by Father Raymond P. Roden

In the late 1960s when many religious sisters reclaimed their baptismal and family names, Sister Mary Marcellus, C.S.J., became Sister Mary Anne Ricioppo, C.S.J. Curiously, the name didn’t stick. It was one of those funny things in a time of whirlwind change that she continued on as Marcellus in spite of the formal switch. In Spanish, it was Marcella. Her sisters called her Marce.

Sister Marcellus, who died on Nov. 11, 2012, was one of God’s little ones. Her friendship with Jesus was such that she radiated Gospel simplicity everywhere she went and had no other agenda but that friendship. If you knew her, you knew you had an open invitation to a fiesta of prayer, laughter, music, teaching and community which made the Lord’s presence believable, visible. A brilliant teacher and devoted principal for over half a century, her kids were drawn by her holiness without realizing that holiness was what attracted them. She’d have preferred death to seeing harm come to any one of them.

Activity-packed days and evenings and many weekends were possible because of the stability of a Eucharistic center. Daily Mass with her parish community at Transfiguration Church, Williamsburg, and a daily hour of Eucharistic adoration with Sister Peggy Walsh, C.S.J., in their tiny convent chapel allowed life and service to roll along evenly, smoothly, for the most part. That hour of adoration ballooned into an entire month each summer, an extended time of prayer and hospitality for those who wanted to join sisters in prayer and quiet at the parish retreat house in Westchester County. A few weeks before, there would be the usual phone call to make sure I’d be there for a few days at least, for Mass, a meal and good conversation.

On a pilgrimage to Rome for the beatification of Charles de Foucauld in November of 2005, her joy was childlike. When Pope Benedict unexpectedly walked by at St. Peter’s Basilica about 10 feet away from us, the moment was received as a surprise gift. Delighted as she was to be in the Eternal City, Sister Marcellus knew where she belonged, knew who she was. She was a sister, a little sister spiritually, a sister to her good friends, young and old, back home in Brooklyn. She was Jesus’ little sister most of all.

Of course, there were stormy days too, and she could ask, as any of us could, “What’s this all about?” “What in the world are we doing here?” The good answer, God’s answer, always came, and she never, ever gave up.

An honest, faithful attempt at establishing a new expression of consecrated life, together with Sister Peggy and two other Sisters of St. Joseph, toward living the Nazareth life more fully brought her full circle to carry on with the life she was already living. Mysteriously guided by Abba Joseph, husband of Mary and protector of Josephite Sisters, and Blessed Charles for sure, there was now a new emphasis on the little way, the spirituality of littleness. This renewed commitment would play out in contemplative prayer and in hospitality shared with immigrant women recently arrived from Central America with no resources, in addition to her usual work in school and parish.

When her school closed, she knew the quality of education was going down the rabbit hole, so she had no trouble letting go. Sister Marcellus was in on one of our best kept secrets: You don’t necessarily need a school or a classroom to teach. “Where two or three are gathered in my name. . .” was personal good news for her. Right to the end, the people of once-abandoned Williamsburg kept on coming to her choir, her CCD program, her prayer, her caritas.

In her final illness, I spoke with her on the phone and told her I was sorry I couldn’t be around more. Kind and gracious as ever, as if nothing were amiss, she assured me that it was ok. “It’s just good to hear your voice,” she said. A couple of days before she went home to the Lord, I sat next to her bed in the convent, held her hand and prayed the Memorare aloud. Unable to speak and very weak, a quick squeeze of my hand was her grateful “Amen,” a final gesture of a consecrated woman whose life was eucharistic, always thankful, always giving, always in communion, joyful and very much hidden from a world utterly incapable of offering more.

Her wake, a 24-hour vigil, was held in the parish church. Former second graders came with their grandchildren. The pastor wept as he presided at her funeral liturgy. It was hard to believe we had been friends for 40 years.

Growth and Success

Queen of the Rosary Catholic Academy in Williamsburg is one of Brooklyn’s newer Catholic academies.

Students receive competitive scores on standardized tests, and the academy takes great pride in successfully preparing its students for the academic demands of high school. 

