Return To The Shrine

The Madonna Queen of the Universe Shrine

In college, I became friends with a fellow Catholic from Revere, MA named Jerry.  We were both intrigued by Boston's urban landscape so it was not uncommon for us to hop on the subway during free time between classes and go exploring.  One of our trips took us to the Madonna Shrine in East Boston.

The shrine hugs a high hill in a residential neighborhood and features a plaza with an observation tower that has a large statue of Mary mounted to the front of it.  Since the place was not far from Logan International Airport, I joked, “This must be God's air traffic control tower.”  The observation deck was closed during our visit but to the right was a vestibule that led us down a flight of stairs to the shrine's gift shop.

After college, Jerry and I remained good friends.  He eventually got married and moved to the Midwest but we still kept in touch and he usually returned to Revere once or twice a year.  His 2016 trip was planned for late June but it suddenly took on a serious tone due to new difficulties in his marriage.

We got together last Sunday (June 26th) to discuss his troubles then he felt like going for a drive.  I suggested returning to the Madonna Shrine after 20 years and he was very much up for it.  When we arrived, a sign just outside the plaza said Mass would begin at 4:30 PM so Jerry suggested we attend.

The observation tower was closed again so when we saw a priest get out of his car and walk toward the shrine's entrance we decided to ask him about it.  He told us the tower was never really open and we soon found ourselves having a friendly chat with him about many different things.  His name was  Fr. Robert Kennedy and he was going to say the only English Mass of the day here since the parish served a Spanish and Portuguese-speaking community too.

We talked movies and he said one of his past assignments was a true multiplication of fishes and loaves story that would have made a great film.  In the early 1970s, he helped feed the poor at the Pine Street Inn homeless shelter and from those humble beginnings, other food banks emerged over the years with the capacity to serve a lot more people in need.

The view from the shrine.

At one point in the conversation we wondered what impact the digital age was having on human relationships and reminisced about the good old days when families had dinner together and children felt safe enough to play outside unsupervised.  He seemed genuinely interested in talking to us and after 20 minutes, he headed downstairs to get ready for Mass.

The original pedestal.

Jerry and I walked to the edge of the plaza to watch the jets at Logan Airport then we met a guy who lived in the neighborhood and was eager to talk about the shrine.  He told us at first the statue was supposed to go on the other side of the tower and they even built a small pedestal for it which remains to this day.  (I had also heard from a few people that the statue was supposed to go on the roof of the tower but the Federal Aviation Administration nixed the idea.)

When Jerry and I entered the main church for the first time, we were impressed and didn't expect it to be so big.  Only a handful of people attended this Mass, though.

The main church after Mass.

Fr. Kennedy's sermon highlighted the Four Agreements by author Don Miguel Ruiz.  They were:

* Be impeccable with your word.

* Don't take anything personally.  (A very hard thing to do.)

* Don't make assumptions.

* Always do your best.  (This varies depending on your situation.  Your best at age 25 might not be the same as your best at age 80.)

Fr. Kennedy added his own 5th Agreement:  Live for today.  He said dwelling on the past or constantly wishing for a better future can prevent us from living a good Christian life in the here and now.

I found the sermon to be interesting and challenging.  In that moment Jerry and I were suffering from deep-rooted personal problems.  His marriage of many years was on shaky ground.  I felt lost on so many levels.  We were both hoping for better futures even if we couldn't see how to get there.  Perhaps this sermon was a gift from God.  It certainly gave me a lot to think about.  I find the most unforgettable sermons do.

After Mass, I thanked Fr. Kennedy for his great sermon and then Jerry and I took a few photos of the place.  From there we went to Winthrop and found a side street along the water to watch the jets fly into Logan Airport.  At 7 PM, we headed back to his mother's house for more conversation and a nice spaghetti dinner.

In an ever-increasing secular world, what a rare and wonderful treat it was to go to church with a friend.  It was a good day.