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March 7, 2016
Marian Shrine E-Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 29
Fr. Jim McKenna

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to say 'I am sorry', than to say 'Please forgive me"? The former does not require a response, whereas the latter needs a response. Forgiveness has to be given, and we fear it might be withheld. You cannot take forgiveness for granted. I remember so well, the retreat team telling me of a session they conducted for the seniors of a well known high school. The group was pretty close-knit. They had known each other for a couple of years. The instructions were: to write a positive note to each of the other members of the group and sign it with their names. These were then exchanged and the members sat in silence, reading their notes. It did not take long before sounds of sobbing and running noses were heard. Most of the members later shared that what touched and relieved them most was the fact that someone in the group had forgiven them for a hurt that they had caused in the recent or distant past. That simple gesture moved them immensely and there they were...strapping young men, in the prime of their lives with tears in their eyes...but smiles on their faces. That was how moved they were by this gift of forgiveness.

In this Lenten season we are moved to ask God's forgiveness and we are reassured that God is always ready to forgive us. I wonder: have I ever felt the joy and relief at being forgiven the way those young men felt at that workshop? And if I have never experienced the joy of being forgiven in that way, can I want to offer it to others who have offended me in some way?

Not forgiving others is some kind of curse, and forgiving them is a blessing and a joy for them. It is uniquely Christian that we forgive just as we hope to be forgiven. I remember the funeral of a man who had deserted his wife and family, causing great pain and unhappiness. His eldest son spoke briefly when offering a prayer. He told God that the family forgave their father for his cruelty to them and asked God to do likewise. He was in tears as he asked this through Christ, Our Lord.

Forgiveness as we forgive those who trespass against us can be consigned to the small print as it were. Often we give up something for Lent. Maybe this Lent we might try forgiving those who have trespassed against us. It might not be as easy as it sounds but it will do us a great deal of good, and be a real Easter joy for those who have to wait for forgiveness.
 
God bless you.
In Mary Help of Christians,
I remain,
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
Director

Walking with the Church

Q.  I often hear the expression 'Born again Christian'. What does that mean?
A. Catholics do not normally use the term 'Born again Christian', but for them it describes how a
person conceived in sin (original sin) is reborn by Baptism as a child
of God and is therefore an heir to the kingdom of heaven. (Jn 3:5)
Catholics speak of the infusion of Divine grace and being incorporated into Christ - it is a supernatural rebirth. We become sharers in the life of God. For other Christians it usually means a new experience of Christ brought about through Baptism or some instant
conversion from sin to a dedicated service of God.

 