O.L.P.H. Hosts Seuss-tastic Celebration

“Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try” — ah, they did try and indeed succeed to celebrate the joy of reading on the 108th birthday of beloved author Dr. Seuss at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, S. Ozone Park. 

Organized by teachers Peggy Breslin and Barbara Kingston, students in K-2 and 4-1 read Dr. Seuss books, created related crafts and made Cat in the Hat-themed snacks together in honor of Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day, March 2.

Inspired by The Lorax movie, the two classes are also sponsoring the planting of a new tree on the school grounds in time for Earth Day, April 22. (Photos courtesy Frances DeLuca) 

Spring is a perfect time to infuse new life into your marriage during a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend, April 20-22. (A Spanish-language weekend is also taking place April 20-22.) Take a closer look at your marriage, learn effective communication techniques and enhance the love you share. To register, call 1-877-697-9963 or e-mail marriageencounterbq@gmail.com. For the Spanish-language weekend, call Kathy, 646-201-8941, or Manny, 917-577-9268 or e-mail nycemm@live.com.

The annual Memorial Mass to commemorate the death of Msgr. Bernard J. Quinn, the Servant of God, will be celebrated at St. Brigid’s Church, Westbury, L.I., April 14 at 11 a.m.  Bus transportation is being provided from St. Peter Claver Church, Bedford-Stuyvesant, at a cost of $25 per person.  To reserve a seat, call 718-574-5772. To learn more about Msgr. Quinn, log onto www.fatherquinn.org.

A Lenten Blood Drive conducted by the New York Blood Center at Immaculate Conception Church, Jamaica, yielded 62 pints of blood — exceeding the parish goal by 19 pints. Way to go!

Quote of the Week: “Palm Sunday is like a glimpse of Easter. It’s a little bit joyful after being somber during Lent.” — Laura Gale

Renew your spirit this coming Eastertide on a special retreat with parishioners from St. Athanasius Church, Bensonhurst. Father John Campoli will conduct the retreat on the weekend following Easter, April 13-15 over the grounds of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, Long Island. Cost: $185, includes private room, meals and bus transportation. To register, call the rectory, 718-236-0124.

Don’t miss your chance to see America’s tenor Daniel Rodriguez in concert at St. Michael’s Church, Sunset Park, April 29. Concert features Rodriguez and his orchestra with New Zealand soprano Marla Kavanaugh. Concert begins at 4 p.m. Enjoy the concert, along with a cocktail reception and dinner for $75, or simply attend the concert for $50. Reserved seating. Tickets are going quickly. For tickets, call 718-768-6065.

This week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to the fourth grade at the Mount Carmel site of Queen of the Rosary Academy, Williamsburg. Boys and girls raised over $125, which they presented to Msgr. Joseph Calise, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, to help subsidize the repair/replacement costs to outdoor statues of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Jude following some recent vandalism.

Join the TALK. Tell Tablet TALK what’s happening in your corner of the diocese. Drop us a line at megiossi@diobrook.org or call 718-499-9705 ext. 326.

St. Saviour’s Third Graders Congratulate Cardinal Dolan

Third graders from St. Saviour Elementary School, Park Slope, recently made cards and wrote notes of congratulation to the newly elevated Cardinal Timothy Dolan. In addition to students’ cards and notes, French teacher, Rose Santangelo, sent the cardinal a beautiful statue of St. Michael with best wishes from the administration, faculty, staff and students. Above, Santangelo, seated, holds the statue. She is pictured with the third graders; Maura Lorenzen, principal; and Gail Harvey, assistant principal. (Photo courtesy Sister Felicia Ann Parise)

Class Rings for Rockaway Eighth Graders

Spring is just around the bend and that means graduation is on the horizon. A sure sign of that can be seen on the hands of eighth graders at St. Rose of Lima School, Rockaway Beach. Students received their class rings in a special ceremony during First Friday Mass, Feb. 3. (Photo courtesy Courtney Cruz)

Fifty years ago, Catholics in Mill Basin were given a new place to worship and express their faith. On March 30, join St. Bernard parish at its 50th Jubilee Dinner Dance, March 30, 7 p.m. at El Caribe Country Club. Tickets are $100. For tickets, call 718-763-5533.

