Rousing Rambling

  Reflection on “The Joy of Being a Deacon” by John P. Flanagan Several years ago, while presenting at another parish’s Lenten retreat, I finished my talk on holiness by asking the retreatants the question, “At the end of your life, how do you hope to be remembered by others?” I shared with the retreatants that I hope to be remembered as a man of joy.  I confessed that I know that I have a long way to go to achieve that goal, but that I continue to try to live a life of joy by attempting to love others as God loves them.  Small group discussions followed.  As each table reported back to the full group, people reported wanting to be remembered for charity, love, compassion, faithfulness, generosity, and so many other positive attributes.  I thought the sharing was going extremely well, until a woman stood up and emphatically declared, “there were a lot of good answers at our table, but I don’t think any of them matter.  I don’t care ...

  April 21, 2022 St. Anthony’s Shrine, Boston, MA      I have developed quite a love for St. Anthony’s Shrine in downtown Boston, MA as a place where I have experienced the merciful presence of Jesus on more than one occasion.  It is known to many as “the worker’s chapel.”  I first came to know them while working in the financial district as a place to attend Mass on holy days, but also as a place to seek mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation.      It was there several years ago that I confessed to a priest that I wasn’t honoring my father.  I told him that long periods of time could pass without me making an effort to reach out to my father and speak with him.  My penance was to pray for my father, and to begin to offer small acts of kindness toward my father.  As a result of that confession, I spent years making Monday nights my designated time to spend with my father.  It brought me...

 Learning My Life Truths  Several years ago, I made the decision to spend more one-on-one time with my father.  The reason was simple.  Sometimes, he was a hard man to love.  I never quite figured out if my father loved the art of debate, or if he enjoyed pushing people’s buttons…or maybe a combination of the two.  Months could pass by without me reaching out to my father, or paying him a visit.  One day, in the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation (or confession, for us old-timers), I confessed to the priest that I wasn’t living the fourth commandment, “honor thy father and mother.”  I explained to the priest that I loved my father, but didn’t make time for him in my life.  He instructed me to do two things, to pray for my father and to begin to perform small acts of kindness for my father.  I took that instruction to both love my father from afar (prayer), and more intimately (acts of kindness)....

 Remembering my Father My father passed away on May 31, 2022.  Many years ago, he had told me that when he died, he didn't want us to be too sad, and wanted me to tell stories about him and his life, so that we would focus on the good he had done.  I was honored to be able to deliver this eulogy to my father at his funeral Mass.   Good morning.   My name is Mariano, and I am the fifth of my parents six children. On behalf of Eileen and my brothers and sisters, I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to accompany us during this time of loss, whether through the gift of presence in our homes, at the wake or here in the church, but also presence through messages, meals, flowers, and so much more.  Your expressions of love and sympathy are truly appreciated.  We also want to thank Father Jack Oliveira for his presence with my dad at his bedside on the day of his anointing.  My dad loved you so much and would be honored that you are prese...

"Live each day as if it was your last."  It has often been said, "live each day as if it was your last."  The quote has been attributed to so many famous people, as if they had some tremendous insight and wisdom that's been unknown for time.  But yet, the concept is a simple truth that has been spoken for many centuries.  I often reflect on these words from the book of Ecclesiastes 7:2, "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it  to heart."  Nobody can escape death.  We should all be aware that those who live, will one day die.  Every day is a gift.   Oftentimes, death comes like a thief in the night, unexpectedly or sometimes even violently.  People sometimes express regret with words like, "I wish I had...." or "If only I had said..."  People wish for just one more day with their loved ones to be able to finally forgive, or to tell the...

  2 years ago Mariano J R Pimentel N o v e m b e r   7 ,   2 0 1 8    ·  Shared with Your friends When we were younger, the greatest gift that our parents gave to us was the gift of presence. Some of my favorite childhood memories include waterfront picnics with the Garcia families and Sundays at my grandmother’s house with the Pimentel Brum families. Simplicity. Just being with one another was enough to bring us all joy. Simply reflecting on those days still brings me joy today. Later in life, the same is true for what we can give to our aging parents. Monday nights are my “date nights with Papa.” Honestly, sometimes, after a long day at work, the 30-minute drive feels like a chore. Sitting with my dad and really listening to his stories (not just the hearing that I did for years) has given me so much insight into the times and events that shaped the person that my father is today. Learning about his childhood, leaving his country, starting a new l...

Monday! Monday!  I have to admit that I am struggling in my professional life.  It’s somewhat strange to admit, because there are so many things about my professional life that I love.  I love the work that I do.  I love the people that I work with. I feel that I am good at what I do.  A few of my coworkers have even become like family to me.  What I don’t like is the very negative and political nature of my workplace.  There is a complete and utter lack of trust in the organization.   Employees don’t trust management. Management doesn’t trust the employees.  Our words are all the right words to say.  Our actions don’t agree with our words.   As I was rounding the corner to approach the parking lot at work this morning, the first thing I noticed was the car of an executive leader.  Just seeing the car gave me a feeling of dread about what craziness I might experience this day.  Without thinking, I quietly said to the car (...

  Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary (COVID-19) Time 2020  “…repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."   The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.  They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.  And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status.   Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax."  Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"  They replied, "Caesar's."  At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."   This w...

Sometimes in our lives, our souls are filled with great longings; the desire for healed relationships, the emptiness of those taken much too soon from us, happiness in the midst of the mundane, fulfillment in what we do, what we’ve become, and who we are.   Our very being is filled with an emptiness that comes from once having seemed to be full.   It is easy to focus on what we have lost, or what we are looking for, that which we don’t have.   Our humanity focuses on all the ways that things should be perfect for us, our relationships, our finances, our here and now.                 Yet, in the middle of this mediocrity are signs of great wonder, and the realization that we will always be less than full while on this journey.   Our hope and our help comes from the Lord, who made the Heaven and the earth.   One day, all will be perfect, and our joys will be complete.   In th...

I was raised in a home that when someone came to visit, we pulled out all of the stops to make them feel welcome.   Glasses would quickly come out of the hutch.   A pitcher was given to one of the children to go down to the “wine room” to fill with some of my father’s home-made wine.   Plates were quickly filled with nuts, dried fruits, and any other appetizers that were kept in the house for when “company came.” When we expected visitors, all of this work was done prior to their arrival.   As a child, once the feast was set, I would simply stare at all of the goodies, which could not be touched until our guests arrived.   In the case of unexpected company, we were still so thrilled to receive them into our home, but the first few minutes of their visit was spent putting together their welcome feast.   Everything had to be just right.   At a young age, I truly learned what it meant to serve another with a joyful heart. I never once heard my mother co...