 
RIP
Fr. Dominic DeBlase, SDB (1926-2016)
by Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB
            Fr. Dominic Bartholomew DeBlase, SDB, died at 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, N.Y. He was 89 years old and had been a professed Salesian for more than 63 years and a priest for 55 years.
            Upon his retirement in 2011, Fr. Dominic jointed the Marian Shrine community at Haverstraw-Stony Point. When the dementia from which he suffered necessitated a move to greater care, he resided briefly at Northern Riverview in Haverstraw and then was transferred the Cabrini of Westchester nursing home in Dobbs Ferry in June 2015. In November he was formally assigned to the provincial residence community in New Rochelle.
            Fr. Dominic was born in Liberty, N.Y., on September 21, 1926, to Bartolo and Josephine DeBlase, members of St. Peter's Parish in Liberty. After graduation from Liberty High School in 1943, he enrolled in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. When he was drafted in the Navy, his studies were interrupted between February 1945 and September 1946, but he completed a bachelor of mechanical engineering degree at RPI in June 1948. He remained in the Naval Reserve until he was discharged in order to enter the seminary.
            Dominic arrived at Don Bosco College in Newton as a Son of Mary in June 1950, completed the necessary Latin studies, and was admitted to the novitiate in Newton in September 1951. He professed vows there on September 8, 1952. He earned a B.A. in philosophy from DBC in Newton in 1954.
            Bro. Dominic remained at DBC in 1954-1957, teaching and assisting in the seminary program. He also earned an M.S. in physics from Fordham University in 1956.
            Bro. Dominic embarked to Turin, Italy, in 1957 to study theology at the Pontifical Ateneo Salesiano, earning a licentiate. He was ordained in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin on February 11, 1961.
            Fr. Dominic's classmate Fr. Harry Peterson writes: "He was always a pleasant person, very unassuming, and humble. Indeed, he was a great Salesian."
            Fr. Dominic returned to DBC after ordination to teach math and the sciences until 1966. He was also dean of men (1963-1965) and dean of the Sons of Mary (1965-1966). The academic dean, Fr. Joe Herzog, described him as "a very hard-working professor ... who demanded as much diligence from his students" and "won the respect and admiration of his students not only for his intelligence and scholarship, but for his ability to communicate this knowledge as well"; he was also credited "capable leadership" and "successful development" in the physics and math departments.
            In 1966 Fr. Dominic moved to Don Bosco Juniorate in Haverstraw as director, but didn't complete his term before being reassigned as director of Don Bosco Tech in Paterson in 1968. Four years later he went to Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero to teach math and the sciences.
            His ministry at Shaw was cut short when he was named province treasurer and director of the provincial residence at New Rochelle in 1973. He served in those positions with such distinction that in 1979 he was appointed provincial. He started with responsibility for 182 Salesian priests, 66 coadjutor brothers, 65 seminarian brothers, and 7 novices serving in 22 houses stretching from Eastern Canada to the Bahamas, and westward to Cedar Lake and New Orleans.
            In Sherbrooke, Fr. Romeo Trottier remembers Fr. Dominic fondly: "I was very saddened by the death of Fr. Dominic. . . . For all the duration of his term as provincial, I was his delegate for Canada. My relationship with him goes all the way back to Newton in 1950 when he was a Son of Mary. and our teacher of general science. I was fortunate to participate at GC22 in 1984 with him. He was a real gentleman, a genuine Salesian and priest. I always found him very respectful of persons and very friendly, never assuming airs of superiority. A real man of God! Salesian Canada owes very much to him."
            Upon completion of his term as provincial in 1985, Fr. Dominic went to Don Bosco Tech in Boston as treasurer. In 1989 he was appointed director again, this time at Mary Help of Christians School in Tampa, where Fr. John Nazzaro says he found in him a great mentor.
            In 1991 he was accepted as a volunteer for the Salesian mission at Lungi, Sierra Leone. He was treasurer for two years and then director from 1993 to 2005, greatly appreciated by both his confreres and the people of the Salesians' schools and parish. For example, Fr. Daniel Libby, SDB, writes:
[I am] saddened by the death news of Fr. Dominic DeBlase, whom I lived with for a year as a prenovice here in Lungi. The news of the death of Fr. Dominic is heavy enough to break anybody down. I would like to express my heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the entire provincial community. He was indeed a holy, cheerful and unassuming person. His smile alone was something that never left anyone unhappy. His life as a holy and cheerful Salesian taught me many great virtues in the Salesian context. Indeed, we have lost a GREAT Salesian. The parishioners and pupils here are mourning a dear friend, father, mentor and grandfather. He will always be remembered here in Lungi.
            Returning to the States, from 2005 till 2011 Fr. Dominic served as assistant pastor and community treasurer at Nativity Parish in Washington. He retired to the Marian Shrine community.
            Celebrating his 50th anniversary of religious profession in 2012, Fr. Dominic remarked very simply, "I thoroughly enjoy my priesthood and service to Don Bosco and my Salesian Family."
            Fr. Dominic is survived by several nieces and nephews.

 
Laughter the best medicine

Dear Milkman
The night before my husband and I were to leave on holiday I discovered I'd cleaned the refrigerator so thoroughly that there were no eggs for breakfast the next morning. So I wrote a note to the milkman, asking him to leave us two eggs. To be sure there would be no mistake I added: "Not two dozen, just two."
Next morning when I opened the back door I saw my note had left no doubt in the milkman's mind. There, waiting for me were two eggs. In bold black letters one read: HIS, the other, HERS
 
Oh, Doctor!
A doctor tells of trying to get a medical history of a patient. The man's wife answered every question the doctor asked. Finally the doctor requested that she leave the room, but after she left he found that her husband couldn't speak. Calling the wife back Dr. Brown apologized for not realizing that the man had aphasis- loss of speech - and couldn't speak a word.
The wife was astonished. She didn't know it either.
 
Silent Witness
In heavy traffic I was edging past a woman driver who was trying to reverse into a parking space that was clearly too small. Suddenly her car swung out and bumped into mine. Flushed with exasperation, she leaned out of her window. "You could see I was going to do something stupid," she said. "Why didn't you wait to see what it was?"

The Devotion of the Three Hail Marys

The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.
Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.
 
I am grateful to Our Lady who saved me from serious damage after I slipped and fell down a flight of stairs. I am a senior citizen and the fall could have been rather dangerous.I pray the three Hail Marys everyday.  Victoria, NY 

On August 8, 2015 my grandson was driving rather fast, exceeding the speed limit. To avoid something on the road he swerved and lost control of the vehicle. He landed in the path of an oncoming vehicle but thankfully no one was injured. We recite the 3 Hail Marys daily and we are most grateful to Our Lady and Don Bosco. L & C. D'Cruz, Australia

Thank you very much dearest Mother Mary for the many blessings and graces especially for good health and safety in my family. I have received so many graces through the faithful recitation of the 3 Hail Marys. Dearest Mother please continue to help, guide and protect us. S. Monteiro and Family, Toronto, Canada

In Closing

Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,
If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].
 
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm

Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.

Weekday Masses: 12 noon.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm

Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.

MEMORIES
Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.

MASS INTENTIONS
To offer a mass intention, please write to
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
174 Filors Lane,
Stony Point, NY 10980

 

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Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
(845) 947-2200