An Honor for Mr. DeRosa

Dear Editor: One of the great blessings bestowed on me is having Frank DeRosa as my father-in-law. At a time when it is so difficult to find role models in faith I have had the honor of watching Mr. DeRosa live his on a daily basis. Not just at work; not just at Mass; not just when people are watching. I have observed him in times of joyful celebration when the Church is fulfilling its role in our society mixed with times of crushing sadness over the last few years. 

His faith never falters or is touched by the vicissitudes of fortune. His service to the Church is only matched by his service to his family. And of course behind every good man of the laity there is usually a good woman. In this case Liliane DeRosa, Frank’s wife, who is next to him every step of the way. 

The two of them are the most faithful people I know. I will never equal their faith or service, but they serve as a “light” that guides me and my family. I have marveled for almost 20 years over Mr. DeRosa getting up at 5 a.m. every day, driving the one-and-a-half hours or more to reach Brooklyn, serving his beloved diocese, heading home, and then oftentimes doing it all over again on the weekends for special celebrations or events. To think he did it for 30 years prior to that is simply amazing! He is a man of quiet faith and incredible dignity.   

My wife Lorraine, Frank’s daughter, and our sons, Kevin, Jr., Thomas, Peter and Billy, thank you for honoring him and for letting the world know what a special and loving man he is. May God bless The Tablet and the people of the diocese that he has loved and served these past 50 years. 

 Kevin Black
Wilton, CT

Editor’s Note: Mr. DeRosa, the director of the diocesan Public Information Office and the Associate Publisher of The Tablet, will be honored on Sunday, Feb. 24, for his 50 years of service to the Diocese of Brooklyn. A reception in his honor will be held following the 12:15 p.m. Mass which will observe the 100th anniversary of The Tablet.

The Road to Happiness

Dear Editor In the Jan. 26 issue of The Tablet, Therese J. Borchard wrote an article titled “Tech-Savvy Youths and Global Compassion.” I enjoy her writing very much and in this article she wrote “…happiness looks like this: having no financial worries, and a good family and friends with whom they spend lots of time.”

About 50 years ago, IBM did a study on what makes one happy. Their results found the following:

a) to love and be loved,

b) to have some money but not too much,

c) to have direction and control in your life, and

d) to have received more than expected.

Over the years I have never forgotten IBM’s study and found all four happiness measures were crucial in my life for happiness. I have often felt sorrow for the people who were spoiled as children, because they won’t experience item d) since they simply expect everything. I hope the above is helpful to others looking for happiness in their lives.

Patricia Macormack
Brooklyn

Answer to a Prayer

Dear Editor: Thank you to Tom Bowers for “A Habit to Form.” I am so happy to have the prayer again.

Mary Kilkeary
Brooklyn

The Beauty of the Arts

Dear Editor: Father Lauder’s column (Jan. 19) was most provocative. It seems great literature and the arts can be one important road between the life of the mind and holiness. Through the arts, we can come to understand the sufferings of other people. This can put our own burdens in perspective, helping us to understand that no one is free of adversity. Knowledge and feeling for others, learned through the arts, can rein in any predisposition toward self-righteousness. So much of self-righteousness is founded upon ignorance.

Lastly, knowledge and inspiration gained from the arts can help us understand the spiritual struggles others have endured. Cognizance of this might shed light upon our own spiritual struggles. Recognizing our own dilemmas help us assess our own gifts and point in time as we deal with our sense of spiritual growth.

In the context of a Christian humanism, the arts can teach us much.

Charles LaCerra, PD.D.
Staten Island

Midwood Pastor Is Missed

Dear Editor: After Jan. 31, Father Anthony Rucando will no longer be our pastor at Our Lady Help of Christians parish. From the time he announced his leaving about two months ago, I tried not to think about it. I was hoping that news will change; that he was staying after all.

Writing this is accepting the fact that Father Rucando has really left us and our parish. It’s a sad thing to think about especially for my daughter, Alexis, who is growing up with Father Rucando as an inspiration. 

The day he made the announcement, we came to see him after the Mass. Alexis was sad and was about to cry. But to my surprise, I was the one who couldn’t hold it. I really cried. It felt like leaving the Philippines all over again and away from my whole family, especially from my two brothers.

I didn’t want Father Rucando to leave. I wanted him to be around for a long time. I wanted him to be there when my daughter receives her Confirmation (she’s almost ten); be there when I renew my wedding vows on my 25th wedding anniversary (I’m only on my 11th); be around to bless my first house (sooner, I hope).

I want him to be just around; just be here with us so we can listen to his inspiring words about God and about living a good life; to hear him sing (what a voice he has!). 

I’m hoping and wishing it’s possible for him to stay. If not, we will surely miss him. But hope is hope and I’m hoping one day he’ll be back and will be our pastor again.  

The thank you party we gave him on Jan. 20th proved that he is well loved by the whole parish and more. It was a sight to see how we appreciated him, acknowledged his part in our lives and celebrated his OLHC days. 

He always reminded us to be active parishioners and be involved. What a loving challenge for our spiritual growth. I’ll always remember that and I’ll do my part to make my presence in my parish in any “ordinary time, an extraordinary chance, an extraordinary grace.”  

From my family, we thank him for the years he spent with us.

We love him.

Father Rucando, take care and be safe. You’re  always in our prayers.

The Carel Family
Midwood

Learning from Another Culture

Dear Editor: Thank you for a very fine article on this immigration problem that has been facing our country for a very long time! Bishop DiMarzio’s tireless work with the U.S. Bishops’ Migration Committee has my thorough admiration.

It is truly sad when our country turns its back on people wanting to come here, and we have a crying need for many of the talents the illegal immigrants can supply. Unfortunately, some people feel intimidated by people coming from another country/culture. The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt as celebrated at St. Fortunata’s parish in East New York is a perfect example of how we can deepen our devotion and learn from another culture.

Many years ago, working as a coordinator with Msgr. Celsus Collini and Sister Dolores Ryan for the 50th anniversary at Queen of Peace parish in Kew Gardens Hills, we had a Parade of Flags representing the various nationalities represented in the parish. To our amazement, some 54 countries were represented. Perhaps some parishes need to have a Parade of Flags to bring home the diversity among their parishioners.

I was born here. My parents were born here. But both my maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather came to this country from Ireland and Germany, respectively. How grateful I am that they did so!

When immigrants do apply to come to this country, they have such an interminable wait of red tape, political nonsense, documents lost, and there is unbearable turmoil in their own countries, they are literally forced to take the illegal route.

Again, my admiration for Bishop DiMarzio’s work and that of the new Bishop John C. Wester, new chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Migration Committee. Our politicians need to be pushed and pushed hard to rectify this serious problem.

Thank you for your timely editorial!

Virginia Mare Hoyns
Kew Garden Hills

1964 Photo Identification

Dear Editor: Point of Information.

Just thought you would like to know that Diane Morgan (shown Feb. 16 distributing The Tablet to students at St. Agnes H.S., in From The Tablet Photo Files) has been a Dominican of Amityville sister for many years. 

I’ve known her and her family, from Whitestone, since she was a young girl.

Barbara Eivers
Whitestone