Kate Noonan: We enjoyed a retreat at the Taizé Community, an ecumenical retreat center in Southern France. Why were you drawn to Taizé?
Adele Gallo: I was actually interested in the music of Taizé, their community being renowned for their chant. The chants are brief and focused. The chants appeal to me because I’m very attracted to sacred music, particularly liturgical music. The Taizé chant really, if you’ll pardon the pun, sings to me.
K: Did you know what to expect at the retreat center?
A: Knowing that their mission is retreats for student groups, I expected to see lots of dorm buildings, but that proved to be wrong. We were truly in an idyllic country setting with little evidence that over 2000 people were at the retreat center with us. It was a very peaceful place, as charming as anything you’d see in a picture, yet it was serving all these young people.
K: How were the retreat days structured?
A: Each day, in a sense, followed a contemporary version of monastic prayer. We met three times a day, morning, noon, and night for prayer, extensive periods of silent prayer and chant. Our all-adult group met each morning after breakfast. Brother Pedro provided—in his charming Spanish accent—a meditation on a scripture reading, breaking open the Word in a thoughtful and challenging way to consider and pray about. He left us to focus on two or three questions to take up later in the day.
K: Each afternoon we met in a smaller English-speaking group to address the questions Br. Pedro had offered in the morning. Can you describe our faith-sharing groups?
A: Oh, I thought they were spectacular from the beginning. Just for starters, the group consisted of people with children of school age, a retiree, a woman whose husband was in another group, a Brother, and a female Methodist pastor. The commonality was we were all there to get closer to God and to do so together. I found the groups really heartwarming. And the biggest surprise was that some of these people had been coming back to Taizé every year for 20-some years!
K: It was during the very intimate, faith-focused discussions our group really blossomed. It was truly a joyful experience.
A: Our facilitator was excellent. He knew when to push and when to step back. It was noteworthy how he drew information, not just as information, but as reflections of our personal spirituality. It was clear that we all reverenced the confidentiality of these conversations.
K: I was introduced to the Taizé community and chants at Yale Divinity School, but I didn’t know much about the Taizé experience. Could you talk about that a little?
A: The ultimate structure was that every week ended in the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. Throughout our exercises, we were always headed there. I thought it was significant that, unlike other retreats I’ve been on, there was no daily Mass. As we approached Thursday, reading again Jesus’ address to his apostles at the Last Supper, and moving on to when these very apostles abandoned him, handed him over to the executioners, it all came as a new affront to our Savior. Friday evening, we had the opportunity to venerate the Holy Cross. And so it was that the Resurrection surprised us, like a rewrite of the final episode. I thought I knew the story so well…turns out I didn’t. Alleluia!
K: On Sunday our week concluded with a Catholic Mass. One of our new retreat friends made it clear it was not to be missed. Please tell me your impressions of the Catholic Mass.
A: Well, I was happy to be back on familiar territory. The week without Mass reminded me of the days when our parishes were closed down during COVID. I remember crying because we couldn’t receive Communion, only watch the Mass online. We could see the Mass being celebrated, but we couldn’t be there. It created a terrible sense of hunger. When we had Mass on Sunday morning, I recognized the feeling. We were finally being fed. That was a really joyous experience.
K: When I received Communion that Sunday, it brought me to tears. I too was hungry for the Eucharist.
A: I am in awe of the structure of the retreat week. It’s really well thought out, and yet you’re not aware of, you know, go do this at such and such a time, go do that. Day by day, scripture reading by reading, we were always moving through salvation history, always hearing the call of God to come closer. The invitation does not limit, does not discriminate, but is offered in the freedom of God’s love for each individual.
— Kate Noonan, Director of the Interparish Religious Education & Adele Gallo, Teacher at Convent of the Sacred Heart
September 15, 2024 Essay: Experience the Wonder of AccompanimentThere is much discussion in our culture today about loneliness. Last year, the surgeon general even issued an advisory about this nation’s crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection. But is not only secular leaders who are calling on us to come together and be present to one another. Pope Francis, writing on what he calls accompaniment in The Joy of the Gospel, says “We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing. Listening, in communication, is an openness of heart which makes possible that closeness without which genuine spiritual encounter cannot occur.”
