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 :
Archdeacon’s
Door
Page
3
Questions Page
Interview with
The Bishop
Page
N ew s l e t t e r D at e
J une 2 0 1 5
Vo l u me 3 3 , I s s ue 2
The Nursing Madonna
Official Icon of Our Lady of Grace Italo-Greek Catholic Mission & Society
Gallaro/Piano degli Albanese
Heraldry
Antimension presented by Bishop Nicholas Samra.
Created by Melkite Fr. Mark Melone
Bishop Donato Oliverio Eparchy
of Lungro
Bishop Giorgio Gallaro Eparchy
Piano degli Albanese
Bishop Nicholas Samra Melkite
Eparchy of Newton, Ma (REAR)
Bishop Dimitrios Salachas of
the Exarchate of /Athens
AXIOS, AXIOS RE V. G E O RG E D. G AL L ARO
NAME D B I S H OP O F
PI ANO d e g l i AL B ANE S E
See Page 2 for more Photos
Full Story Page 6
I ns i de t h i s i s s ue :
Archdeacon’s
Door
Page
3
Questions
& Answers
Page
4
Interview with
Bishop
Gallaro
Page
4
Renewed Hope for
Breathing With
Page
5
Gallaro Named
Bishop
Page
6
Letters, Prayer
Requests
Page
7
Parish News
Eastern Stamp
Album
Page
8
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5 P a g e 2
Photos by Very Rev. Andrew Deskevich
Through the courtesy of Darlene Fejka at the Byzantine Catholc World, Archepachy of Pittsburg
EDITOR’S DESK Ron Monteca lvo
Please accept our thanks for renewing your subscription to
our beloved Newsletter. Your continued supports is greatly
appreciated. Remember to keep the Society in your prayers.
In May I attended a conference sponsored by the Mel kite Epochy of New to,
Ma. Entitled “LIVIVG CHRIST” The conference featured three outstanding
speakers:
Fr. Mark Melone
Deacon Paul Leonarczyk
Deacon Sabatino Carnazzo
The one-day free conferences are dedicated to welcoming adult Eastern Chris-
tians to an opportunity to their faith through intensive study of Sacred Scripture,
Church Fathers and Byzantine Tradition.
For information as to when a conference may be held in your area contact Dea-
con Sabatino Carnazzo via e-mail at Deacon [email protected].
ARCHDEACON’S DOOR
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter P a g e 3 V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5
FR. JANUARIUS IZZO Guest Book on The Boston Globe. Open permanently
Sign and view the Guest Book,
leave condolences or send flow-
ers. | IZZO, Fr. Januarius OFM
Age 80, passed away on August
23, 2014 at Marion Manor in
South Boston.
April 23, 2015
Dear Vandyke,
Happy Birthday in Heaven. We will always remem-
ber you with love & respect. May we meet again with
Our Lord, the Theotokos, St Gennaro & St George.
Fr.Sal
Today April 23 2015 Feast of St.George. Fr Jan would have been 81
years old. He was my teacher, Mentor and dearest friend. His Memory
will be ever in my heart.
A/Dcn John
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 4 V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5
Dear Archdeacon Demeis,
Came upon your web site. Found it most interesting.
Does one have to be Italian Greek or Albanian to join
your community? Michael C. Internet.
Not at all Michael. Anyone can subscribe to our quar-
terly Newsletter.
We Italian-Greek-Albanian Catholics are of three ethnic
groups: the original Greek-speaking inhabitants of
the Greek colonies in Lower Italy and Sicily, Levantine
colonies & Balkans Greeks who colonized Southern
Italy Magna Grecia "Great
Greece" The Albanians and those Italians who
changed over to the Greek Rite since the Byzantine pe-
riod. As such this particular church is also referred to
by the name Italo-Greek Catholic Church, which is
derived from the Italo-Greek (Italo-Græcus) demonym
for the first two group of Greeks in Italy. In the fif-
teenth century, the original Italo-Greeks were gradually
being Latinized but through an influx of Albanians of
the Byzantine Rite, the church began to once again
flourish. As a result, it is referred to as Italo-Albanian
Catholic Church or as the Italo-Albanian Greek
Catholic Church. In these names, "Greek" refers to
the Byzantine Rite and the "Italo-" Greek and
"Albanian" components refer to the nationalities and
languages used in the liturgy, although Greek is the his-
torical liturgical language. Membership in Our Lady of
Grace Society is open to anyone sincerely willing to aid
an support the Society. You need not be of Italian
Greek or Albanian ancestry
Editor’s Note:For more information about our
brothers and sisters of the Italo-Greek-Albanian
Byzantine Catholic Church here in the United States
as well as links to sites about their Greek and Ar-
beresh heritage and homelands, visit the site for the
Our Lady of Grace Society Mission, Staten Island,
NY. And don’t miss the site of Our Lady of Wisdom
Italo/Greek Catholic Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
INTERVIEW WITH THE BISHOP-ELECT OF
PIANO degli ALBANESI
Nicoletta Borgia 5/11/2015
Borgia: Excellency, His Excellency Cardinal Sandi has de-
fined the welcome message we received on the Jubilee Year
of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, as a view of a new leap
forward of the three operating missions of the Italo/Albanian
Church; forgiveness, love and reconciliation.
