Monday, August 01, 2016

Flannery O'Connor/Rufino deSantos Wedding






FLANNERY BYRNE O'CONNOR AND RUFINO ISMAEL DESANTOS

There is no place else I would rather have been on Saturday, July 30 than at the wedding of Fino and Flan in the Philadelphia Church of St. Peter the Apostle.  Fino teaches the sixth grade boys at Gesu School and Flannery teaches theology at Cristo Rey Philadelphia.

I was happy to be the priest of record for the marriage joining homilist, Father Lou Defra, CSC and concelebrant Father Efrem Esmilla.

"Pope Francis in his recent exhortation on the joy of love reminds us, when we are present at the events of marriage and family, to remember the presence of Jesus.   He looks on Fino and Flan "with love and tenderness."   He "accompanies their steps in truth, patience and mercy as He proclaims the obligations of the Kingdom."

We join Jesus and gaze on them today like Jesus encouraging and blessing their commitment to one another and to that new social order envisioned in the dedicated way they enrich one another and so many others day-to-day."

As the day drew to a close I shared with others in my age bracket and remarked how encouraged I was with the presence of so many young people who shared the values of this couple.   Sometimes I wonder about the future of this world but these young people will carry it on their capable and dedicated shoulders.

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