Each time I participate in faith sharing with the St. Ignatius community, I am amazed at the depth of reflection, vulnerability, and sincere desire to grapple with the mysteries of faith: the earnest efforts to untangle the ways that the very meaning of the universe intertwine with the quotidian duties of our daily life. What is our purpose? How does that interact with our daily tasks? How should we respond to job losses, illnesses, crises of faith or the routine of our lives—and how should we speak to God about these experiences? What comfort and hope can Jesus offer? What solace can we offer one another? As Pope Francis says, “Our personal experience of being accompanied and assisted, and of openness to those who accompany us, will teach us to be patient and compassionate with others.”
In these moments of sharing, I feel the opposite of loneliness. If we believe the Ignatian precept that God is in all things, we know that we are never alone, but it can be easy to mistake that we are. If you are hungry to make connections as you deepen your prayer life and to experience the wonder of accompaniment, Meeting Christ in Prayer (MCIP) is for you.
MCIP is an eight-week opportunity to explore and develop our relationship with Christ, through introduction to prayer practices and faith sharing. As faith sharers, we listen attentively to each other’s experiences of prayer and Christ, understanding that these enrich our own connection to our savior. We may discover a new insight that we can apply to our prayer practice or hear a story that resonates with the same struggles that we have, whether they be with family, work or another aspect of contemporary life.
We all come to MCIP with different challenges that we are coping with; through the program, we learn how to turn to Christ for strength. Participants have joined the program on journeys of coming to faith as older Catholics, discerning their direction in life as young Catholics, and everything in between. You can ask for God’s grace, discover or develop patterns in your prayer life, and above all, create a relationship with Christ through a greater understanding of his incredible and unique journey on Earth. During the week, you will commit to reading and praying in solitude, preparing for the weekly sessions when you are together with other participants.
In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes that, “One who accompanies others has to realize that each person’s situation before God and their life in grace are mysteries which no one can fully know from without.” Celebrate the mystery of having a spiritual experience that is at once fully your own and at the same time deeply shared with others. In MCIP, you can accompany others by being present to their sharing—and at the same time, feel the power of being accompanied by a generous, thoughtful community. Quoting Blessed Peter Faber, Pope Fracis reflects that time is God’s messenger. Give yourself the gift of time devoted to your spiritual life. Come take the MCIP journey—a path you’ll travel with Christ, but also with the other retreatants. All you need is an open heart and a listening ear.
— Cynthia-Marie Marmo O’Brien
Member, Meeting Christ in Prayer
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines pilgrimage as the journey of a pilgrim. Its secondary meaning is the course of life on earth. A pilgrim is defined as one who journeys in foreign lands or who travels to a shrine or holy place. Hope is defined as a desire accompanied by the expectation of or belief in fulfillment. A Christian’s understanding of hope is that it is a virtue that comes from God and leads people back to God. It is the desire for eternal life and the kingdom of God as a source of happiness and joy.
As you may recall from an announcement I made In the Spring, Pope Francis has proclaimed the Jubilee Year 2025 as a Year of Hope. By tradition a Jubilee Year is a time for pilgrims to journey to Rome and visit the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul and walk through the doors of the four major basilicas of Rome (St. Peter’s, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran), thereby meriting an abundance of blessings.
Let’s face it. Not all of us will be able to make a pilgrimage to Rome next year. That is not to say that we cannot participate in a pilgrimage of hope during the Holy Year. In fact, are we not already on that pilgrimage? Recall the definitions of pilgrimage, pilgrim, and hope. A pilgrimage is the journey of life to what we hold sacred. It is hope that points us in the right direction and guides our steps. As God’s gift to us, hope will never fail because what we desire has already been fulfilled. It is our faith in Jesus Christ that allows us to journey with a strong stride to our walk and a joyful spirit in our hearts. The challenge that we face is to have the willingness to open our hearts and minds to the reality of God’s presence in the world and in our lives.
As pilgrims, we will invariably journey through a foreign land, and sometimes it is at our very doorstep. The terrain will seem like the highest mountain or the darkest valley. Those encountered along the way will seem to us like barbarians, heathens who threaten our very existence. Personal hardships or tragedies, like massive blocks of granite blocking the path, may dampen our spirits and attempt to extinguish our fervor. It is at times such as these that we take refuge in our faith and are buoyed by hope, for we know that God is true to God’s word. We will recognize God’s kingdom in our daily lives amidst the din and the clamor and the rough edges of our world. We will have arrived at the destination of our pilgrimage, the world in which we live.