Gallaro: I thank the Most Holy Trinity, Pope Francis, Cardi-
nal Sandri of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, Car-
dinal Paolo Romero metropolitan archbishop of Palermo and
eparchial administrator, the clergy and people of the Eparchy
of Piano degli Albanesi for their benevolence and confidence
in my humble person as the Father Bishop designate of the
small but valuable community of Italo/Albanians in Sicily.
The feelings of forgiveness and reconciliation must always be
present in our Christian Lives and especially in my life, as
taught by the Great Basil of Caesrea to priests before begin-
ning the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. On the other hand,
family members united through the Nuptial Mystery should
continuously move toward the fulfillment of the words
“forgiveness” and “love”.
Borgia: You will bring a new witness, a diverse history as
seen through different phases: ex-student at the Pontifical Ori-
ental Institute, university lecturer and canonist in the US, a
priest of the Melkite Church in Newton, MA, consultor of the
Congregation for the Oriental Churches...constant service and
dedication to the Eastern Churches and continues through to-
day in Piana degli Albanesi in a small Sui Juris church.
Gallaro:The state of church at Piana degli Albanesi requires
better consolidation according to the Code of Canons of the
Eastern Churches and the decisions and declarations of the
interparchial Synod in Grottaferrata (2010) and of the ecclesi-
astical realities of the Italo/Albanian Byzantines of Italy. I
will use all of my skills to have these realities acquire grater
autonomy so that their liturgical, theological, spiritual, disci-
plinary and cultural identity will be recognized and valued.
Borgia:In this historical time the book industry's information
regarding the Christian East is “encrypted” by the international
mass communication systems with false ideology regarding
the authentic Christian message of the Word of God. This
peachy has a log tradition of ecumenical writings, from right
cannons and for not being tied up in linguistic translations and
which could provide a new “ oriental’evangelical perspective
in a church that breaths with two lungs.
Gallaro:I think that the publishing tradition of this eparchy, in
its various aspects, would be adequate and further sustained
by the new methods of communication, but with due caution
not to fall into apathy turning into an end in itself.
Cont: page7
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 5 V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5
RENEWED HOPE FOR BREATHING WITH
BOTH LUNGS
By Bishop George D, Gallaro
In the last several months there have been significant devel-
opments offering great hope for what the late John Paul II
referred to as “breathing with both lungs: east and West.”
In discussions surrounding last October’s Extraordinary
Synod on the Family in Rome, frequent reference was made
to Orthodox pastoral practice for persons entering second
marriages. Earlier, in June (although only made public in
early November) Pope Francis removed the twentieth cen-
tury restrictions on the presbyteral ordination of married
men in the Eastern Catholic Churches regardless of location.
Finally, we can point to the visit of the Pope to Patriarch
Bartholomew of Constantinople, in which the initiatives to-
ward union begun more than fifty years ago by Pope Paul VI
and Patriarch Athenagoras I seemed to gain ever greater
traction.
On the 1965 Consistory Pope Paul nominated 27 new cardi-
nals. Among them, none was more fascinating than the old
Melkite Patriarch of Antioch, Maximos IV (Saigh). He had
declined the red hat three times before finally relenting at
the insistence of the Pope. Throughout the Second Vatican
Council (1962-1965), Patriarch Maximos’ many contribu-
tions were always delivered in French, despite the Roman
Curia’s insistence on the use of Latin for oral interventions.
Patriarch Maximos (who knew Latin) maintained that Latin
was never the language of his Church and that French was
the preferred language in international business. He also
reminded all of the Council Bishops that the Church was
East as well as West, and that the ways of the Latin Church
were not the only ways of being the Catholic Church.
We would like to offer two areas in which Eastern Christian
emphasis can already help Latin Christians. First, Eastern
spirituality and theology in and through the liturgical life of
the community. Although we have a common tradition of
the law of prayer is the law of belief, the Christian East has a
particular emphasis in this regard. One observer notes that
personal prayer at home is most often expressed in the same
manner as public liturgy: even in private prayer, one remains
always in communion with the rest of the Church. Is that
the experience of many Latin communities? The communal
dimension of all prayer can help overcome the pervasive
“me and Jesus” approach to private prayer found so often in
Western forms of Christianity.
