Pastor’s Desk ~ June 8, 2025

Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Notes on late Spring

As I mentioned in last week’s Pastor’s Desk, the Hispanic Community planned a celebration for Fr. Mauricio’s 1st Anniversary of Ordination for last Sunday, which was June 1st. What I didn’t know is that when they realized that Msgr. Dan and I have our anniversaries just a few days later on June 7th (55th and 39th, respectively), they insisted that we be feted as well. It was a terrific celebration, with the cooler weather cooperating. They couldn’t have made it a complete surprise to me, since the party cakes are almost always stored in the rectory fridge, where it’s impossible to miss huge pink cake boxes.

What I always look forward to is the sliced watermelon, a permanent feature of these spreads. It takes me back to my own childhood, when watermelon was more strictly seasonal, and thus available over a much shorter period of time. (I also miss the time when it was 3-5 cents a pound at peak season…) My grandfather always sprinkled his watermelon with salt, cantaloupe with pepper, and fresh tomatoes with both. It’s often said that the two senses most closely associated with memory and nostalgia are taste and smell, and that has been my experience.

Other than honoring Fr. Mauricio and Msgr. Dan, one of the best parts of the “comida” was being in a room full of parishioners obviously enjoying themselves as an extended family. Perhaps the best part was watching the children playing with one another, oblivious to the adults (and vice-versa). The children gather in huddles, plot games, then scatter. Seeing the tenderness with which older siblings help their younger siblings at these gatherings, no matter how much they may quarrel at home, was heartwarming. Many of the adults are personal friends with one another, while others belong to a wider circle of co-parishioners familiar to one another by sight merely from attending Mass together. This is a quality of community and parish life that social media can never replace. Whenever I am tempted to despair of the future, I think of moments like this.

This past Friday, June 6th, was the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the allied invasion at Normandy, on the northwest coast of France, still the largest naval invasion in history. Due to the sheer cliffs and the foggy weather, it was long believed impossible. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of Teddy Roosevelt, was at age 56, the oldest man and the only general to arrive in the first wave of troops. His son, Quentin Roosevelt, was in the first wave of troops to arrive that same day at Omaha Beach – the only father-son team to do so. Immediately after the invasion had began, FDR addressed the nation with his “D-Day Prayer,” saying that the troops were fighting “to preserve our republic, our religion and our civilization” – words now unlikely to be used by a president of either party.

On a sad note, Marilyn Lee, our long-time pianist at the 7:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, has died at age 90. Not long ago, she had surgery on her foot, which prevented her from using the piano pedals. She had been in good spirits, confident of returning soon. Alas, it was not to be. Her memorial services will be held at Elim Lutheran Church on Wednesday, June 11. She was a faithful servant to our community, a fine artist with exquisite musical taste. (There were mornings when I hesitated to begin Mass, because I didn’t want to interrupt her playing “Clair de Lune.” Where else but SV could you hear Debussy played, live and beautifully, at 7:30 a.m.?) May she receive the reward of her goodness, and her sons be comforted in their sadness. RIP.

Fr. Bill Donahue