A 50th Anniversary Celebration

The 50th reunion of St Paul the Apostle School was scheduled for May 4 beginning at 5 pm in the Church.

Two of the priests who said Mass were also graduates of the memorable and beloved parochial school, once an integral part of NYC. One of the clerics had been a classmate of my younger sister, Mary Elizabeth.

The neighborhood (once described as Hells Kitchen) is now famed as the setting for WEST SIDE STORY. It is also home for the renowned Lincoln Center and site of Robert Moses’ dream.

As desperately as I wanted to attend, I had no access to a magic carpet nor a genie to help me locate one. Instead I utilized (through the assistance of Father Frank, (my sister’s classmate) Facebook live. Thus I was able to share the familiar liturgy.

The service had barely progressed, before I realized that I was the lone survivor of what once was a robust clan, including several relatives a good bit younger than I.

Beyond that indisputable fact, I was probably, if not the oldest, in the congregation, rather close to that category.

And without warning, I dreamt I rose from the pew and spoke these words to all who once inhabited that world with me and are no longer here:

“I went home today, and yesterday was waiting for me.

The pews were filled and I saw your beloved and familiar faces,

And everyone I knew once was young again,

The Sisters of the Holy Cross sat together on one side of the center aisle and

The beloved priests who taught us so much about life and love, as well as liturgy, were together on the beautiful altar.

Our famed choir sang out again and the magical music of yesterday erased the scars and pain of loss and sorrow and

It was good to be home again even though I knew I could not stay and

when I left I must

say goodbye to yesterday.”

Although it has been very long time ago since we have been together, I like to believe those whose love and life once I shared

heard my words in church today.