A TRIBUTE TO
Fr. Marc Mancini
On the Occasion of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary
Of His Ordination to the Priesthoood
The Good Shepherd
by Laura Smith (an excerpt from "A City Without Walls")
There once was a flock
That was lost and afraid
It wandered around
Without direction for days.
But the Lord looked down
With compassion from above
And sent a good shepherd
To lead them with love.
The shepherd was kind
Loving and wise
And he cherished his whole flock
No matter the color or the size.
Though the shepherd was quiet
Humble and meek
Every ear listened
Whenever he would speak.
He showed them the way
To walk in the light
And he prayed every day
For God to give them true sight.
He taught them about
The blood of the Lamb
And about the creator
The great I AM.
They flourished and they grew
Through the knowledge they gained
About the Savior from above
Who lived without blemish or stain.
The flock is so thankful
To the Lord up above
For sending a wise leader
Who is so full of love.
He leads them with
A strong and gentle good hand
And takes the whole flock
Safely into God's Promised Land.
Today we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Fr. Marc. And I think the poem I just read, although not written specifically for Fr. Marc, so beautifully and so aptly describes Fr. Marc, the priest, and most specifically, Fr. Marc the pastor.
Last Saturday, Fr. Marc and I went to the Roxbury Diner, as we often do after the 5:00pm mass. At one point during dinner, Fr. Marc said to me, “I can’t believe where God has taken me and all that God has allowed me to experience over the past twenty-five years!” Priest, canon lawyer, Promoter of Justice in the Marriage Tribunal, Vice-Chancellor of the diocese and pastor. Not bad for an electrician from Paterson, New Jersey! And yes, we could focus on all those accomplishments in his life over the past twenty-five years, but I really think the measure of Fr. Marc's priesthood is found in the good he’s accomplished, the lives he’s touched, the tears he’s dried, and the souls he’s brought closer to God.
Fr. Marc epitomizes everything that the letters in the word priest can represent: P-R-I-E-S-T:
- P – Fr. Marc is PRAYERFUL. Prayer is at the beginning, middle and end of Fr. Marc’s day. He is able to “Let us pray” during mass, to lead us in prayer and to take all of our prayers and present them to the Father because he himself is a man of prayer and sets the example. Few people have seen, as I have, Fr. Marc alone here in the darkened church at 9:00 or 10:00 at night, praying the Divine Office and mediating before the Blessed Sacrament. He’s PIOUS. Simply put, Fr. Marc has his priorities where they should be. His greatest ambition is to be a saint and he realizes that the road to sainthood is simplicity, charity, mercy, humility and service.
- R – Fr. Marc is RESPONCIBLE. He takes his ministry seriously. He can be counted on. Everything he does he performs with selfless dedication, giving over his time and talent to whatever is good for our parish or whatever is in the best interest of any man, woman or child that seeks his help.
- I – Fr. Marc is INSPIRATIONAL. His homilies, which often talk about people like Marco Mangonanzo and Fambino Bambatzo (or whatever their names were) and the other cast of characters with whom he grew up with in Paterson, provide us with messages that help us to see ourselves, inspires us with simple wisdom, and motivate us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary – to find God in our everyday lives.
- E – Fr. Marc is EUCHARISTIC. His whole life centers around the Eucharist. It clearly is the food which nourishes his soul, strengthens his character, and provides him the stamina he needs to face the daily challenges of being a Man of God and a Man for Others.
- S – Fr. Marc is SACRIFICIAL. He’s a man of service. He’s a man who never has a day off or takes a vacation. All that he is he gives over to God and he gives to us. What a reflection of the one who said, “Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He simply gives himself and his time to whoever needs him and to whatever needs to be done. There are some priests who like to wear a white shirt with French cuffs and gold cufflinks in under a black clerical shirt front called a rabat. When I see a priest dressed like that, I think he’s the type of priest that doesn’t like to roll up his sleeves and work. Fr. Marc is also someone who doesn’t roll up his sleeves – he wears short-sleeved shirts so his sleeves are always up ready to work, to minister, to celebrate the sacraments, to counsel, to accompany the teenagers on their mission trip, to sit at the bedside of the sick or dying and yes, even to shovel the snow or sweep the goose poop.
- And T – Fr. Marc is TENDER-HEARTED. He has a heart as big as all outdoors. There is room in his heart for everyone. And because his heart is like that, he occupies a significant place in all our hearts, as well.
But Fr. Marc, above and beyond all of these qualities the one that best characterizes you is that you are a Man for Others. Fr. Marc . . .
You are the image and likeness of God
But with you the morning awakens
With the call to rise
Not for you
But always for others.
God handpicked you from a myriad of souls
Molded you since you were a babe
To prepare you for a journey
Not for you
But always for others.
God blessed you with wisdom
To use to give form to his plans
And love to carry them out
Not for you
But always for others.
Mary walks with you
Guiding and loving you
For to her you are a Christ
Not for you
But always for others.
You hold the Body of Christ
Embrace his name and proclaim it
And a father and counselor you have become
Not for you
But always for others.
God forever bless you
Walk and carry you when your feet are weary
Bring peace and joy to your heart
For though your life is never for you
It is Christ’s and he delights in you.
Fr. Marc, in the homily you preached at my father’s funeral mass, in extolling his life and virtues, you said, “They just don’t make them like that anymore.” Today, I say the same thing about you, “They just don’t make priests like you anymore.” Would that they did. On behalf of the staff and parishioners of St. Therese, congratulations, Fr. Marc, on your twenty-five years of service to God and his People. May God bless you and us with many, many more. Ad Multos Annos!