St. Ignatius Loyola exhorts us to see God in all things. All of creation reflects God’s presence in the world. God’s kingdom is here, not in some galactic realm of wispy clouds and ethereal bodies. Jesus Christ fearlessly proclaimed the kingdom of God in the here and now. He challenged those who would listen to him to a conversion of heart so they could experience that kingdom and, in turn, proclaim his message to everyone. Like those first joyful disciples, we are confronted by the same skeptics who would deny that reality and sow the seeds of fear and division. Our pilgrimage of hope in a world that often seems bent on self-destruction, however, is firmly rooted in the belief that the world, that all God’s creation, is sacred and reflects the image of God.
In his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis exhorted the Church and all who believe in Jesus Christ to proclaim in word and deed “the joy of the Gospel.” As a community of disciples of Jesus Christ, we are on a pilgrimage of hope, bound together by our faith and our commitment to bring into our daily lives and to the world the joy of the Gospel. Nurtured by hope, we, as a parish, are now on the threshold of implementing the goals of the parish’s Vision Statement. With God’s help, our aspirations will be actualized through a large dose of grit and determination. What we desire to accomplish is within our reach if we but open our minds and hearts to the goodness and joy that abounds among us. Our task is to join the mission of Jesus Christ in establishing in our world that kingdom of happiness and joy, of peace and justice, that God intended from the moment of creation. Please join in this communal pilgrimage of hope.
As we rev up the engine to begin a “new year” in the life of the parish, let us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and for one another that we may be joyful companions in our pilgrimage of hope, this year and always. And may all that we do be for the greater glory of God and the salvation of all!
– Rev. Dennis J. Yesalonia, S.J., Pastor
From the Pastor: September 8, 2024Dear Parishioners,
To those of you who have been away for the summer months, welcome back! For those who remained in the City throughout the summer, congratulations! You survived another hot one. And to those who join us remotely through our livestreamed Masses, we are blessed by your remote presence at our celebrations of the Eucharist.
As in the past, the pace of things at the parish may have eased, but the work of the parish continued without interruption. The parish staff and many of the ministries of the parish were hard at work. I am grateful for the dedication of our Hospitality Ministers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and altar servers throughout the summer. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul continued its good work. Many who are involved with our parish ministries gathered at social events to recharge their batteries and plan for the coming year.
I am also grateful for the dedication of the parish priests who diligently worked in the vineyard of our parish and enjoyed time away for their annual retreats and vacations. Father Mathew Bomki, SJ joined us for the months of July and August to help with our daily and weekend Mass schedule. He has returned to Edinburgh to continue his doctoral studies in biblical theology.
Allow me now to report on a few things that occurred during the summer months. The Second Annual Parish Art Show was held 20-23 June. In addition to the ammunition box icons of Ukrainian artists, Oleksandr Klymenko and Sofia Atlantova, more than 70 works of art created by parishioners were displayed and offered for sale. The total amount raised in support of the parish was $8,788. Mark your calendars for next year’s Third Annual Art Show which will be held on 8-11 May 2025, just in time to buy your Mother’s Day gift!
Now that you may be marking your calendar, please circle these other dates:
· 6 October 2024, Care of Creation Prayer Service
· 9 October 2024, Courageous Women of Faith Presentations
· 17 October 2024, New Parishioners’ Reception
· 22 October 2024, Ministry Appreciation Dinner
· 2 November 2024, Blessing of the Sneakers at the conclusion of the 5:30 PM Mass
· 7 December 2024, Annual Snow Ball Dance
The summer was also a time to take a closer look at the major capital needs of the parish, mostly the sound system in the church, the lighting inside the church and narthex, and the repair and/or redesign of the front doors of the church. Consultants were hired in each of these areas. In the near term, we will have additional speakers installed in the church that will allow for a balanced distribution of sound throughout the church. As the reports of our consultants are submitted, I will report to you on what can be done, and what we can afford to do, to enhance the lighting inside the church and resolve the malfunctioning of the mechanical system that frequently prevents the opening of the bronze front doors of the church.
