Never Again Will I Call Him Father Filibuster

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The joke was probably
originated by his sister
(my Godmother)
or his brother
(my namesake).

But when Father Frank
was featured at an Oliverio
Sunday dinner, he would talk about
those rare sermons where he would
drone on endlessly until he counted
at least ten sleeping parishioners.

The church in the image below
was never graced by
the physical presence
of my Uncle but
  –psychologically–
he was present
at the last church service
I attended in Westchester County.

Personally, I prefer 
weekday Church service
because no basket is passed
for donations and it was only
a venial sin to photograph
the room without
express consent
of the pastor.

But the Sunday Mass,
three days after this venial photo
was taken, was standing room only!

A very special guest from Sri Lanka
was the celebrant.

His sermon, however, had only
tangential connection to
the very brief Gospel.

His sermon named

five European countries

and ten American cities

where he personally

presided over...

He was a traveling 
man of the cloth 


One of those churches was in  Tuckahoe

but–like at least a dozen parishioners–

I had dozed off when he mentioned

that funny sounding hamlet

where Monsignor Oliverio

had reigned immediately before

his "retirement."

At the ceremonial hand-shaking

that followed the Mass, I asked

Father Christian Christopher 

about his Tuckahoe experience.

I swear on a stack of Bibles

that the Sri Lankan priest

mentioned "Monsignor Oliverio"

before I told him that

Father Frank was my Uncle.

Then began a parade of strange looks

from countless local Catholics because

Father Christopher's attention

was intently focused on the nephew

of the priest responsible

for the Sri Lankan's

introduction + itinerary

in the United States.

I am grateful that none

of the parishioners present

derailed the "very special guest"

from his homage to the man

I called Father for longer than

I called his oldest brother–

a/k/a my actual FATHER–

by the same name. 

      

Father Christopher is featured

in slide two/three of the last hyperlink.

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Footnote
Along with his three brothers, (my namesake)
is featured in the lead photograph
of the WALL-2-WALL gallery. 

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