The end of the past week was the annual Diocesan Principals Retreat for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria. We returned to King’s House this year which is under new management and has been renamed Nazareth House.
The annual retreat usually features a combination of business meetings and retreat sessions. This year’s retreat master was Fr. Nuzzi from Notre Dame’s ACE Leadership Program. I’d give him a A+ for the weekend as he kept us thoroughly entertained and kept coming back to the central theme of school administrators needing to live the central mysteries of Christianity in our own lives. The Incarnation, Trinity, and Paschal Mystery are what define the Christian world view and are at the core of our evangelical efforts as Christians.
One story Fr. Nuzzi shared which was rather humorous and memorable was a tale from his own childhood regarding his parish pastor and the construction of a sign. Fr. Nuzzi grew up in Niles Ohio. In Niles you were either Italian or Irish. If you were Irish you attended St. Stephen’s if you were Italian Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Fr. Nick was the well loved pastor of many years who faithfully served the parish. The bishop had recently required all parishes to install a parish council. The first order of business of the parish council was to request the construction and installation of a large sign with the name of the Church clearly present for all to see.
Fr. Nuzzi at the time was around fifteen and had been working as the parish groundskeeper to earn tuition assistance at the local Catholic high school. The parish ordered a large sign that was carved from wood and painted beautifully in two-toned brown with the name of the parish spelled out in bold letters “Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish” for all to see. With any parish project it took a large number of men to complete the task. The truck was backed onto the beautiful grass. Holes were dug, concrete poured, wiring for the lights ran, and on and on. Finally after hours of work it was time to call for Fr. Nick to come and see the beautiful finished project. The men yelled for Nuzzi to go to the rectory and ring for Fr. Nick.
As he bolted across the lawn more yelling came with instructions to move the truck off the lawn so Fr. Nick’s view of the masterpiece would be unobstructed. “Nuzzi, Nuzzi !! Move the truck first!” came the cries. Always one to oblige Nuzzi hopped in the truck. The three pedal variety was not what he was used to and the stick shift protruding was what seemed a foreign gadget. As Nuzzi turned the key the truck lurched. The truck was still in reverse and as he turned the key the truck lurched backwards crashing through the newly installed sign ruining hour upon hour of hard work.
The screams came, the taunts followed, and a new level of shame and fear entered into Nuzzi’s world. “Go get Fr. Nick” the men shouted. Nuzzi made the long walk to the rectory door and rang the bell. Fr. Nick answered and nuzzi stared at his shoes. Fr Nick began, “Well….. I hope this helps you to learn to be more careful… I saw the whole thing…. but you know, Nuzzi, you’re more important to us than any old sign. Now go home and we’ll see you tomorrow at Mass.” Nuzzi remembers praying on the way home that he hoped he could be like Fr. Nick with true gentleness that comes only from real strength.
God has a sense of humor for sure. When Fr. Nuzzi was first ordained a generous family presented him with a Waterford Crystal patin and chalice. An expensive and beautiful gift. He celebrated his first Mass with them. The parish was having a little reception afterwords in the rectory basement and after shaking hands and greeting the congregation he went back to the sacristy to change. On the way he heard a tremendous crash. Swinging open the sacristy door he found the chalice and patin smashed upon the cement floor of the Church. Shivers of glass were everywhere. Full of rage he began looking for the culprit. There he was hiding under the sink. The altar boy. Just as he began to gear up for an explosion he remembered Fr. Nick. He started to laugh. And as he laughed he said, “Next time be more careful… but it’s alright… you’re more important to us than any old chalice …. go on home.” And home he went sprinting out the door and down the aisle with his cassock still on.
