THIS IS MY 50TH ANNIVERSARY....

Dear Kelly (left), Kim and Mike!

Did you know that this year my/our stars are in perfect alignment to celebrate a host of special anni-

veraries. And you guys know how mom and I love to celebrate!

As you well know, your beloved mother turned 70 a couple of weeks ago. Also, Mom and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary in August. And...uh, remember when you were little guys and you'd sit and suck your thumbs and stare at the TV! ....well, this year is also the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street! How 'bout that! Then, there's also my 5oth anniversary this month. 50th of what?

Why! Ordination to the priesthood! Yep, June 19th, 1959, your "Uncle Joe" (Dimino) and I, along with 12 monastic, seminary classmates were ordained to the priesthood in the Passionist Monastic Congregation!

[For techie neophytes: To enlarge pics... left click each pic. To return to blog: left click arrow in upper left corner of screen.]

The setting: St. Michael's Passionist Monastery Church, Union City, NJ. June 19th, 1959. This pic was taken after our three hour ordination ceremony. We look drawn, tired and ever so serious on this "happiest day of our young lives"! (Joe, front row, second from right. I'm in the top row, 1st on the right, the guy with the tilted head.) Happy we were, indeed ...but the photographer told us to "get serious" and subdue our happy smiles on this most serious and solemn occasion! Having been trained in the virtue of monastic holy obedience for so many years...we obeyed!

St. Michael's was a beautiful old 19th century Passionist monastery. A spiritual powerhouse in the Union City, NJ community. Alas, like so many other Passionist monasteries in the USA, it is now defunct.
My monk's "cell" (no, kids, not my phone!... my monastery room!) was up on the 3rd floor, facing the rising sun...like... eastward ho. Since the monastery was situated on a high ridge overlooking Hoboken and the Jersey entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel, from my window I had an almost unobstructed view of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline!

What a view at night. I could look right down Manhattan's 42nd St. in the distance.....and wonder what the folks over in "sin city" were up to that night. But I never spent much time viewing Gotham at night. I needed sl-e-e-p! Part of our monastic community routine (about 60 of us monks at St. Michael's) entailed a communal gathering in the monastic chapel to chant Matins and Lauds from 2 till 3 A.M! Then, try to get back to sleep till 6 A.M. to begin another day. Sleep was at a premium! No time for much night-viewing of the city!

Yes, Kelly, Kim and Mike! I thought you'd get a good laugh out of this pic...it's me...your dear ol' dad....Lordy, I was so pious, so "other-worldly" 50 years ago!

No wonder! After 14 years preparation in the seminary/monastery

"boot camp", finally reaching the priesthood was like...waking up in heaven! Almost. It was more like climbing a very high mountain. I felt a great sense of accomplishment "Up there" I could feel the Presence of God all around me! Yet, as I stood up there alone and started scanning the horizons of life...I also felt a palpable sense of loneliness. A strange mix of emotions! Yes, I was now a priest. A glorious feeling. But that implied a lifetime of celibacy. For the rest of my life...no loving wife at my side. No children. No family of my own. Believe me....I had thought/prayed over all this during the previous 14 years. But now, the finality of it all really hit home. And it hit hard! I was only (let's see: 78 yrs. minus 50yrs.=28 yrs.) ...28 years old at the time.

Fourteen of us were ordained that memorable June day 50 years ago. Three are now deceased. Five are still active in the priesthood and the Passionist monastic lifestyle. And I sincerely congratulate each of them! The remaining six of us (over a number of years) requested and received from the Vatican a dispensation from celibacy with permission to contract a sacramental marriage.

The Second Vatican Council ushered in a new age in Catholic theology and discipline. The Vatican (Pope Paul VI) graciously granted our request for laicization and the marriage option...but with one overwhelming "caveat" that.... quote: "we must no longer say Mass or confect the Sacraments or ostensibly function as priests again". Off with the Roman collar....

"Tu es sacerdos in aeternum....thou are a priest forever". But if you should opt for marriage..."well, yes, you are still a priest....just don't formally function as a priest again". That was the deal from Rome....and we accepted it. Believe me...it was with heartfelt misgivings! But of course, there are many ways to function as a priest... to have ministry....apart from saying Mass and absolving in the confessional. Each of us who left the clerical life has found a form of priestly ministry in his own way. (Ah, but that would be material for another blog!) Life goes on! Even priestly life!

I was an only son, an only child. But my beloved mother and dad "gave me to God" ....at my request.... to enter the seminary....when I was only fourteen. Imagine! A decision like that at 14! That sounds so strange in today's world. One of my greatest joys that day (age 28) of ordination was to give them my first priestly blessing. From my grateful heart!

(Years later....they knew and so loved the 3 of you, their beautiful grandchildren!)