Now that our Vision Statement Implementation Plan has been distributed, we will begin in earnest with new initiatives and expanded scopes for many of our parish ministries. That is not to say that over the summer months there has been no movement in the implementation of exciting new programming. The Laudato Si’ Care of Creation Ministry organized a neighborhood park clean-up. Probably the most exciting thing to anticipate in 2025 is the parish trip to Rome for the Holy Year, a Pilgrimage of Hope. There has already been a high level of interest shown by parishioners. Also in the planning stage is a trip to South Africa that will be co-sponsored by the parish and our Turkish Muslim friends at Peace Island Institute. This is one of the many programs being planned by the Ignatian Interfaith Ministry.
As we begin again, I invite you to roll up your sleeves and get involved. We are truly blessed to have an extraordinary parish precisely because of the dedication and commitment of all of you. As we look forward to the future, let us be filled with hope and joy, knowing that all that we do is for the greater glory of God.
Sincerely in the Lord,
Fr. Yesalonia
ISJ Essay: College Mentoring Program 2024: St. Ignatius Loyola and LSA PartnershipThe song, “ For Good,” accompanied the slideshow, highlighting the achievements of the students in the LSA-ISJ College Access Program. “People come into our lives for a reason, Bringing something we can learn, And we are led, To those that help us most to grow, And we help them in return.” These lyrics speak to us about mutuality and capture the essence of this program, now in its second year. Terry, a mentor, provided an example of this mutuality when he said, “Our reward comes when the students excitedly open their college acceptance envelopes to find they not only have achieved their dream of college admission but with scholarship money as well.”
Wallace Hall was transformed on Saturday, June 29th, adorned with graduation decorations as we celebrated the achievements of the class of 2024. Melina Gonzalez, LSA, and Fr. Yesalonia welcomed everyone to the celebration. Each mentor spoke in glowing tributes about their student and mentioned highlights from the year that enriched their lives. Terry and Dolores Quinn shared how they bonded with Vivianna during a rain-drenched tour of Stony Brook University. Laura and Jazmine created a bond when Jazmine was comfortable to ask for help. Daniel took the initiative to pursue environmental science, a cause that is also dear to Nick and Fran Naccari. Regan Orillac and Blanca shared tears of joy as Regan highlighted the
fraught circumstances that Blanca had to overcome and how she excelled despite her circumstances.
The students expressed their gratitude to their mentors and the College Access Program. Daniel described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” This opportunity is life-changing and St. Ignatius Loyola was described by Melina as “the light at the end of the tunnel,” as LSA had the dream but needed a partner to help them navigate the college application system. Jacqueline, a rising college sophomore, and the catalyst for this program spoke in glowing terms of how Laura Silvius still plays a vital role in her life and how she is the family she needs in addition to her own family.
Fr. Yesalonia welcomed and congratulated the students on their academic achievements and acknowledged the role the mentors played in their success by asking the young students to be motivated to help others when they encounter a neighbor in need. This message of mutuality is the ingredient that makes LSA special and was the title of a recent book, Mutuality in El Barrio, Stories of the Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Service. It is widely recognized that contributions made by Melina Gonzalez and Lucia Aguilar to the success of this program go far beyond their daily roles with LSA. In her closing speech, Lucia said, “Payment is seeing you succeed.”
This event marked both an end and a beginning of what we endeavor to be a cycle of success, as we have begun working with the next class of seniors and juniors. Some of the families were in attendance at Saturday’s celebration, as well as families from 11th grade as we continue to assist LSA when a need is recognized.
- Jimmy Coffey, Ignatian Social Justice Ministry member
Have you ever walked through a field of wildflowers? It is like a riotous palette of colors that stretches to the horizon, a carpet bedazzled with precious gemstones. The illusion is one of a gateway that leads to another reality, one of tranquil beauty or a field of dreams, where nature itself is a gracious host. Planted in mystery on knolls, in crags, and untilled soil, they grow with wild abandon, watered by no effort of their own. Arrayed in splendor beyond even that of Solomon, they neither toil nor spin – Matthew 6:28-29. Their rapture of contentment seduces the eyes of all who gaze upon their radiance. And in that glance, we are invited to reflect upon who we are in the vast expanse of God’s creation.
