O U R L A D Y o f G R A C E

S O C I E T Y E s t a b l i s h e d 1 9 4 7 i n M e m o r y o f P a p a s C i r o P i n o l a U n d e r t h e O m o p h o r o f t h e R o m a n C a t h o l i c A r c h b i s h o p o f N e w Y o r k

I ns i de t h i s i s s ue :

Pope Francis

Curia Outdated

1

Our Lady of

Wisdom Parish

Las Vegas, NV

3

Archdeacon DeMeis

65th Wedding

Anniversary

4

Prayer Requests 5

Questions And

Answers

6

Letters 6

2015 SICC

Awards

7

N ew s l e t t e r D at e

M ar c h 2 0 1 5

Vo l u me 3 3 , I s s ue 1

The Nursing Madonna

Official Icon of Our Lady of Grace Italo-Greek Catholic Mission & Society

Pope Francis: a Curia that is Outdated, sclerotic or indifferent To others is an ailing body

Vatican City, 22 December

In the Clementine Hall the Holy Father held his an-

nual meeting of the Roman Curia to exchange Christ-

mas greetings with its component dicasteries. Coun-

cils, offices, tribunals and commissions. “It is good to think of the Roman Curia as a small

model of the Church, that is, a body that seeks, seriously and more united in itself and with

Christ”

“The Curia is always required to better itself and to grow in communion, sanctity and wisdom

to fully accomplish its mission. However, like any body , it is exposed to sickness, malfunc-

tion and infirmity….I would like to mention some of these illnesses the we encounter most

frequently in our life in the Curia. They are illnesses and temptations that weaken out service

to the Lord”, Continued the Pontiff, who after inviting all those present to an examination of

conscience to pre-pre themselves for Christmas, listed the most common Curial ailments:

The first is “the sickness of considering oneself ‘immortal’, immune’ or ‘indispensible’, ne-

glecting the necessary and habitual controls. A curia that is not self critical, that does not stay

up-to-date, that doers not seek to better itself, is an ailing body.

The second is “Martha-ism” or excessive industriousness; the sickness of those who immerse

themselves in work, inevitably neglecting ‘the better part’ of sitting at Jesus’ feet. Therefore,

Jesus required his disciples to rest a little, as neglecting the necessary rest leads to stress and

agitation. It is necessary to learn the teaching of Ecclesiaties, that “there is a time for every-

thing”.

Then there is “the sickness of mental and spiritual hardening: that of those who, along the

way, lose their inner serenity, vivacity and boldness and conceal themselves behind paper,

becoming working machines rather than men of God.

“The ailment of excessive planning and functionalism: this is when the apostle plans every-

thing in detail and believes that, by perfect planning things effectively progress, thus becom-

ing sort of accountant.

The sickness of poor coordination develops when the communion between members is lost,

and the body loses its harmonious functionality and its temperance, becoming and orchestra of

cacophony because the members do not collaborate and do not work with a spirit of commun-

ion or as a team”

Contd Page 5

2015 SICC

Awards Photos

Eastern Christian

Stamp Album

8

9

O U R L A D Y o f G R A C E G R E E K C AT H O L I C M I S S I O N

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Address:

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Tel 718-987-8098

E-mail:ItaloGreek@aol.com or troias@verizon.net

Web-site: http//byzcath.org/ourladyofgrace/

Facebook:Our Lady of Grace Italo-Greek-Catholic Society

Ou r Mis s io n a n d S o c ie ty

Our Lady of Grace Italo-Greek Catholic Mission and Soci-

ety is a Catholic Religious entity. We are Eastern Catho-

lics in union with Pope Francis the successor of Saint Peter

the Apostle.

Our purpose is the re-establishment of the Italo-Greek and

Italo-Albanian rite in the United States. It is heir to a parish

Our first pastor was the late Papas Ciro Pinnola who arrived

in New York in 1903. Our Lady of Grace Chapel was be-

gun on Paschal Sunday, 1904. The society formed in 1947

a year after Papas Pinnola’s passing. “Memory Eternal.”

The patronal icon of our Mission & Society is Madonna delle

Gratzie, the Nursing Madonna chosen by Papas Pinnola.

We are now under the omophor of the Archdioceses of New

York. Bishops are in Italy and Greece

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5 P a g e 2

Renewal Notice

Our renewals to date are disappointing.