Ten years after ordination....and after a wonderful ministry preaching Missions and Retreats in the eastern U.S...and shortly after Vatican II in '65....options became available that never existed in former Church discipline. I made a request to my religious superior for a temporary 6-month "leave of absence". Then, respectfully put my Roman collar and religious habit "on hold". And with some trepidation, ventured out the monastery door (and it was an "adventure" alright!) into a very strange world to find a job and a place to live. All on my own! An exhilarating experience at age 37....to be on my own for the first time in my adult life! And to pray hard for God's guidance to make the right decision after my six months' "leave".

As fate would have it, five months into my six month leave of absence, life suddenly came at me very fast! Yeah, man! My friend, Tom Stephens, introduced me to his 29 year old sister, "Pepsi" Pat Stephens, who had left the convent only a few months earlier (notice her "halo"...or, is it just a fanciful projection of my own pervervid imagination?). One of the most charming and beautiful ex-nuns I had ever met. Check out the full story in a subsequent blog (below).

We were married in August of '69. Within five short years Pat and I (and the three of you, our beautiful kids), were a sprawling, bawling family of five living in Seaford, Long Island.

And now, "suddenly"...all that was 40 years ago and you guys, our "kids", are now in your mid-30's! That blows my mind!

Oh, by the way, the Vatican did grant both of us the necessary dispensations and blessed us with a sacramental marriage.

Hi! Kiddaroonies! That's (l-r) Kelly, Mike and Kim. If I remember correctly....this family pic was a special Sears discount photo op, 1977.

Kelly's wedding day in '04! Yeah, kids ....have a way of growing up so fast!

You're glorious!

It's true, these latter days Pat and I may be a little "worn around the edges" by life....ah, but it's been such a great, exciting, loving 40 years together! A life we never dreamt would be ours when we were "twenty-somethings" back in our monastery/convent days. (Well, I guess....we did daydream in the abstract a little, but that was years before we met!)

For these past forty years and what is yet to come.....

Thank you....Vatican II! Thank You... O Beautiful Providence of a Loving God! Yes! Amen!

WINGING OUR WAY WESTWARD....

A few days after Christmas! Pat and I ... "winged our way westward" (kinda corny, huh!)... to Portland, OR.

"Oh, Chris!! I'm fr-fr-freezin' up here in the clouds!!"

"Hush, dear Pat. Take a swig o' my Clan MacGregor Scotch! That'll keep ya warm!"

"Nah, let's land this ol' crate for two coffees!"
As we neared Portland...on the right we marveled at the majesty of Washington's Mt. St. Helen's! A volcano "De-dapped" dramatically in 1980.

And on our left. The glorious Mt. Hood! A lofty two-mile-high stab into that deep blue Oregon sky!











This is "The Nines" Luxury Hotel in downtown Portland. Where Pat and I stayed with our daughters, Kelly and Kim, during our "Portland Pilgrimage". Daughter Kim lined it up on Priceline at a fraction of the standard rate. Thanks, Kim!

Uhh....this is not an ad for Priceline.

And here's the Harrison East. A highrise apt. bldg. where our son Michael and his wife Varinthorn (Kay) live.









Here's why the four of us ventured out to the West Coast Christmas Week. Kay just gave birth to a bouncing baby boy....

Good Fong Christopher! Our first grandchild!

Varinthorn is Thai. Her grandfather's name is "Fong". With deep respect they gave the grandfather's name to the little guy.

Mike and Kay, lecturing Good on the merits of the academic life. Like, so soon?

Mike is a psychologist. Teaches grad students at Pacific Univ.

Kay just recieved her Masters in Fine Arts from Portland State.

Also, Kay became a U.S.citizen a few weeks ago.

And they celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary in Oct.

Hey! We are now "Grandpa and Grandma"!! Hi, ya Good!

This pic...needs no comment.

Our daughter Kelly, now Aunt Kelly, doing some silent-speak with Good!

Kim will be 37, January 5th.

Happy birthday, dear Kimberly Mary!

Hi ya, Andy!










Kay is breastfeeding Good!

Good wants to bond with his dear-dad, too!

Uhhh....Miller Highlife? Is there another kind of symbiosis here!

Heartbeat to heartbeat!

Meanwhile, Husky Chinook lovingly surveys his family. Howl-l-l-l-l!

Kay was sorta 'housebound' with breastfeeding Good. But Mike took us out to see the sights. We stopped for lunch one day at the "Rogue Restaurant". The five of us together. Doesn't happen often anymore. Brought back some memories. Right, guys?

l-r: Kim, Kelly, Mike





Here's a five-of-us-together memory!

Mikey's First Communion in '82

Pat and I were very touched when Mike and Kay asked me to baptize Good on New Year's Eve. Informal? Yes. Efficacious? Assuredly.

And then, our dear daughter-in-law Varinthorn asked me to baptize her also.

She had attended Assumption Univ. (Jesuit) in her younger years back in Bangkok. That's where she and Mike met.

She admired the Jesuits. This baptismal ceremony, informal? Yes. Efficacious? God is God. And He/She has a Providence! Amen!

