Proud Parents

May 1994

I am listening to the  tape of my son Fr. Richard’s Mass of Thanksgiving at Corpus Christi Church, June 23, 1980.     My  brother Richard sang two solo numbers “Blessed is the man who loves the Lord “and “Panis Angelicus”. Joe and Barbara read selections from the bible. It was a proud moment in my life; sad, yet happy. People say that we must have raised him well, but it was God’s calling not our pushing.

Leaving church afterwards, I overheard a very elderly gentleman saying to my “little” son of 25 years, Father, I was so happy and moved by your words from the altar! This was the moment when I knew he was a man who must be about his Father’s business.

 Last  Thursday, May 5th, 1994, Mike and I attended the ceremony and reception honoring the Master’s Degree Graduates of Mount St. Mary’s College on the Doheny campus near Adams and Figueroa Sts. (the area near USC. where the Doheney  Mansion  and Estate were located. The Mansion is now a National Landmark. Father Martini already has a Master of Divinity degree (earned after 4 years in the Theologate Department at St. John’s in Camarillo, CA.) He had started classes for a master’s program in Science of Education Administration about six years ago. He attended class several evenings per week while teaching full time at St. Bernard’s High School and Santa Clara High School in Oxnard. After Dick was appointed Rector of the Queen of Angels Seminary High School, he really was too busy to finish his thesis.  During his summer vacation he collated his research and enthusiastically prepared a 97 page thesis.  His research topic : The perception that a priest is necessary in the role of principal in the large, co-educational Catholic secondary schools of the archdiocese of Los Angeles.

It was good that he has officially completed this master’s thesis, because as of September ’94 Dick will move to the Seminary College in Camarillo. After a learning period he will be appointed President of St. John’s College.  Dick will have about five years at the College level and then has been offered the challenge of head of the graduate School of Theology. Is this my son who said he didn’t want to join the Jesuits of Loyola because he didn’t want to teach! The Cardinal apparently thinks Dick has an educational administrative talent. We his parents think they recognize inherited genius!

Ah yes PROUD PARENTS!

[ed: the appointment to St. John’s Seminary was not to be; instead he finally and happily became a pastor and a monsignor]