To keep this bulletin active it is important

to have a continuing cash flow. All of the

efforts to produce this publication are vol-

untary and our major costs are printing

and mailing. As with everything these are

rising. The cost of membership in our soci-

ety is very inexpensive and we attempt to

keep costs at present levels. Help us by

sent your renewals and by referring others

to this newsletter,

Officers 2015-2016

Rt. Rev Fr. Archimandrite Paul G. Frechette, Associate

Rt. Rev . Fr. Archimandrite Joseph Lee

Rev. Fr. Deacon Nicholas Daddona

Rev. Fr. Deacon Thomas Stadnik, Nomikos, Council\

Rev. Fr. Archdeacon George Yany

Patrizio Foley, President, Psalati

Salvatore Lagatutta, Vice President

Vincent Romano, Secretary, Treasurer

Ron Montecalvo, Executive Editor

Enola Romano, Clerical Assistant

Rt. Rev. Dr. Fr. Archimandrite Janarius Izzo Memory Eternal

Very Rev. Fr. Archdeacon John F. DeMeis, Retired Emeritus

Advisory Board 2015-2016

Rev. Fr. Joseph Lombardi S.J.

Rev. Fr. Robert Aufieri, Director. Italian Apostolate

Rev. Fr. Augustine Serafini

Prof. Dr. Richard Baldi, PsyD

Prof. Thomas Bird

Prof. Richard Renoff

Prof. Joseph Varacalli

MEMORY ETERNAL

Fr. Benedict Groeschel 7/23/1933-10/3/2014

Friar, Priest, Author, TV Commentator

Edward Cardinal Egan 4/2/1932-3/5/2015

Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus, NY

EDITOR’S DESK Ron Monteca lvo

We are introducing a new column in this issue “PARISH NEWS”. This month we are show-

ing the only Italo/Greek parish in the US Our Lady of Wisdom in Las Vegas, NV. I’m look-

ing forward to providing parish news from this active church.

On the last page of this issue is a reproduction of the new Icon commissioned by the Coptic

Pope and Patriarch to the memory of the new Christian Martyrs. Those who committed these

murders may call themselves such but as they were performing this manslaughter they were seeing the real thing. “Holy

Coptic new Martyrs pray to the Lord for us”

Personal Note: Many thanks to Archdeacon John and the Officers of the Society for nominating me for the 2015 Award

from the Staten Island Council of Churches and the Certificate of Excellence from the OlOG Society.

Ron

ARCHDEACON’S DOOR

My prayer over the past fifty years has arrived.

His Holiness Pope Frances has removed the order of 1929 Forbidding Married Eastern Catholic

priests to

migrate from the European and Eastern Countries of their origin. Eastern Catholic Bishops can

now begin to ordain Married Men to the Priesthood outside of their country of origin. Several

bishops have already invited qualified married men to apply. I wish it happened fifty years ago

when I was a young thirty four years old, but alas time has passed me by. I am elated and most

happy that young Eastern Catholic men can now

receive the calling. I pray that this approval will eventually extend to men in the Roman Church as it was in the early

church.

God is good, God is love, Praise God all your days.

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter P a g e 3 V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5

PARISH NEWS

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 4 V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5

John and Rita DeMeis celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary

By Marisa Vinciguerra | mvincigu@siadvance.com

STATEN ISLAND, NY-Married 65 years ago, the Rev. John and Rita

DeMeis of Bay Terrace were feted at a family party at the Mansion

Grand, Great Kills, in honor of their wedding anniversary.

Mrs. De Meis, the former Rita Rampone, was born in Brooklyn 83

years ago. She graduated from new Utrecht High School Brooklyn and

was employed by Dun & Bradstreet, Manhattan from 1949 to 1952,

working in a clerical position. She left the workforce to become a full-

time homemaker.

She has been a member of the Catholic Renewal for almost 35 years,

and a coordinator and member of Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C.

Church, Huguenot, where she is a part of their prayer group and its

healing ministry.

She was a Eucharistic minister at Staten Island University Hospital,

Prince Bay, for 33 years.

Rev. DeMeis was also born in Brooklyn. He was a foreman for CBS

Columbia, Queens, for a number of years before joining the city Tran-

sit Police Department in 1961. He attended John Jay College for

Criminal Justice, Manhattan, and was a transit police officer for more

than 20 years, retiring in 1981.

Mr. DeMeis began a study program for the deaconate in 1982. He was

ordained to minor orders in1990, becoming a deacon in 1993 and

archdeacon in 1997. He is a member of Our Lady of Grace Mission in

the Greek Byzantine Rite, Bay Terrace. He is Catholic Chaplin to the

New York Transit Police Retired Association, the Hew York City

Transit Authority and the Fraternal Order of Police, New York State

Thruway Authority. In his spare time he enjoys collecting coins,

Stamps and antiques.

