“It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to be always wanting something else.” -Ecclesiastes 6:9
Praising God in the Skies
The date July 14, 2013 was circled on my calendar for over a year. Now it has come and gone. It was the special date set aside to give thanks to God for my 25 years in the priesthood. There were 560 people who attended the Mass at Our Lady of Fatima in Hopewell Twp., my first priestly assignment. There were 450 guests who attended the reception at the Fez on Brodhead Rd. There were 110 people who had to be called because they didn’t RSVP to the invitation that was sent to them. (By the way, priests and doctors are the worst offenders!) There were 34 people who said “Yes” but never came.
In a “maybe” world which remains non-committal, human nature can be flimsy and we can easily prefer to stay “on the fence.” In saying “yes” to one thing, we must say “no” to other things. Once one is on the receiving end of a party, it makes one more aware of one’s own commitment when one receives an invitation. In hosting such a gathering, I received an education in human nature. One of the great arts of living is the art of forgetting and moving on - never brooding, fretting or regretting. Life happens! “We may make our plans, but God has the last word.” -Proverbs 16:1
I’d like to share a story about my good friend, Fr. Joe McCaffrey (Fr. Mac), Pastor of SS John and Paul in Wexford. In planning my anniversary Mass, I called to invite him to proclaim the Gospel of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Like a bride, I held my breath before Mass, awaiting Bishop Zubik’s arrival, which came just 10 minutes before we began. I scanned the area, searching for Fr. Joe’s whereabouts, to no avail. So, I asked Deacon Anthony Giordano to proclaim the Gospel since Fr. Mac was nowhere in sight.
Late that night, upon arriving at the rectory, I noticed that I had several messages which were left on my cell phone from Fr. Mac, who profusely apologized for not showing up. I returned his calls the following day, at which point, he continued to lament and regret his absence. It seems that Fr. Mac (who is also an FBI chaplain), was called to a tragic situation with a family. He ended up being with them for several hours and forgot all about the celebration. I conveyed to him that I fully understood and told him that God put him exactly where he was most needed, to bring light and grace to others who were in darkness and need. He understood what I was saying but continued, “I’ve known you over 30 years. How ironic to miss your party to minister to people I’d only just met? I plan to make it up to you in the best way possible. I’ve decided to give you 25 hours of undivided attention in observance of your 25 years in the priesthood!” We agreed on a mutual 25 hour period of time and circled Friday, July 26 on our calendars.
In today’s fast-paced and hectic world, who will even give you 2 minutes of undivided attention, let alone 25 hours? In a world of so much absence, to receive the gift of time, presence, unconditional positive regard, availability, attentiveness and willingness to be together in friendship is an extravagant present.
July 26 arrived and I journeyed to SS John and Paul Parish in Sewickley to visit Fr. Mac’s beautiful rectory which was nestled among an orchard full of peach and apple trees. He is an avid hunter, and his trophies are mounted on the walls and displayed all around. I always admired his spirit of adventure. As an outdoorsman, he enjoys being one with nature, wildlife, and loves being in the country. Ever since Fr. Mac was young, he enjoyed diverse interests and hobbies such as building model airplanes, constructing houses, racing cars, hiking and archery. He is an excellent mechanic, possessing an understanding the way things work. His curious mind allowed him to be a “fix-it” man, always searching for ways to be helpful, in sharing his gifts to help others. Fr. Mac also has a passion for physics and aviation, and is a pilot. In the seminary the two things Fr. Mac and I had in common were our love for the venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen and his “Hour of Power” and sweets. (There would be no meal without a dessert at our table!)
We left SS John and Paul and drove to the New Castle Airport, where Fr. Mac’s 1973 Cessna, 4 seater, single engine plane sat waiting for us to board. At this point, I wondered if we would spend 25 hours in the air! As he pre-opted the plane to get all things ready, Fr. Mac was serving as pilot and mechanic as well. Each wing of the jet held 30 gallons of leaded fuel, costing $6.50 per gallon. He had a new Garmin GPS situated on the instrument panel, which resembled a GPS system in a car, but was far more complex and diverse.
The plane took off and we were on our way to a new adventure. Fr. Mac’s only desire was to make this journey enjoyable and fun. The higher we climbed in the air, the happier Fr. Mac became. We started out by flying over New Castle, Zelienople and Grove City, climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet at a speed of 165 knots. Then we flew toward SS John and Paul. We discussed his large parish of 2,700 families, which was ever-growing. He showed me the new housing plan which encompassed the church property, which allowed for 350 new homes. I said, “Joe, you’ve got it all here. I would never leave if I were you. The only place I’d leave it for would be heaven!”
We circled the air space above the church several times before heading south toward Pittsburgh. As we approached the skyline, we could see the Cathedral of Learning, the Convention Center, PNC Park and Heinz Field, as well as the towering UPMC Building in the center of town. Flying away, we headed east toward Latrobe, to view the Steelers in training camp at St. Vincent College. We finally landed at Arnold Palmer Airport. We had lunch at Dinunzio’s as we watched planes taking off and landing. With each plane that landed, Fr. Mac would describe it by name to me. His knowledge of planes is extensive. I was the photographer on the ride, and Fr. Mac made sure I spoke through the microphone on my head set. He constantly told me to speak up as the planes engine eclipsed our voices. By the end of the day, he could hear me loud and clear!
As we made our way back to New Castle, we circled Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park, and saw people fishing, biking, sunbathing and swimming in the lake. During this time, Fr. Mac kept constant contact with the control towers as well as pilots in the air and navigated via the map on his iPad. Since there is no control tower at the New Castle Airport, he joked that landing would be a crapshoot, and hit or miss. But, his take-off’s and landings were perfect! I will never forget us blessing ourselves and reciting the Lord’s Prayer before take off. It reminded me, that if we don’t know what our destination is (heaven), and we’re not people of prayer and faith, we won’t get to our intended destination. St. Joseph of Cupertino and Our Lady of Loreto, Patrons of Aviation, pray for all those who fly the skies. “The Lord has determined our path. How then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?”-Proverbs 20:24
The adventure had come to an end, and we enjoyed a delicious dinner at Andora Restaurant in Sewickley. It was a picture-perfect summer day—for flying, for friendship and for great fun!