A second insight is the concept of theosis (deification or di-
vinization). We are told in the Second Letter of Saint Peter
that God made great and marvelous promises, so that his
nature would become part of us; then we could escape our
evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world. (2 Peter
1:4). While some Western Christians tend to focus on being
saved from sin (and Easterners would not deny this), there is
an even greater emphasis on becoming one with the tri-
une God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We find same idea
, among others, in the prayer the priest or deacon says as
he places water into the wine at the liturgical preparation
of the gifts. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (+373) says
this even more succinctly, “God became man so that man
might become divine.”
How might this help all Christians? It offers a fundamen-
tal positive vision of the Christian vocation as immerse
ourselves into the sacramental mysteries (Baptism, Chris-
mation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing, Orders, Matri-
mony) in this life while gradually and Dailey living out
that divine life through our human journey back to God.
Our one, holy, apostolic and catholic Church (East and
West), and our increasing efforts to renew communion
with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, already benefits
from our mutual faith and diverse traditions, and all bene-
fit by a commitment to us all of recourses to serve others.
Hispanic-Mozarabic Rite Mass celebrate in
the Vatican for the fourth time in history
A Mass of the Hispanic-Mozarabic Rite was cele-
brated in St. Peter's Basilica. It's something that does-
n't happen that often. It marked the fourth time in his-
tory where that type of Mass was celebrated in the
Vatican.
For the first ten centuries of Christianity in Spain,
Mass was celebrated following the 'Hispanic
Rite.' Then Pope Gregory VII decided to extend the
Roman Rite throughout the Christian world. The His-
panic rite was still followed, but only in areas that
were predominantly Muslim. Those regions became
known as Mozarabic, and that is where the Rite's
name derives from.
"Back then, Christians said, the Pope is trying to take
away our Liturgy. What the Arabs didn't manage to
do in our history, he is trying to accomplish.' So faced
with these complaints, the Pope allowed the Hispanic
-Mozarabic rite to continue in Toledo, which is still
present to this day.”
This rite is especially well-preserved in the center of
the Iberian peninsula, in the Spanish city of Toledo.
On Saturday, the archbishop of that diocese, Braulio
Rodríguez, presided over the special Mass at the
Vatican.
Two hundred pilgrims from the Diocese of Toledo
attended the Mass with their archbishop. Celebrating
Mass alongside him were several cardinals, archbish-
ops, bishops, and priests. Among them were: Cardi-
nal Santos Abril, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi,
HE IS WORTHY
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 6 V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5
Proclamation by Pope Francis
Pope Francis has named Father George D. Gallaro, 67, a priest
of the Melkite Eparchy of Newton, Massachusetts, as bishop
of the Byzantine Eparchy of Piano degli Albanesi in Palermo,
Italy. Father Gallaro currently serves as professor of Canon
Law at St. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Seminary in Pitts-
burgh and as judicial vicar of the Byzantine Archeparchy of
Pittsburgh.
George D. Gallaro was born January 16, 1948, in Pozuolo,
Sicily. He received a bachelor’s in philosophy from the Seminario Diocesano Noto, Italy, in 1968. He received a certifi-
cate in liturgical theology from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute, Rome, in 1980, a doctorate in Eastern Church Law
from the Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, in 1981, and a licentiate in ecumenical theology from the University of St.
Thomas Aquinas, Rome, in 1994.
He was ordained May 27, 1972, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and incardinated in the Greek-Melkite Eparchy of
Newton in September 1987. He served as a parochial vicar and instructor of catechesis in the Archdiocese of Los Ange-
les. For the Melkite Eparchy, he served in the marriage tribunal (1982-1986), as a seminary instructor (1982-1991), sec-
retary to Archbishop Joseph Tawil (1983-1990), judicial vicar (1986-1992), chancellor and eparchial consultor (1983-
1992). He was a member and collaborator of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity from 1992-1994 and
rector of St. Gregory Melkite Seminary in Newton from 1994-1996.
Bishop-elect Gallaro is the author of dozens of articles, dealing largely with issues from the perspective of Eastern
Catholics, including ecumenism, marriage and Canon Law. He is a member of the Canon Law Society of America and
the Society for the Law of the Eastern Churches. He speaks English, Italian, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, some. Alba-
nian and Portuguese, and a little Arabic.
The Byzantine Eparchy of Piano degli Albanesi has been vacant since the retirement of Bishop Sotír Ferrara in April
2013
RE V. G E O RG E D. G AL L ARO
NAME D B I S H OP O F
PI ANO d e g l i AL B ANE S E
P raye r Req ue s t s
LETTERS
Received via Snail Mail and E-mail
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 7 V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5
Dear Rev.John & Rita
Congratulation, May the good Lord bless you and keep
you many more years. It is not only love that sustained
you both but as I see your understanding and acceptance.