The couple, who met while in junior high school, became engaged in

1949 and were married on Jan. 15, 1950, in St Rosalia R.C.Church,

Brooklyn.

Together, the couple has traveled to Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico,

Europe, Bermuda and other Caribbean Islands.

They are the parents of Patricia Ann Di Tolla of Bay Terrace and Jon

A. DeMeis of Richmond. Five Grandchildren and two great grandchil-

dren complete the family circle.

When asked what is the secret of their marriage's longevity, Rev. De-

Meis said “Love”.

“Congratulations to two people

whom I love very much!

You guys are true role models for

what husbands and wives should

aspire to be!

Regards Tommy Lifey

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 5 V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5

Contd: A Curia that is Outdated

“Spiritual Alzheimer’s disease, or rather forgetfulness of

the history of Salvation. We see this in those who have

lost their recollection of their encounter with the Lord ,

in those who build walls around themselves and who

transform into slaves to the ides they have sculpted with

their own hands.

The ailment of rivalry and vainglory: when appearances,

the color of one’s robes, insignia and honors become the

most important aim in life...It is the disorder that leads

us to become false men and women, living a false

‘mysticism’ and false ‘quietism’.

Then there is “existential schizophrenia: the sickness of

those who live a double life, fruit of the hypocrisy typi-

cal of the mediocre and the progressive spiritual empti-

ness that cannot be filled by degrees or academic hon-

ors. They create a parallel world of their own, where

they set aside everything they teach with severity to oth-

ers and live a hidden , and often dissolute life.

The sickness of “chatter, grumbling and gossip: this is a

serious illness that begins simply, often just in the form

of having a chat, and takes people over, turning them

into sowers of discord, like Satan, and many cases cold-

blooded murderers of reputations of their colleagues and

brethren. It is the sickness of the cowardly who, not

having the courage to speak directly to the people in-

volved, instead speak behind their backs”

The sickness of deifying leaders is typical of those who

court their superiors, with the hope of receiving their

benevolence. They are victims of careerism and oppor-

tunism, honoring people rather than God. They are

mean, unhappy and inspired only by their fatal selfish-

ness.

The disease of indifference towards others arises when

each person thinks only of himself, and loses the sincer-

ity and warmth of personal relationships. When the

most expert does not put his knowledge to the service of

less expert colleagues; when out of jealousy...one ex-

periences joy in seeing another person instead of lifting

him up or encouraging him.

The illness of the funeral face: or rather , that of the

gruff and the grim, those who believe that in order to b

serious it is necessary to paint their faces with melan-

choly and severity, and to treat others –especially those

they consider inferior– with rigidity, hardness and arro-

gance. In reality theatrical severity and sterile pessi-

mism are often symptoms of fear and insecurity.

The disease of accumulation: when the apostle seeks to

fill and existential emptiness of the heart by accumulat-

ing material goods, not out of necessity but ply

simply to feel secure...Accumulation only burdens and

inexorably slows down our progress.

The ailment of closed circles; when belonging to a group

becomes stronger then belonging to the Body and , in

some situations, to Christ Himself. This sickness too may

start from good intentions but, as time passes, enslaves

members and becomes a ‘cancer’ that threatens the har-

mony of the Body and causes a great deal of harm-

scandals– especially to our littlest brothers.

Then, there is the disease of worldly profit and exhibition-

ism: when the apostle transforms his service into power,

and his power into goods to obtain worldly profits or

more power.

This is the disease of those who seek insatiably to multiply

their power and are capable of slandering, defaming, natu-

rally in order to brag and to show they are more capable

than others.

After listing these ailments, Pope Francis continued,” We

a e therefore required , at this Christmas time and in all the

time of our service and our existence-to live ’speaking the

truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who

is the head, into Christ, form whom the whole body,

joined and held together by every joint with which it is

equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the

body grow so that it builds itself up in love.’”

“ I once read that priests are like aeroplanes: they only

make the news when they crash, but there are many that

fly. Many criticize them and few pray for them”, he con-

cluded. “it is a very nice phrase, but also very true, as it

express the importance and the delicacy of our priestly

service, and how much harm just one priest show falls

may caste to the whole body of the Church.”

Together, let us pray for the needs of our brothers and sisters. Please re-

member these intentions in your daily prayers.

