This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. By using this site, you consent to the placement and use of these cookies. Read our Privacy Policy to learn more. ACCEPT

Welcome The Stranger in Your Midst

My  father didn’t want me to be a Priest. Even though I went to public school and was an altar boy and a kind of “church mouse” when I was a kid, he said “absolutely not” every time I asked him about it. When I finally got the courage to ask him to explain, he said: ” you are my only male child and you must pass along the Marino name.” It wasn’t until High School was almost finished that he changed his mind hoping that, after a while, I would change mine. That never happened !

Now, thirty-six years after my Ordination, more people know the “Marino name” than he could have ever hoped for.

I do understand his concerns now, and I am sure that from Heaven, he is more proud than ever. In fact, a few months after my Ordination, I celebrated his funeral Mass.

I was a very happy young priest in my first assignment at Our Lady of Grace in Brooklyn for the first seven years, and then at Most Precious Blood in Brooklyn for two more years after that.  Then I had to re-learn what my ministry and my priesthood was all about when I was transferred to work in the Catholic Migration Office of the diocese.

I now had an office, a secretary, an Auxiliary Bishop as my “boss” and a whole new world of the Church to work in.  For the next twenty seven years I had the special privilege of directing the Church’s ministry to immigrants and refugees. I didn’t really like it at first, but gradually I grew to understand the great gift of the universality of the Catholic Church able to be experienced right here in our own Diocese.

I found myself celebrating Masses and events for immigrant groups of every nation  now present here. I saw their faith, their devotions, their love for the Church, their love of priests and I felt very humbled. I was happy to directly obey the Lord’s command to “…welcome the stranger in your midst” but I found that they knew how to welcome me more than I knew about them. In fact, I can say with certainty that the immigrants taught me more about the Church, the faith and the Priesthood than I could have ever learned in a classroom. I feel especially blessed as a Priest of this Diocese.

Two years ago, Bishop DiMarzio asked me to become the Pastor of St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis Parish in Brooklyn. With some hesitation I accepted this assignment and my happiness as a Priest grew even more. The challenges of administration were something that I had much experience with already as the head of a Diocesan Agency, and the pastoral challenges of a big parish would be an opportunity to renew my Priesthood again.

On my Ordination day in 1973 the Lord promised me that He would stay with me throughout, and supply me with everything I needed to be a good Priest and to serve Him in the Church as He would direct. I can honestly say that He has kept His promise throughout these years, and has given me more strength and courage than I could have hoped for.

I can see now why no one should doubt a possible vocation only because he feels inadequate or not “holy enough.”  The Lord still makes the same promise to every man who walks down the aisle of the Cathedral to be Ordained.  All that is needed is to trust and to let Him be in charge of your life.

 

Rev. Msgr. Ronald T. Marino

Rev. Msgr. Ronald T. Marino is the Vicar for Migrant and Ethnic Apostolates and Pastor of St. Rosalia-Regina Pacis Parish, Brooklyn.

 



leaf lab cbd gummies | super cbd gummies price | cbd gummies weight gain | joint restore gummies cbd | cbd fruit gummies 900 mg | keona cbd gummies | peach cbd thc gummies | 360 mg cbd gummies | cbd gummies 15 mg | recreational cbd gummies | cbd gummies by spectrum | wellness farm cbd gummies | green acres cbd gummy | penis enlargement at home | titanax male enhancement | pxl penis enlargement reviews | order penis enlargment pills | successful male enhancement | steroid for male enhancement | penis enlargement without pill | ed male enhancement | 8 inch penis enlargement oil | cvs natural male enhancement | medicine for enlarge penis | male labido enhancer | extensions male enhancement | mxm male enhancement | enhance fertility male | reviews male enhancement | muira puama male enhancement | toddler penis enlarge | blue pill male enhancement | healthy keto gummies review | best keto gummy | tru fit diet pills | keto gummies you take at night | keto gummies is it a scam | biolife keto gummies oprah | juzfiit acv keto gummies | elite burn keto gummies | keto gummie bears | dr choice keto gummies | online weight loss medications | review bioscience keto gummies | sprouts diet pills | nucentix keto gmy gummies | enhanced keto gummies reviews | keto cinnamon gummy bears | keto weight loss pills near me | mpesu penis enlargement | amari medical weight loss | cbd gummies legal in texs | erect penis enlargement | keto plus acv gummies near me | cbd gummies while driving | la penis enlargement | diet pills duromine | cbd gummies headaches | the best penis enlargement | lean x keto gummies reviews | cbd gummy dispenser | penis enlargment needle | diet pills and constipation | cbd gummies 1000 mg | penis enlargement to old | keto calm nutrition gummies | cbd gummies santo remedio | safe natural penis enlargement | keto acv rapid ripped | cbd gummies lawsuit | lipidium male enhancement | medical spa and weight loss | best cbd gummies for copd | big n hard male enhancement | go keto gummies a scam | cbd gummies folsom | best sex drive gummies | great results acv keto | buy cbd gummies in bulk | tin oxide male enhancement | ketology keto gummies acv | cbd gummie effects | best vitamins male enhancement | slim candy keto acv gummies | relax cbd gummy worms | resetera penis enlargement | keto jello gummy bear recipe | cbdfx gummies review | penis enlargement advice | best diet pill that works | acv cbd gummies | cheap male enhancement drugs | keto gummies sandusky ohio | iris cbd gummies review | man alive male enhancement | 3 day diet pills | cbd gummies high end | food for male enhancement | reviews of keto bites gummies | divine cbd gummies |