Beloved Family:
May I tell you about my cousin, my teacher, my friend: Noreen Mogee? Noreen was born the youngest of seven children to my dad’s sister, Aunt Molly. The Mogee’s lived in the city, while my family (six children) resided “in the country,” at least relatively speaking. Both sets of cousins mutually enjoyed visiting each other’s “habitat.” The Moran’s found the city fascinating; the Mogee’s savored the open spaces and fresh air. Aunt Molly died when I was six, and my Uncle Jim, years before that. Therefore, while her siblings were consistently very engaged with her, Noreen received residential care throughout most of her life. Before the reader thinks in terms of an “institutionalized” existence, be assured: Noreen knew a high quality of life.
Trisha, the youngest of my sisters, was very close in age to Noreen, with me not too far behind. Therefore, we three had an abundance of wonderful times together in childhood, including several summer trips with another pair of aunts. Noreen was a great teacher. She lived with Down’s Syndrome, and while at times other people would react with awkwardness around her, we had the advantage of knowing how exceptionally loving and perceptive she was, and I hope that it has served me in understanding how so often, what from one perspective is a limitation, at another level results in a clarity of being unencumbered by many of the insecurities that can plague us throughout life. Let’s put it this way: Noreen wore no masks. The light within her soul was on full-time, full-strength. She could set you straight and make you feel unconditionally valued, all within a couple of breaths. She also had one heck of a sense of humor!
I feel that God has granted our family a great privilege, in counting Noreen among our circle of relatives. While I grieve the thought of “Reenie”— as she was often affectionally called—not being here on earth, I am consoled by the thought that we have a top-level advocate in the presence of our King, Jesus Christ. Noreen, blessed child of God: pray for us.
As we mark another Pentecost Sunday, the freedom that Noreen embodied, to my way of thinking, points to a real aspect of life lived in the Holy Spirit. While being a disciple of Christ surely brings weighty responsibility, it also brings a freedom that leads to unembarrassed and unabashed celebration of the transformative power of God’s love and grace, as we give it fuller and fuller reign in our hearts. As we have been essentially asked several times this year, through the parish mission and the preparatory talks presented by Bishop Woost and (now) Fr. James Parisi, do we have a relationship with the Holy Spirit? Are we ready to embrace the reality that the Holy Spirit is a person as real as the person of the Father and the person of the Son?
A word of encouragement: ask for that openness! Let a flood of prayer flow from your heart, imploring the help of our Blessed Mother— she who allowed her whole being to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, leading to the birth of the Word Made Flesh. Immaculate Mary knows just what each of us needs, in order to open our hearts to Christ and to “do whatever He tells you.” As the Memorare assures us: “…never was it known that anyone who fled to (her) protection was left unaided.”
Let His Peace be with you,
Fr. Stephen