In the humdrum or hectic pace of our lives we often fail to see the field of wildflowers in which we live. Preoccupied with a myriad of concerns, we are reluctant to let go of what blinds our vision to be fully aware of God’s abiding care for us in each moment of our lives. For you see, each of us is a wildflower in God’s eyes. We are that field planted and nurtured by God. The question that we often struggle with is whether we truly believe this.
In her poem, Wildflowers, Gaby Comprés, a poet from Santo Domingo, invites her readers to see themselves as wildflowers who are transported to places where, without effort on their part, beauty is waiting to burst forth and create an endless field of wildflowers. She writes:
Let’s be wildflowers;
let our souls be scattered by the wind.
Let us grow, wild and free, tall and brave,
in the places we dream,
in the places where our longings are filled.
Let us grow between the cracks of brokenness,
and we will make everything beautiful.
The summer months are now upon us. Many of us will scatter far and near to find places of respite. Many will remain in the canyons of New York City. And for some, a summer vacation is a fanciful dream. No matter where we may find ourselves during the lazy or frenetic days of summer, we will experience a field of wildflowers if we are but open to it and allow God to be both the sower and cultivator of our lives.
In gazing upon the beauty of a field of wildflowers, whether we do it in person or in our mind’s eye, we take delight in the willingness of wildflowers simply to bask in the sunshine of a summer’s day. Let our prayer be that we revel in God’s gaze upon us so we may fill the cracks of brokenness and become for others a vision of hope and love.
Happy gazing! Happy summer!
Dennis J. Yesalonia, S.J., Pastor
June 23, 2024: Who Am I? Whose Am I? What Am I Called to Be?As you reflect on the Gospel reading this Sunday, imagine yourself in the boat with Jesus. Who are you? Which disciple resonates with who you are at this moment in time? Or do you resonate with Jesus’ persona? St. Ignatius calls this the Imaginative Prayer when you put yourself into the story and discover who you are in that story.
Jesus was asleep and not bothered by the waves knocking the boat around. He knew who he was, and he knew they were safe with him in the stormy sea. On the other hand, some of the disciples were nervous and felt they were in imminent peril. Yet, they did not know at this time Who Jesus really was, and they looked to him to save them. As soon as they awakened him, Jesus calmed the sea. Jesus questioned their faith and even though they still did not realize who Jesus was, the Son of God, they turned to him for help. When I was a Yale/ New Haven Bridgeport Hospital chaplain intern, we used this Gospel reading for our chapel time. As we entered into the Imaginative Prayer experience, I fell asleep, like Jesus, because I was on call all night. I leaned into Jesus. It was a stormy night with one code blue death, and I was the spiritual presence for the patient and the family. Life is filled with stormy days and nights, and when I lean into Jesus as my True North, I know I am safe.
To know Jesus, first and foremost, transforms and transcends who I am. In this discernment, I come to understand Whose I am. Who has called me by name? Of course, my parents, family, and friends play a key role in whose I am. Yet, God also calls me by name as his beloved daughter. Jesus is my brother, and I see the Holy Spirit as the feminine spirit of God—the Ruah, the breath or wind of God. As Catholics, we believe in the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. When stormy seas arise, I relate to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit depending on who I need the most at that time. I believe that Jesus’ disciples turned to God and looked upon Jesus as their brother, not knowing his true identity and destiny until the Last Supper. The disciples belonged to God, and when Jesus was with them, they belonged to him.
We can never be sure that Jesus’ disciples truly understood what he was calling them to be, as they laid the groundwork of faith for future generations. Do you think these men actually understood the depth of what they were called to be? The disciples’ faith wavered at times, and they didn’t always understand Jesus’ parables. Through these times of their waffling faith, Jesus reminded them of their mission and accompanied them. Jesus transformed them into becoming the apostles he needed to carry on his teachings when he would no longer be an earthly being. He was their rabbi—their teacher. Ponder on who or what you are called to be. Who are the important teachers in your life?
Reflecting on these three questions, Teilhard de Chardin, S.J., says, “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human existence.” If you can think of yourself as a “spiritual being,” you will look at the world with new eyes. With these new eyes you will be awakened to the answers: Who Am I? Whose Am I? What Am I Called to Be?
