Road Trip

FR. ED SZENDREY AND I hopped in a loaner car and headed up to Syracuse today to attend the wake tonight and funeral tomorrow morning of Joe Saucci, the eldest brother of Fr. Ron Saucci of Hong Kong.

Joe, a carpenter, did extensive work in the Walsh Building back in the day when Ron was head of the Social Communications Department. He built two new offices with large, plate-glass widows for me and then editor Frank Maurovich as well as the chapel on the third floor dedicated to Fr. Tom Takahashi.

Special thanks to Fr. Joe La Mar who would have joined us in this corporal act of mercy had I not already asked him to puppy-sit for Hopi today.

In any event, Ron's other brother Andrew from Long Island and his wife, Norma, were most grateful to see Ed and me and waxed eloquent about their visits to Maryknoll and Hong Kong. Many nieces and nephews as well said, "You must be friends of Uncle Ron."

Given that his own health concerns precluded Ron from attending, Ed and I were happy to continue the Maryknoll tradition of making every effort to attend funerals of relatives of missioners.

Congratulations, Mike!

Fr. Mike Duggan celebrates 50 years of Mission Priesthood in Maryknoll with a Mass and outdoor luncheon for about 150 family and friends. Guests have flown in from as far away as London and driven in from Phoenix for the occasion.

It is like an impromptu reunion of "Old-Korea" hands with former lay missioners Bonnie Brunner, Rita Reickert, Jim Pronbst and Barb Pavelka attending, along with former Maryknollers Dick Hitchcock and Jose Padin. Most of the Maryknoll Sisters who worked in Korea and are now at the Sisters Center also attended along with Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers in residence. Father Jack Corcoran, here on furlough from Nepal, joined in the festivities. Sr. Jean Maloney was here and will be back in Korea on Thursday the 24th.

Ms. Lucille Naughton even came out of retirement to conduct the schola of Fathers Marty Lowery, Kevin Hanlon and Joe Veneroso, Maryknoll Sisters Alice Cardillo, Rose Guercio, Nori Mojado, Elizabeth Terblock and Dolores Condon, former MLM Barbara Pavelka (who also played flute!), Mr. Jon Prudhomme (Bonnie's husband) and Mr. Jack Naughton (Lucille's husband) with Father Ed Szendrey serving as cantor.

After the meal, Hopi made an appearance, much to the delight of the children and relief of the parents. Between throwing and chasing tennis balls and frisbees, and with all the running around, Hopi and the kids will all sleep well tonight.

Once again, Sodexo did a superb job with both food and decor, with maroon tableclothes and vases of fresh flowers at each table.

Following the official festivities, the "Old Korea Hands" lingered in the Quad for an impromptu, three-hour sing-along, comprised of Broadways tunes and folksongs with Jon Prudhomme leading with guitar and voice.