A Lasting Impression
Dear Editor: I happened to see that The Tablet will be celebrating a number of 50-year jubilarian priests. While I am certainly familiar with Msgr. David Cassato, who is our pastor at St. Athanasius, I was delighted to see Father James Devlin.
There is no way he would recall who I am, but before he was ordained he must have been assigned to my first parish, St. Catharine of Alexandria.
When I was about 13, the parish used to sponsor a summer whiffle ball league that we played in the schoolyard.
The older guys were serious about the league and, as I recall, the biggest rivalry was the Astros and the Bandits.
Lucky for me I played one year for a team from 40th Street and was lucky as I was all field, no hit.
That is why I remember Father Devlin. He would often umpire those games. How many times he called me out on strikes is probably less than I think, but I can still hear his third strike call.
That he went on to be ordained and has served for 50 years makes me smile as do the memories of being a kid playing ball.
Bill Rednour
Bensonhurst
Remembering Father Carter
Dear Editor: In brief, while searching through older personal papers, I came upon 35mm film prints of Father Martin Carter’s graduation from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
I did an internet search and learned of his passing.
Father Martin was a graduate of the University Without Walls Program at Chicago State University, a bachelor’s degree program I co-directed with Lawrence McBride, Ph.D., University of Chicago.
I recall Dr. (Father) Carter as a fervent advocate of racial and social justice, and he certainly was not a person who endured silent acceptance of views that might have been deemed “the norm” by society at large. I do recall that following his graduation with the B.A. from CSU/UWW, he requested that I write a letter in support of his application for admission to a doctoral program at McCormick.
His lack of a Master’s credential was one of the intervening factors, but gladly, he prevailed. I am saddened to learn of his passing, and I know that during his life, Martin, as he liked to be called, made many positive contributions to those individuals and organizations with whom he interacted.
For me, many of his messages resonate strongly, because I am a permanent legal resident from Mexico, and I overcame my own obstacles in securing my education, which culminated with a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Services from DePaul University in Chicago.
Presently, I am retired after more than 36 years of professional public service in higher education and public health administration.
Lorenzo Paredes, Ed.M., M.S.
Chicago
Our Christian Palestinian Brethren
Dear Editor: I believe it is most important that your readers become aware of the unjust treatment of our Palestinian Christians at the hands of the Israeli government during the holiest week of the liturgical calendar.
Let us stand with our brave brothers and sisters as they, like Jesus, speak truth to power. The following is a statement from Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA) on the ability of Catholics to celebrate Holy Week in Jerusalem:
“The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, together with local Christian organizations and community leaders, reject the restrictions on Christians gathering in and around their places of worship, which the Israeli police claim will be necessary to ensure the safety of participants in this month’s Holy Fire ritual.
The Church of the Resurrection, also known as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, is the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified, buried and resurrected on the third day.
During the ceremony, the faithful witness a flame of fire that emerges from the empty tomb.
The event takes place each year on the Saturday before the Orthodox Easter, which this year falls on April 24.
The Israeli police have demanded that only 1,000 people enter the Church of the Resurrection for the Holy Fire ritual, although it is customary for many thousands of worshippers to attend every year. The police have also said that only 500 people can enter the Old City and reach the courtyards of the Patriarchate and the roof overlooking the Church of the Resurrection. …
The Church in Jerusalem states that having access to churches in the Old City, especially during the Easter holidays ‘has become increasingly difficult in recent years’, and ‘that there is no justification’ for the additional restrictions put into place this year.
The Patriarchate ‘affirms its explicit, clear and complete rejection of all restrictions,’ and declares openly that they are ‘fed up with police restrictions on freedom to worship and with its unacceptable methods of dealing with the God given rights of Christians to practice rituals and have to access their holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem.’ ”
Mary Geraghtys
Brooklyn