As we approach the Synod in October and await the outcome of how woman might have leadership roles in our Church, St. Ignatius Loyola Women’s Voices is planning a Day of Reflection. Save the date for October 5 framed around these questions: Who Am I? Whose Am I? What Am I Called to Be?
— Jean Santopatre, Pastoral Associate
ISJ Essay: Muchas Gracias, San IgnacioThis is the story of Jose and Maria. In March 2023 they fled their native Venezuela with their three children in a desperate effort to escape from an increasingly dangerous homeland. They crossed 3,000 miles by foot, bus, and train. After two months of daily struggle and with threats of kidnapping and attacks from drug cartels, they crossed the border to Texas. This was June 2023. They were fortunate to meet members of Jesuit Refugee Services, which paid their bus fare to New York. A few days later we met Jose, Maria, and the children at a migrant shelter near Kennedy Airport.
It was at this time that the St. Ignatius Social Justice Ministry launched the Migrant Accompaniment Team, under the leadership of Laura de Boisblanc. We were part of the team that assisted them in finding clothing, registering children in school, securing proper ID, obtaining health insurance, filing for asylum, and crafting resumes to assist them with employment.
The support of St. Ignatius parishioners was vital in the family’s adjustment to America. Parishioners donated clothing and school supplies. The families came to the 11 AM Family Mass. They participated in the LBGTQ Scavenger Hunt. They danced at the Snow Ball Dance as guests of Father Yesalonia. Social Justice held a Christmas party for the families. The St. Vincent de Paul Angel Project so generously donated gifts to the party. The children still love to show their photos with Santa Claus (AKA Father Hilbert).
In March, Jose and Maria told us they had accepted jobs with Tyson Meat Company in Humboldt, Tennessee. The Migrant Accompaniment Team all said a tearful goodbye to our beloved friends. They keep in touch with us via weekly FaceTime and WhatsApp texts. They always say, “MUCHAS GRACIAS, SAN IGNACIO!” They report that the pay is good, allowing them to rent an apartment with a swimming pool in the complex. The children are now learning to swim and enjoy being kids. Jose likes his job in the meat-packing plant because he meets other workers from all over America and Latin America. Maria has opened a bank account. They obtained driver’s licenses and purchased a car. Despite its 100,000 miles, their Ford is ‘bellisimo.’
Now it is June 2024. Jose came to New York and stayed in our apartment. As we walked along 84th Street, he recalled so many happy memories of Family Mass. He remembered the Homework Help and ESL classes the Social Justice Ministry organized and taught with the help of students from Regis High School and Dominican Academy. He reminisced about the blessing Father Yesalonia gave the families about to begin their new lives in Tennessee. Over dinner, he repeated how grateful he was to our parish. We admired his own religious fervor when several times a day, he pointed his fingers upward and said, “Dios es conmigo.” The day Jose left for his return flight to Tennessee, he connected us via FaceTime to his mom who still lives in Venezuela. She waved to us and kept repeating, “MUCHAS GRACIAS, SAN IGNACIO.” Mama was so happy St. Ignatius helped her son.
Jose’s family and the other migrant families that still live in New York are our family, the family of St. Ignatius. The entire team is grateful that the Social Justice Ministry allows us to do this joyful work of migrant accompaniment. This support continues to flourish thanks to the assistance of the priests and countless parishioners who lovingly donate clothing, legal assistance, translation services, picnics in the park. As he said his final goodbye to us, he again repeated, “MUCHAS GRACIAS, SAN IGNACIO.”
— Dolores and Terry Quinn
June 16, 2024 Essay: On This Father’s DayFather’s Day is a time to honor and celebrate the fathers and father figures who have left an indelible mark on our lives. Fatherhood, akin to motherhood, is a calling to nurture and shepherd young souls, making Father’s Day a moment of profound gratitude and admiration for the paternal figures who have shaped my journey. From my own father to my beloved husband, and all the father figures in between, their influence is felt in every aspect of my life.
My father was a man of many dimensions—a passionate, gentle giant, towering at six-foot-three, with a scholarly demeanor and a poet’s soul. His presence in our home was marked by contrasts; while his booming voice often echoed with impassioned discussions on politics or expressed disappointments in some of my choices, there were moments of quiet introspection, where he would be moved to tears by the melodies of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. In the midst of calmly teaching me life’s practical skills, like riding a bicycle or driving a car, there were other instances where his patience wore thin. Despite these contradictions, two things remained steadfast in my father’s character: his boundless love for his family and his unwavering faith.
