really upset that someone said that Connor lost.  In her heart, her friend Connor was a winner.  His cancer was his cross, that showed the love that was in his heart for everyone.  The cross is not where life ends; it's where life truly begins, and where the love of God that conquers all things is made perfect.  

Mark and Katie, you told me that Caroline was the first one to remind you that we have to forgive whoever did this to your family and to your dear Annie.  Caroline is right.  Forgiveness shows that there is something greater than this evil that has hit your family so terribly.  Forgiveness is the most powerful thing that we can do, and makes sure that evil never has the last say.  If anger or despair is the only thing that results from Annie's death, then evil has won another victory it never deserved.  It's when Jesus had no reason to forgive, that he said Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.  

So many of us prayed like you did for a miracle, for Annie's life in this world to be spared.  For reasons we will never know, it wasn't meant to be.  Katie you asked me why this happened.  That question doesn't have a satisfactory answer this side of heaven.  We're all so sorry that this nightmare is your reality.  We love you so much, and we will miss Annie so much.  If we could bring her back, we all would.  We are sorry this happened to you.  We will be forever sorry.  The loss of a little one so perfect, so dear, so full of life and spunk and potential, is heartbreaking and next to unbearable.  It's not fair.  It shouldn't have happened.  

As people of faith we have to walk this mysterious line of surrending to the way things are while holding on to hope that all things will be made new.  Annie's spunk and curiosity and faithfulness and tenacity are not erased by her tragedy; if anything they shine ever more brightly, for all the little ones touched by Jesus' passion, belong to the Kingdom of heaven.  

Annie reminds me of St. Therese of Lisieux, the little flower.  Therese had piercing eyes, and a tenacious face.  She would not take no for an answer.  She was told to quit asking questions and to settle for her place. She would have none of it.  This little girl was given the name Theresa of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face.  She was spunky and curious as a kid, who wanted to be the greatest warrior at prayer and the most tenacious missionary, designing a way to do both by doing small things with great 

St. Ann's has Annie the Tiger now as our example and intercessor. Like Therese, Annie the Tiger will spend her heaven doing good on earth, encouraging each of us to spend our life building the kingdom of heaven, as she did, by being spunky, and tenacious and curious, and cute as hell.  For the kingdom of heaven belongs to Annie our little Tiger.  

You asked me Katie if Annie is in the happiest place she ever has been.  Ironically, the saddest thing, her being taken from us in a way that is almost impossible for us to understand, is also the happiest thing, through which her goodness will shine more gloriously than ever.  

Life will never be as good, and yet we are all forever changed for the better, for receiving the gift of Annie the little Tiger.  Rest in peace, Annie, and pray for us, that we will all be more tenacious, and faithful, and spunky because of you. Amen.

+mj