Pictured above with my daughter
is a young Dolores Catania (one of the NJ housewives) … Dolores is holding a
lighted candle in her hand… we were all attending a procession in Paterson, in honor of the
Virgin Mary, when this photo was taken (by me, around 1992) …
Dolores was also present during
the events of 1/8/92 and witnessed firsthand hundreds of people praying before
the Tabernacle at Our Lady of Pompeii Church in Paterson and many claiming miracles
… Dolores and her family have deep faith and I watched her grown up … get married..
Have children… I have seen her struggles in life and saw how her faith got her
through them all … Her children are delights, the eldest in Veterinary school
and the youngest in college… I remember
when Dolores brought them home from the hospital, after they were born … such
cute kids!
Frankie the youngest when
I would see him growing up, he would tell me he prayed the rosary … a practice
he still does… I saw him this past Easter and he told me he will never forget “the
miracle of the small statue in Our Lady of Pompeii” and with those words
Frankie took his thumb and traced a Cross on my forehead and said “Thank you
Mary Jo, you are a big part of my growing up” … sweet young man filled with
grace …
Frankie is considered a “dream
boat” a hottie by many girls and teens… he has made movies and commercials and
has his photo on book jackets … but to me he will always be that little boy… Who
loved to be with his “nanna”… who loved to pray the rosary, whose heart is very
kind, like his mother’s heart …
People see the glamour the
actor or actress has, but not the faith … many celebrities have deep faith …
one that comes to mind as I type now is Bob Hope and his wife, great talent,
great love of those in the military and great faith, they always contributed to
religious causes … some in my own diocese …
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| Frankie |
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| Frankie and his mom Dolores |
