Three is a magic number. I learned that rather early in life – on Saturday mornings to be precise. A bit later, I would learn that three isn’t just magic – it’s much more. Three is a sacred number! Schoolhouse Rock was an animated musical short that appeared between children’s programming on the ABC network beginning in the early 70’s. Three is a Magic Number was actually the first of these three minute (coincidental??) segments produced. The idea originated with an advertising executive that had a young child having difficulties learning his multiplication tables – though the kid had no trouble remembering pop song lyrics of the day. The “mystic trinity” is actually mentioned in the lyrics, as is “faith, hope, and charity”. Family life is also mentioned with reference to a man and a woman having a baby…making for three in the family. Wow! It was a lesson that stuck with me and resonated with me, because my family was one of three…mom, dad, and me! We were a trinity of three! Maybe this was my first true lesson in theology eons before I was in the seminary! Well, as much as three is a magic number - a Sacred Number referencing the Most Holy Trinity, the Sacred Triduum, and my mom, dad, and me…maybe four is even better! Three is a magic number also, because that is the number of young men that are our parishioners and are studying for the priesthood – or so I thought. More recently, Father Wesly sang me some new Schoolhouse Rock. It involves the number four, which for us, is even more magic. We not only have one; not only two; not only three – but four young parishioners studying for priesthood! Praise God! As I’ve said before – this reflects upon all of you! How wonderful that we have a parish (Saint Aloysius – and by extension, Saint Gabriel) with parishioners whose Faith is bearing fruit in vocations! Dennis Morales and Ricky Gomes-Garcia have begun studies for diocesan priesthood this year at our own Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. They are in their Pre-Theology Propaedeutic (preparatory instruction) Year at a location in Conshohocken. Jose Muñoz and Adrian Muñoz (I don’t believe they are related) are in studies with Redemptoris Mater Seminary of Philadelphia (seminary for the Neocatechumenal Way) in Yeadon, Delaware County. Jose recently spoke at Saint Aloysius and I’m told that Adrian (who had a summer assignment at St. Al’s in 2023), is on a pastoral year at the moment in Cyprus. I’m not aware that there is another parish in the archdiocese that can make a claim of four seminarians! Again, this reflects upon all parishioners and should instill a healthy pride in everyone! Please keep these young men in your prayers! Fr. Wesly and I are now working on our next Schoolhouse Rock song. It’s called Ready or Not, Here I Come. It has to do with the number five and makes reference to a game of “hide and seek”. In fact, it has to do with multiples of five – five, ten, fifteen, twenty, etc. Won’t you help us to sing as we seek and pray for religious vocations to priesthood, diaconate, and religious life from our parish? Three is a magic number; four is more for sure, but why stop there? Continue to pray for vocations! And know that your prayers are having great effect!
Peace!
Fr. Wilson