It is good to know that both grew up in Brooklyn. It used
to be the strong hold of Catholics and a peaceful part of
the New York City. I was happy to see you both.
When you were young must have been teens. Secondly I
could not recognize Rita in that long gown but I was
happy to see her talking with a high profile man.
I was happy to read the article that has come in your bulle-
tin regarding curia, It is sad part. Sin is committed in
Rome and also in the dioceses. Many priests have to suf-
fer because of Curia. Pope has hit the head of the nail. I
shall pray for you both that God may keep you many more
years to come.
God bless you.
Fr. Maxy DeSuza, Goa India
Deacon John,
Congratulations on your 65th wedding anniversary. What
a blessing. We were not aware you were a policeman,
You never mentioned it. Saw your newsletter at Jane's
God bless you both
Bob and Nancy
Fr Deacon Tom Stadnik suffered broken ribs and a col-
lapsed lung from the Train Wreck in Philadelphia. Please
keep him in prayer while he is recovering
Deacon Nicholas Daddona for a speedy recovery from inju-
ries suffered from a traffic accident
.Anthony Cucchiare suffering from cancer
Dr. Richard Renoff died on April 4, 2015. Funeral was cele-
brated on Thursday of Bright Week at Saint Andrews Byzan-
tine Church. Westbury Long Island. Professor Renoff was
advisor to OLOGS. He has written several articles and lec-
tures on Italo Greeks.
May his memory be Eternal for Christ Is Risen.
He was a professor of Sociology at Nassau Community
College.
Information from Fr. Deacon Nick Daddona
INTERVIEW WITH THE BISHOP-ELECT
OF PIANO degli ALBANESI
Contd; from page 4
This is , in my humble opinion, to identify the most de-
fining aspects , in a modern way, which make the Church
of Piano degli Albanesi “A gem of the east in the land of
the west” or as stated by Pope St John XXIII “ A bridge
between eastern and western Christianity” i.e. a reminder
of the constant love and dialogue with the Orthodox
Church. A characterizing feature is the mystagological
Catechesis typical of the Christian East., marked by con-
templation and divinizing action through liturgical sym-
bols which take on a primary importance as the manifes-
tation of the divine being and, at the same time as the
means by which we go into the tangible world and
through symbols to absolute transcendence.
Borgia: Would the role of this epachy as a Sui Juris com-
ponent be one of dialog and welcome toward those sister
churches scuffing in a polychromatic Sicily?
Gallaro: The Piana degli Albanese is a living testimony
of an ethnic, and religious community that it established
in Sicily and how much it is now welcomed, suffering
though not always in the past, but in modern times has
become fully inclusive and has been promoting meaning-
ful ecumenical moments involving all of the churches of
Sicily.
Special Report Vince Romano
Just want to report that Tom is getting much better. Spoke
to his wife , no dialysis for two days, off the respirator al-
though still has the track collar. They ...might be taking it
off tomorrow if he keeps improving and was sitting in a
chair this morning.
Here is a picture of a smiling Deacon
.
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 8 V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5
PARISH NEWS
SUNDAY OF THE MAN BORN BLIND Through all this time between the Resurrection of the Lord and His Ascen-
sion, the providence of God thought of this, taught this, and penetrated their
eyes and heart. He wanted them to recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as truly risen, who was truly born, truly suf-
fered and truly died. The manifest truth strengthened the blessed apostles and all the disciples who were fright-
ened by His death on the cross and were doubtful of His Resurrection. The result was they were not only af-
flicted with sadness, but also were filled with “great joy” when the Lord went into the heights of heaven. It
was certainly a great and indescribable source of joy when, in the sight of the heavenly multitudes, the nature
of our human race ascended over the dignity of all heavenly creatures. It passed the angelic orders and was
raised beyond the heights of archangels. In its ascension, our human race did not stop at any other height until
this same nature was received at the seat of the eternal Father. Our human nature, united with the divinity of
the Son, was on the throne of His glory.
The Ascension of Christ is our elevation. Hope for the body is also invited where the glory of the Head pre-
ceded us. Let us exult, dearly beloved, with worthy joy and be glad with a holy thanksgiving. Today we not
only are established as possessors of paradise, but we have even penetrated the heights of the heavens in
Christ. The indescribable grace of Christ, which we lost through the “ill will of the devil,” prepared us more
fully for that glory. Incorporated within Himself, the Son of God placed those whom the violent enemy threw
down from the happiness of our first dwelling at the right hand of the Father. The Son of God lives and reigns
with God the Father Almighty and with the Holy Spirit forever and ever, Amen.
From Fr. Francis Vivona Pastor
Eastern Christian Stamp Album From Vincent Romano
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
Our Lady of Grace Society Newsletter Page 9 V o l . 3 3 / N o 2 J u n e 2 0 1 5
Bishop Gallaro Installation Invitation