Odds and Ends

A day of final vows leaves behind it a large wake of tidbits, little items of human exchange that, although they are tiny and usually remain invisible, give the day its color.

Here are a few such items from the final vows ceremony of Br. Michael Gaitley, MIC, on March 19:

• Prior to the ceremony, as the priests were vesting in the library off the great room in the monastery, Deacon Jim McCormack, MIC, helped Br. Michael Gaitley, MIC, select a cassock. They weren't sure about the one he put on. Was it too short? Cassocks and floodies - not a good combination. Too long? No one wanted him to make a literal trip to the altar. Finally, they decided on one. When Br. Michael started to put a satin black sash around his waist, Fr. Dan Cambra, MIC, came over and said, "No, no." Everyone laughed. I asked Fr. Anthony Gramlich, MIC, what that was all about. "That's really a Jesuit cassock," Fr. Anthony explained.

• What was on the tube in the TV room off the library as the Marians vested? March Madness. One of the games from the NCAA tournament played from the corner, sound off. Every once in a while, a Marian - usually one of the novices - would peek at the action.

• Prior to the beginning of Mass, Fr. Seraphim Michalenko, MIC, blessed Br. Michael's pectoral cross and shared a blessing. The touching moment provided the perfect kick-off for the Mass and vows.

• Brother Michael's mother, Linda, shared her thoughts on being the mom of a soon-to-be priest: "There's nothing special about me. This didn't happen because of me but because of God. The only thing a parent can do is to love their children as much as they can and never give up. If God wants something to be done, he can use anybody. I'm proof of that."

• You think this kid Gaitley has leadership abilities? When he was a senior in high school, young Mike Gaitley and a girl were chosen as student ambassadors to represent their city (Cypress, Calif.) in Nado, Japan, as part of an exchange program.

• Father Anthony "Tony" Nockunas, MIC, on Br. Michael's final vows: "Most religious communities are simply trying to survive. We [the Marians] have been fortunate [with new vocations]." When asked why, Fr. Tony answered, "I think it's our devotion to Mary and Jesus."

• A contingency of Red Hats (a group of community service volunteers consisting of women 60 years and older) from Wilbraham, Mass., just happened to choose St. Joseph's feast day (and Br. Michael's profession day) for a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. One asked, "What's going on here?" Father Dan Cambra, Marian Provincial Superior, didn't miss a beat: "Why, we knew you were coming and assembled in your honor!" When one woman told him where they were from (Wilbraham is home to the corporate headquarters of Friendly Ice Cream), Fr. Dan said, "I once worked for Friendly's." Another woman replied, "Everyone at one time of other has worked for Friendly's."

• When the Marians assembled for a group shot outside in the delightful, sunny, 65-degree weather, a non-Marian snuck into the picture. Don't tell anybody. The "imposter" got in a picture and gave Fr. Dan Cambra a set of rabbit ears. That picture, with God's help, will never see the light of day. Fortunately, the photo was a test shot, one of about one million snapped off this day by Eden Hill's demon photographer, Felix Carroll. Who was the imposter? Hint: He's a writer!

• Overheard and overseen at lunch: Frank Rizzo, Eden Hill volunteer extraordinaire, talking about his 25-year sideline as a youth basketball coach ... Kathleen Ervin explaining the finer points of airline cuisine ... Marian Novice Bart Lupus letting others cut in front of him in line (now that's the old Marian spirit!) ... Fr. Michael Callea leaving his watch behind as he left to say the 2 p.m. Mass ... The saintly Oblate Sisters for once enjoying the meal rather than preparing the meal ... Fr. Dan Maloney, MIC, sharing the details of a recent mission he conducted ... novice David Blasland assessing his life of formation this way: "I'm just trying to find my spiritual grounding." The person to whom he said this gave a piece of advice: "Don't drive outside the length of your headlights. It's dark out there" ... Mary Kay Volpone dutifully serving punch, calling to mind the gospel story of sisters Martha and Mary ... Fr. Bernard Backiel being, well, Fr. Bernard Backiel ... The interesting sight of meatballs in the Sloppy Joe mix, on a Lenten Friday, during lunch at a Marian monastery. It was refreshing. Remember how Jesus responded when the Pharisees got on His case about the eating and drinking habits of the Apostles? The explanation of meat in the mix, courtesy of Fr. Kaz, is the Church's special dispensation from meatless Fridays on the solemnities of the Feast of the Annunciation and the Feast of St. Joseph ... Brother Michael's nieces and nephews playing on the outside veranda overlooking the south lawn. Be like little children, Jesus advised.

Dan Valenti writes for numerous publications of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, both in print and online. He is the author of Dan Valenti's Mercy Journal.