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Curia Outdated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Pope Francis: a Curia that is Outdated, sclerotic or indifferent To others is an ailing body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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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 | [email protected]
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