The Saints Next Door
by Tom Gallagher
This past April 2020, our beloved Pope Francis said, “These days, more than 60 in Italy have died, after giving attention to the sick in hospitals,” he said. “Also doctors, nurses. They are the saints next door.”
No doubt, the doctors and nurses and hospital staff in our own community at Greenwich Hospital in serving the COVID and other patients are indeed “saints next door.” The whole community is indebted to these saints next door.
On October 30, 2020, a diocesan priest from Waterbury, Conn., Father Michael McGivney (1852 – 1890) will be beatified in a ceremony in the Archdiocese of Hartford. Father McGivney founded the ubiquitous Knights of Columbus based in New Haven, CT. His example of charity, evangelization and empowerment of the laity continues to bear fruit and guide Knights of Columbus around the world. His heroic virtue was recognized in 2008 by the Vatican, which named him a Venerable Servant of God, and on May 26, 2020, Pope Francis approved a decree for a miracle attributed to his intercession, opening the way for Father McGivney to be beatified. Those who knew him best in life saw in him both a “genial” countenance and a man with an “iron will” to achieve the good.[1]
To Father McGivney, faith was a gift to be treasured by every Catholic, and there were no human boundaries that could not be overcome by the love and care of a good and gracious God.[2]
When I look at our own faith community of St. Catherine's-St. Agnes, I see holiness abound. We are blessed with holy – and human – priests in Fr. Bill, Fr. Mark and Fr. Christopher, who are not simply our priests but they are our friends. We love them. We are blessed to have them. That is certain.
But I see holiness abound in the lay men, women and children of our parish.
I see the young families who bring their kids to Mass week-in and week-out and whose kids serve on the altar as servers and readers or who serve in the music ministry. That’s everyday holiness.
I think of Caroline Dulcibella, a single person whose life mission was service to others in the community. Caroline lived in a nursing home only 50 yards from the church and walked back and forth to Mass with the help of a walker. A daily communicant, Caroline had been active in the parish as a member of the choir and as a religious education teacher. I interviewed Caroline in 2013 and she died at the age of 100 in 2016. "I don't like to take medicine, so I try to heal myself," she said. "I take six vitamins a day and one multivitamin," she said. Staying physically active is important to her. "I used to bowl and was on a bowling team," she said. "I also try to be ambulatory as much as I can."
Another key to a long happy life is her spiritual outlook. "God has the last say," she said. "I believe strongly in personal prayer, especially the rosary. I try to say it daily. I think it has helped give me a great deal of strength and going to Mass." "I pray for people in my family that they have a happy death. I pray for peace in the world, in our homes and in our family," Caroline said.
I think of the quintessential Catholic gentleman, Lou Chiapetta, who went home to God in 2018.
But I also see holiness-in-the-making among the women in the Walking With Purpose Bible study program, which program includes my wife Wendy.
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “To become a saint is a simple duty for you and me.”
Our baptism, the Eucharist and the sacraments give each of us the core ingredients to become saints. It is a simple duty for you and me. It inspired our historic neighbor Father McGivney to become a saint.
And when you look in the mirror, be open to God’s inspiration to see a saint-in-the-making. It’s a simple duty for you and me.
