Who's That Boy in the Soprano Section?
“You should join the choir,” the director’s wife said to my mother turning around from the pew in front of us. “Oh that’s not me,” my mother explained, “it’s him.” She pointed down to her son: ten years old, a boy soprano, and belting out One Bread, One Body.
Two years later, our choir went on pilgrimage and were blessed to receive an audience with Saint Pope John Paul II. I offered a stanza of the Christus vincit which has forever been indelled on my heart: Johannes Paulus, et universalis patri: Pax, vita et salus perpetua; universal father: Peace, life and eternal salvation. I kissed his ring and he blessed my sisters with a kiss on their foreheads. (In the picture, I'm the short one in-between Cardinal Mahoney and the Pope.)
When we returned home, my parents—unaccustomed to daily Mass—decided to take a Sunday off from church, which became a month and settled into only a few times a year. But I had a bike—so every Sunday, I’d make the two-mile journey on my own.
Our choir director, Bruce Colell recently died and his funeral was this past Saturday at my childhood parish in Camarillo, St. Mary Magdalen. With a daughter my own age, our families were very close. I could write pages of wisdom, mentorship, joy, and sorrow that has formed me. That moment—a single invitation—was the exact spark of my life so far serving the church. I am grateful to the entire Colell family for being such a huge part of who I am today—may he rest in eternal peace.
This weekend we celebrate another vocation: the ordination Kevin McCardle to Deacon. His example of service, humility, and integrity make him an ideal candidate and he has said, 'yes' so many times. Let us all thank him for saying 'yes' to this role. At St. Monica we also have the rare gift of not one, but two Pastoral Associates: lay leaders who accept pastoral responsibilities to support our clergy. These two amazing women are Suzette Sornborger and Delis Alejandro. Take a moment and offer each one of these great leaders your gratitude.
St. Monica is a place built by the invitations we receive. Our stewardship calls us to invite someone to a place where all are welcome. Thank you for saying 'yes' to this community—we treasure all of the gifts each one of you share with us.
