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Ruth Marie Mangan passes on
June 4, 2001 Dear Pilgrim, Subject: Month’s Mind Mass for Ruth Marie Mangan As many of you know, my dear mother, Ruth Marie, peacefully passed away on Monday morning, May 14, at her home in Cape Cod, Mass. from complications of Alzheimer’s, a progressive brain disease. My Mom would have been 77 years old today. I have arranged a Latin Tridentine Month’s Mind High Mass (through the generosity of a kind devotee) for Thursday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Ann’s Church in Manhattan (see box below). Fr. Robert Fitzsimmons, a friend to so many of us, will be the celebrant. Many of you have been to St. Ann’s before, particularly last year when Father celebrated Veronica of the Cross’ 5th Anniversary Memorial Mass in Latin, accompanied by a beautiful choir.
June 14 is the traditional feast day of Corpus Christi and, ironically, the name of my mother’s parish church where she was a daily communicant. Mom was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and Bayside devotee since 1978. She was married to Francis Joseph Mangan for 49 years and had eight children and eighteen grandchildren. There were many blessings and consolations associated with Mom’s passing with some that directly connect with the Mission. Time and space do not permit me now to share all but here is one example. As Mom was fading, we were all saying: “Maybe the Good Lord will take Mom today on Mother’s Day and the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima?” Well, Jesus and Mary had other plans because Mom held on until the next morning.
A few hours later, I was at the noon Mass when it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought: “Today is May 14, 5/14. That is the P.O. Box number to St Michael’s World Apostolate! Wow! That’s really providential.” It gave me unspeakable joy and confirmed to me that Mom’s faith and suffering played a special role in the founding and development of St Michael’s World Apostolate and the Order of St. Michael, the religious order prophesied by Our Lady on May 22, 1974. My family and I extend our sincere gratitude for your prayers and support and Masses and spiritual bouquets. It means so much to us to have such an extended faith family. Indeed, as Bayside devotees, we have a special kinship rooted in a common cause. I hope to see you at the Month’s Mind Mass.
God bless through Our Lady of the Roses
P.S.
This just in! Longtime devotee, Angela Urquia of Kearney, N.J., snapped
this photo of me as I was leading the Rosary at the Saturday, June 2 Vigil
of Pentecost. Before she took the photo, though, she asked the Blessed
Mother if She would have my mother send me a message. As you can see, it
couldn’t be more plain and simple: Mom sent her heart of love to me (and
to all the Bayside family)! I was unaware of all this until Angela showed
me this miraculous photo. What a priceless treasure that stunned even the
pilgrims. |