During the past 35 years, the Federation of Italian American Organizations (F.I.A.O.), a community-based service organization, has provided services to improve the quality of life of Brooklyn individuals and families with particular focus on the needy — immigrants, senior citizens and youth. F.I.A.O. will hold its 35th annual anniversary gala on Sunday, March 25 at El Caribe Country Club, Mill basin. Cocktails at 2 p.m.; ceremony at 3 p.m.; and dinner at 4 p.m. This year’s honorees are Carmine and Carmella Del Priore of Priority landscaping and Nursery Inc.; Bruno F. Codispoti, Esq. of Codispoti and Associates P.C.; and John Sparacio of Sandler O’Neill and Partners L.P. For tickets or journal ads, call 718-259-2828.

Save the date! The Mount Carmel Theatre Company will present Duets, a one-night-only concert celebrating some of the greatest duets in Broadway’s history, April 16, 8 p.m. on the lower stage at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish, Williamsburg. Adam Mace, a graduate of Cathedral Prep Seminary, Elmhurst, will direct the production. Tickets are $10. For tickets, call 646-580-2167 or e-mail mctheatrecompany@gmail.com.

“How God became King: Why We’ve All Misunderstood the Gospels” is the topic of the 19th annual Msgr. George Denzer Lecture, scheduled for March 25 at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington. The speaker will be N.T. Wright, a professor of New Testament and early Christianity, University of St. Andrews, Scotland. To register, call 631-423-0483 ext. 112. A free-will offering will be accepted.

Are you ready to live your Cursillo? The next diocesan Women’s Cursillo Weekend is scheduled for March 22-23 at Jesus of Nazareth Retreat Center, East Flatbush. To sign up, call Dorothy Baudry, 917-929-2442.

Astoria residents are in for a treat —  an early visit from Peter Rabbit, who will hop over to Immaculate Conception School, March 31, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Children are welcome to share in a buffet breakfast, arts and crafts session and pictures with the cotton-tailed guest. Admission: $9 adult to age 14; $5, ages 13 to three; and free for children under two. Advance tickets only. For tickets, contact Dewey Hopkins, 347-215-0154 or ahop537123@aol.com.

You’re invited to join parishioners from St. Adalbert, Elmhurst, on a trip to coastal Maine, June 1-4. Visit the Maine Lighthouse Museum, Mt. Battie, Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Cost: $475 per person, double occupancy, includes three-night accommodations, three breakfasts and dinners, and a lunch stop in Olde Mistick Village, Conn. For reservations, contact Linda Gatti, 917-887-8325.

Join St. Francis Xavier, Park Slope, for the parish’s 125th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance, April 21, 7 p.m. at The Grand Prospect Hall. Tickets are on sale through March 30. For tickets, e-mail sfx125@nyc.rr.com.

In honor of Women’s History Month, this week’s Tip of the Tablet TALK Top Hat goes to the religious and lay women who have served this diocese since its founding in 1853. These women have — and continue to — contribute to the diocese’s proud heritage through their incalculable contributions to various ministries and peoples.

From Williamsburg to Israel 

In celebration of the 125th anniversary year of the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Williamsburg, a group of pilgrims visited Mount Carmel in Israel. Pilgrims are pictured with Msgr. Joseph Calise, pastor, at Muhraqa, the site of the sacrifice of the prophet Elijah. After six days in Israel, the pilgrimage continued for four days in Rome where the parish received a special welcome from Pope Benedict XVI at his weekly papal audience. (Photo courtesy Msgr. Joseph Calise)

Parishioners of SS. Peter and Paul parish, Williamsburg, gathered at Epiphany Church Jan. 21 and processed to SS. Peter and Paul Church with an icon of Our Lady of Altagracia, patroness of the Dominican Republic.  Msgr. Agripino Nunez Collado, rector of Mother and Teacher Pontifical University in the Dominican Republic, was the main celebrant of the liurgy.  Concelebrating was Father Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez, pastor.  They were assisted at the altar by Deacon Juan Carattini and seminarian Carlos Velasquez.  The icon of Altagracia is a portrait of Mary and the Child Jesus that was brought to the Caribbean country by Spanish settlers in the early 16th century.