Deacon and Rita DeMeis

Fr. Francis Viviona

Marie and Sa; Cuchiara

Lilly O’Keefe

Christopher DiTolla

P raye r Req ue s t s

Frank Farioullo

Tom Rampone

Tommy Cucchiarra

Thomas Parente

Special intentions of Prof. Gonzalo Fernandez PHd.

University of Valencia (Spain)

LETTERS

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 6 V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Dear Rev. John,

Q. I have read that the diocese of Rochester NY ended a

40 year custom of lay preaching during Mass. Was this

really happening ?

J.P. Albany

A. I suppose the Bishop approved. Cannon Law pro-

hibits this. A priest or deacon only can preach the

homily. A commissioned Psalter "Choir Director" can

chant the old testament or epistle readings. Never a lay

person in the Eastern Rite. .I think the Roman Rite

allows a Lay Brother or Seminarian to preach. I as-

sume your speaking of the Roman Rite. How ever' I

have seen in some Eastern Rite communities lay per-

sons do readings before the Gospel.

Rev John,

Can you explain in detail the sacrament of holy orders?

Betty W. Internet

HERE ARE THE CANNONS OF THE THREE DE-

GREES OF THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

1554 "The divinely instituted ecclesiastical ministry is

exercised in different degrees by those who even from

ancient times have been called bishops, priests, and dea-

cons." 32 Catholic doctrine, expressed in the liturgy, the

Magisterium, and the constant practice of the Church,

recognizes that there are two degrees of ministerial par-

ticipation in the priesthood of Christ: the episcopacy and

the presbyterate . The diaconate is intended to help and

serve them. For this reason the term sacerdos in current

usage denotes bishops and priests. Yet Catholic doctrine

teaches that the degrees of priestly participation

(episcopate and presbyterate) and the degree of service

(diaconate) are all three conferred by a sacramental act

called "ordination," that is, by the sacrament of Holy

Orders: Let everyone revere the deacons as Jesus Christ,

the bishop as the image of the Father, and the presbyters

as the senate of God and the assembly of the apostles.

For without them one cannot speak of the Church.

Dear Rev John,

I have been reading about St Mark of Ephesus 15th cen-

tury. Why was he so against the reunion with Rome?

Robert B. Brooklyn NY

The church in Greece, Albania and the middle east was threat-

ened by Moslem Turkish invasions. Mark spoke against the

attempt at reunion with Rome at the Council of Florence, Italy

supposedly defending Orthodoxy. Mark abruptly left the coun-

cil. The Emperor who supported reunion as a solution to the

problems the Turks posed to Constantinople, banished Mark for

two years. When Mark returned to Constantinople he was re-

ceived as a hero. He died in 1444 A.D.

"WHAT HERO" His Holiness Bartholomew recently stated

(We are looked upon as second class citizens in a country where

we were almost 100% Greek. St Mark would have been looked

upon as a great reformer had he supported the council.. Thank

God for the current reunion meetings now in process. ---(Last

paragraph my own opinion.) Rev. Demeis

Rev John,

Your question on Campo Santo, Camp of Saints or Filed of

Saints. Is it not originally from the Greek?

George P. Boston

Yes' Your Right. The word "cemetery" comes from the Greek

koimetirion which means dormitory. Place of Sleeping. Very

good question T U

Dear Deacon John,

In 1991 when I was working in Rome with Father Tom

Forrest, CSSR, in Evangelization 2000 Office, I heard

this story:

A group of Sisters in Albania (I

think they were Servites, but I am not sure) were living

under Communist rule and had to give up all outward

expression of their religious life. One day a priest was

able to come to their house and offer Holy Mass. A Host

was kept aside and hidden in the hollow of a statue of

Our Blessed Mother. There it remained in perfect condi-

tion until a priest was again able to be smuggled in to

offer Divine Liturgy.

All Catholic literature, Bibles,

Missals, prayers had been destroyed. It happened that

when we heard the story about the Sisters, Father Tom

had just completed gathering a book of Catholic Prayers,

including the prayers of the Holy Mass. A priest from

Albania was studying in Rome and Father Tom asked

him if he would translate all the prayers into the Albanian

language. He did! Father Tom published a lovely little

book of prayers, with beautiful pictures on the front and

back covers, like a precious gift to Jesus and Mary. It

happened that a container of supplies was being prepared

for Albania, and a shipment of our little book of Catholic

Prayers was sent along with it.

May God be praised for His wonderful Providence! Alle-

luia!