Dad’s love for us shone through in countless small gestures—a tender hand holding my mother’s during their evening walks, a heartfelt poem penned to commemorate birthdays and anniversaries, or a simple goodnight kiss on the forehead. Moreover, his faith was deeply rooted in his daily practices—a devotion to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, the recitation of the rosary without fail, and an avid reading of the Bible, seeking to deepen his relationship with God through prayer and reflection. Through his example, Dad instilled in me the virtues of courage, integrity, and above all, faith. As I reflect on the profound impact of my father’s influence in my life, I am filled with gratitude for his wisdom and the invaluable lessons he imparted.
Not surprisingly, my husband mirrors many of the qualities I admire in my father. From the moment we met, I was especially captivated by his discernment and contemplation of God’s presence in his life. Together, as a young married couple, we navigated life’s challenges hand in hand, rooted in our shared faith.
As the father of our two children, my husband embodies these same values of reflection, unwavering faith, and selflessness that shaped my upbringing. Whether he’s assisting with homework, tending to household chores, providing a compassionate ear, coaching our son’s Little League team, or attending countless recitals, his everyday actions are a testament to God’s love in action. He leads by example, teaching our children the importance of forgiveness and resilience. His role in our family is irreplaceable, it shapes our family’s dynamics and fills our home with warmth, joy, and love. His love is a reflection of God’s love, steadfast and unconditional, guiding our children toward becoming kind, discerning, and responsible individuals.
On this Father’s Day, let us remember the unwavering commitment, boundless love, and sacrifices made by our fathers and father figures. Let us honor and celebrate the men who have mentored us and have given of themselves to guide us. May their example inspire us to embrace the values of selflessness, humility, and courage in our lives and relationships, as we journey together in faith, love, and gratitude.
June 9, 2024 Essay: Deliver UsAs the school year draws to a close I feel unsettled. There’s a subliminal gnawing at my person that I cannot quite quell. It almost seems as though I stopped short in my car and all that I left unattended in the back seat has flown into the front seat. Although physically unscathed, my busy mind tells me I should have already tended to these items that are now crowded around me in the front of the car. The general sense of overwhelm is unnerving.
In this time of transition and unease, I remind myself we are never alone. It is easy to become wrapped up in the tasks of life and forget God is with us through every phase of our journey. I can place all the items sitting with me in the front seat of the car with my maker. I am called to action but God manages the results.
At each Mass the following lines from the liturgy truly speak to me:
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Fretfulness is quite human and especially apparent when we transition from one season to another. Luckily, the human condition is not foreign to God. God became person out of love; to know us better and to truly understand us, our feelings and our needs.
How do we await in joyful hope and draw ourselves out of anxiety? One surefire way to remedy our self-centered angst is to turn our gaze outward toward those in need. In a few weeks the youth group and I head to the Hudson Valley for a mission trip: the Summer Outreach Week, led by the Capuchin Friars. We’ll be busy each day building bunk beds, assisting at Vacation Bible School, visiting the senior center, and feeding the homeless. In the evenings we’ll reflect on our service and how we experienced God’s presence in our work. With luck and grace, we’ll serve as a conduit helping to grant peace during our outreach week.
Focusing on the needs of others will make short order of whatever is sitting with me in the front seat. Service gives us opportunities to get out of self, see the face of God in others, and be the hands and feet of Jesus. I look forward to reporting back on what I am sure will be a transformative trip!
When the mission trip wraps up and the youth group is returned home after their week of service the summer offers yet another opportunity for me to draw closer to God and be relieved of my anxiety. In July I’ll head to a silent retreat with the Taizé Community in the Burgundy region of France. Taizé’s prioritizes prayer, silence and reconciliation with gentle encouragement to focus on living out the Gospel in joy and simplicity. A week in silent community will provide yet another occasion to dwell in the many ways the Lord delivers us from our burdens and calls us to wait in joyful hope.
Take some time as the seasons change, truly inhabiting the ways the Lord unwaveringly Delivers Us.
— Kate Noonan, Director of the Interparish Religious Education Program