On Nov. 5, parishioners of Annunciation Church in Williamsburg, were treated to a performance by the internationally acclaimed Boys’ Choir of Lithuania, “Dagilelis.”  The choir’s concert at Annunciation was part of its U.S. tour that included performances at the United States Capitol and the United Nations. The Boys’ Choir of Lithuania has received prestigious awards and honors worldwide, performed at major musical venues, appeared on radio and television and recorded professionally. Choir director Remigijus Adomaitis and the members of the choir were greeted by Annunciation’s administrator, Msgr. Joseph Calise, by Lithuanian Consul General Valdemaras Sarapinas and by the Lithuanian community of Annunciation parish.  The concert program consisted of selections of liturgical works (Faure’s “Pie Jesu”), traditional Lithuanian compositions (Ciurlionis’ “Song of Songs”) as well as creative interpretations of American popular music (Weis’ “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”).  The choir performed a moving rendition of the “Ave Maria” as a fitting encore.

by Antonina Zielinska

Msgr. Anthony Hernandez, pastor, stands with the World Youth Day delegation from Transfiguration parish after he blessed them during Sunday Mass.

After a year and a half of spiritual preparation and fundraising, 10 young people from Transfiguration parish, Williamsburg, are less than two weeks away from joining thousands of pilgrim from throughout the world to celebrate World Youth Day in Spain.

“It will be an experience of a lifetime,” said Arisleidy Maran, one of the 10 pilgrims. “And I am very exited that we will be going together.”

The pilgrims, all of whom attend Mass in Spanish, know each other well through the many ways they minister to the parish community. Aside from the weekly youth meetings, they donate their time and talents to the parish in various ways including: volunteering in the homeless shelter, serving as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, assisting during feast days of saints, staffing the rectory and being part of the Jornada movement.

Pilgrim Michelle Enriquez said she is looking forward to World Youth Day because it will bring a new perspective to the group.

“I’m excited to meet other young people,” she said. “It’s amazing, because it’s going to be a reminder that we are not alone.”

Jason Espinal, a seminarian in his pastoral year, will be one of the chaperones at World Youth Day.  He grew up in Transfiguration parish and became part of the youth group when he was 14 years old. It was at the seminary that Espinal realized the Church community is so much bigger than just his parish. He said he hopes the members of the youth group going to Spain will have a similar realization.

“I can’t wait to see their face when they see that they are not the only youth group — that as much as they pray and struggle, they are not alone, and that the Church will continue to have a future in them,” he said.

Coming to understand his relationship with the Church through the experience of others is one of the goals Jon Soto has set for himself while in Spain. He will ask people about the reasons for their faith because he struggles to understand that about himself.

“I will try to learn more about my faith through other people’s faith,” he said.

Soto said the preparations for the pilgrimage have already increased his understanding. The pilgrims had to face the challenge of raising enough money with the help of a community that is struggling financially.

“It shows that when you have a goal and a little bit of faith, anything is possible,” he said. “And if we are able to accomplish this, imagine what else we can accomplish.”

Pilgrim Pedro Ramirez said he did not want to join the pilgrimage at first because of the daunting task of fundraising.

“I didn’t think it was possible to raise money for everyone to go,” he said.  “My mom pushed me and made me see that it was possible.”

The group was able to raise enough money to pay the $3,189 per person pilgrimage fee.

“The people in the community helped us a lot,” Maran said. “Without them the fundraising would mean nothing. We are very blessed to be part of this community.  Father Tony is very supportive of the youth.  He supports our ideas and fundraisers and thank God for that.”

In their appreciation, the pilgrims said they will bring back what they learned and experienced during World Youth Day and share it with Msgr. Anthony Hernandez, pastor, and the rest of the church community.

It is because of the church that we are going to Spain,” said Pilgrim Elizabeth Enriquez. “It will help us appreciate the church more. We will value it to a higher extent.”