Dorothy L. Armstrong

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 7 V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5

2015 SICC Awards Recipient, Ron Montecalvo Submitted by Debora Scatuccio

Staten Island Council of Churches Annual Awards Ban-

quet was held on February 5, 2015 at the Old Bermuda Inn

Restaurant on Staten Island, New York. Our Lady of

Grace Italo-Greek Catholic Mission and Society honored

Ron Montecalvo, Executive Editor, with the Annual Com-

munity Service Award.

Members of over forty-eight churches and Christian or-

ganizations were in attendance at the communal event. In

all, twenty-nine volunteers were honored.

The evening began with the hymn, “We Gather Together.”

Officers for the SICC were installed and the officers and

mission of the council was prayed for by all in attendance.

We were reminded that the “Ecumenical Vision of the

Council” is to serve the community that we live in. We are

to see one another as sisters and brothers and to live as if

we are always in God’s household. Our reflection was on

Matthew 20:16, “So the last shall be first, and the first last:

for many be called, but few chosen.” After the benediction

all of the members joined in the closing song, “Let There

Be Peace On Earth.”

The SICC Award was presented to Ron by the Rev. Janet

Jones, Council President and Rev. Archdeacon John De-

Meis of Our Lady Of Grace Italo-Greek Catholic Mission

and Society (OLOGM/S).

Society members in attendance were; Ron’s wife Phyllis,

Rev. Archdeacon George and Deaconess Violet Yany, Vin-

cent Romano and his daughter, Nola Romano, Rev. Arch-

deacon John and Deaconess Rita

DeMeis and Archbishop Louis

Milazzo. Anthony Guzewicz,

Debora and Vincent Scatuccio,

Valerie Joseph and Marie Gulmi

were also present. In addition

Ron received the Mission’s

“Certificate of Excellence” for

his “Efforts on Behalf of the Byz-

antine Catholic Church in the

U.S.A.” The certificate was pre-

sented by Rev. Archdeacon John

DeMeis, Rev. Archdeacon

George Yany, Archbishop Louis

Milazzo and Rev. Dr. John Rocco

Carlo.*

Ron Montecalvo was initiated into the Roman Catholic

Church in Providence, RI in 1938. He attended Providence

Public Schools, until Junior High when he entered La Salle

Academy, where he graduated from in 1956. La Salle

Academy is run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

Ron holds the Brothers in high regard and appreciates his

Catholic education. During his teen years Ron became in-

terested in the Eastern Catholic Church.

In 1960 Ron graduated from Providence College with a

B.A.in English. He took several business and creative

courses at different universities. Ron served our country for

6 years in the Air Force and was discharged with the rank

of Staff Sergeant. In1962 he married Phyllis Mannarelli and

they have one married son, Gian. Ron has worked at sev-

eral corporations, including; Avnet, Textron and ITT in

marketing and advertising.

Ron Montecalvo has been an active parishioner of St. Basil

The Great Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Lincoln,

Rhode Island. He serves the parish as a reader and has

asked for a Canonical Change to the Melkite Catholic Rite.

St. Basil The Great is part of the Melkite Eparchy of New-

ton.

Ron has been a member of OLOGM/S for over ten years.

Last year he became Newsletter Editor. Ron follows Soci-

ety’s previous editors, Debora Scatuccio, Prof. Cav. Philip

J. DiNovo and Rev. Archdeacon John DeMeis. Ron’s ef-

forts are deeply appreciated.

*Rev. Carlo is a former Police and MTA Chaplain. He retired from the

MTA as a Captain and is Senior Pastor at Christian Pentecostal Church

on SI. Archdeacon John served under Sergeant Carlo when he worked as

a member of the MTA. Archdeacon John is also a retired Chaplain for

the NY Police and MTA.

Valerie

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 8 V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5

2015 SICC Awards contd

Phyllis Montecalvo, Archdeacon George and Violet Yany

Valerie Joseph and Marie Gulmi

Vincent Romano and Enola “Nola” Romano

Debora and Vincent Scatuccio Anthony Guzewicz and Archbishop Louis Malazzo

RENEWAL NOTICE

It is not necessary to cut the renewal form if you keep the newsletters on file.

Just send a check to Our Lady of Grace Society

Just send a check to Our Lady of Grace Society

Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 9 V o l . 3 3 / N o 1 M a r c h 2 0 1 5

From Vincent Romano

Our Lady of Grace-IGCC Italian Greek

Catholic Church Mission and Society

Italian-Greek Albanian

51 Redgrave Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10303-3620

Address Correction Requested