Columns 2021

At some point in college, I believe as a freshman or sophomore, I remember being intrigued by hearing in a philosophy class that a particular philosopher (I do not recall his name) began his academic career as a “philologist.”

For those who are old enough to look back and remember all that has taken place during the past 20 years, how much do you remember from your personal life, the life of your family, and events that have taken place in our communities, in our country, and throughout the world? Obviously, some remember more than others do and there are unforgettable moments for each and all of us. The events, tragedy, and heroism that took place 20 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, is certainly one of those unforgettable moments. Almost every person who was old enough to realize what was happening could remember where they were and what they were doing the moment they heard, “a plane hit the World Trade Center” or “a plane hit one of the Twin Towers.” Others heard the words, “Turn on the TV, a plane just hit …”

“Back to school,” for most of grammar school and all of high school, were three of my “least favorite words.” That was especially true during my high school years, as the end of August drew near and I had not finished reading any of the five books that I was supposed to have read during the summer. During my college years all that changed and, while I cannot say that I looked forward to classes, tests, and papers, I did begin to look forward to going back to school.

For some time (many months), I had two dates on my calendar: on Thursday, Aug. 5 and Sunday, Aug. 15, I was scheduled to celebrate Masses with communities of religious sisters, during which some sisters would make perpetual (final) vows. I was scheduled to be with the Salesian Sisters — Daughters of Mary Help of Christians at St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne on Aug. 5 and with the Sisters of Christian Charity at their Motherhouse in Mendham on Aug. 15. There did not seem to be a “connection” at the time, when toward the end of June, I learned that Father Gene Romano was not doing well. I was able to visit him in St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in Totowa on July 12 and was comforted to see the care and attention he was receiving from the Little Sisters of the Poor and their chaplain, Father Sean McDonnell.

One Chapter, 71 verses, the sixth Chapter of John’s Gospel, tells us of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes; feeding the 5,000; telling the crowd that they should, “… not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life …”; and then telling them that he is the “ Bread of Life” and that he will give us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink so that we may have eternal life.