AND THAT, DEAR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, IS THE STORY OF THE CHRISTOPHER CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION. IN THE FAR OFF, LOVELY LAND OF PACIFIC-PORTLAND! SO BE IT!

OL' NAT KING COLE: HARK, THE HERALD...

9 AM SATURDAY...VERY QUIET!

'TWAS THE MORNING AFTER CHRISTMAS, and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even....L'iL Mouse. No! L'il Mouse was purring peacefully down in Damien and Shannon's nether-suite below.

Indeed, 23 Dogwood Terrace was serene, quiet the morning after our glorious Christmas celebration Friday.

Ahh, the celebratory food, je ne sais quoi....luscious, magnifique! The sparkling conversation! The bon vivant atmosphere throughout the house! And oh....the drinks! Yes, we certainly did celebrate Christmas!

And best of all this Christmas of '09....we celebrated TOGETHER! Extended family style. Another beautiful memory to file away along with the other 39 Christmas celebrations we've shared together. (Okay, you 'kids' missed the first few celebrations. The four of us ol' folks were a lot younger then....about your age today...and oh! How we could/would celebrate!)

Part of our extended Christmas joy, dear Mike, Kay and Good, is our coming out to see/be with you in Portland. An integral part of a celebration we began on good ol' Dogwood Terrace Christmas Day! Enuff already!! Let's see some pics!!

Monsieur Christophe servin' up the vin at the beginning of the Christmas celebration.

"Poulet Joie de Vivre!"

by "Julia" Sullivan-Dimino

The very best chicken breasts in northern New Jersey stuffed with Ecuadorean goat cheese and Mediterranean capers. Baked to a golden brown! Ahhhh....

And you should hear "Julia" Dimino vocalize about her favorite seafood dish...."SCAHH-LLOPS"! Just like the Julia who recently passed into Eternity. (That's an 'inside' joke. We 'peasants' say "scaaallops".) Either way, dear Julia D., they tasted great Christmas Eve.

A small fraction of the dozens of exotic and delicious Christmas cookies designed by ....

Chef Kellee Christophe-Tornabene.

Thanks, Kel!

Tres bien!

Joe. Forget the slip knots and all the other fancy manuevers. Just suture the damn bird!

Oh, Joe! I love you!

Yeah, Pat. Love you, too. Gimme more string!

Joe takin' a well-deserved rest. Post turkey preparation. I observed him several times Christmas Day and thought to myself: "The greatest human reason to be thankful for this Christmas Day '09 is..."Joe is with us"!

Damien in a thoughtful, contemplative moment at the Christmas Table. "Ah, Lord," he's a-thinkin', "which morsel should I eat first from this bounteous dish Thou hast given me this Day....."

Ever notice: He's a 'dead-ringer' for the artist Hoffman's portrait of "The Christ". Oh, Damien, pls don't blush!

Honorable "Godson"!







Hey! How 'bout some turkey scraps! I'm starvin'! Grrrrrr!

Shannon: "Oh, Damien dear, shouldn't you face the camera toward us?"

Damien and Shannon, our love and congratulations!

Hey, Joe! Need some help? Just put that bird on the floor for a moment!

Kimee, always loved to embrace our Christmas trees....in the spirit of Christmas!

Hi ya, beautiful ladies! Okay, keep cookin'!

Larry and Heather brought their glorious little bundle of Christmas joy.

Madelynn Rose. So poignant Christmas Day!

Oh, Kelly! Oh, Siobhan Girl! Oh, Wolfie Guy! I see the spirit of Christmas in your eyes

The ol' folks can only say...so great, so great to be together this Christmas!

A blessing, indeed!

Thank you!

KIDS, KATS AND KANINES...uhhh....CANINES

"Lady Friend'? That's our daughter, "Kelly Girl!" Wolfie is a great , lovable dog Kelly rescued from 'some- where in the Midwest' last year! What a find!




















(Below)...and here's "Whiskey" smacking a big, affectionate kiss on our other daughter Kimberly....about 25 years ago!


And here we have "Chinook" (no, the dog... not our son Mike). Mike and his wife Varinthorn (Kay) rescued Chinook when they lived in South Dakota. They now live in Portland, OR. Just had their first baby, a bouncing baby boy: Good Fong Christopher.

Very cosmopolitan!







Kay and Good! A tender moment.

Hi ya, grandson!

I used to manage a home nursing service in Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY. One day in 1982 this rather amiable cat wandered in off Flatbush Ave.

....and ambled up to my desk, staring at me as I ate my lunch. He wouldn't leave my office. After work I shoved him into a carboard box and took him home to our three kids, ages 7,8 and 11. It was love at first sight! Whiskey lived with us for the next 20 years.

He was the most 'spiritual' of all our cats. Very contemplative.

Annie (below) was part of a litter born in the Levittown, NY school yard where Pat taught Special Ed. for 10 years. Since we're cat-lovers, it was only natural that Annie ended up with us! For the next 18 years!

Rollo and Rufus were a couple of lovable 6 month old cats we adopted from vet's rescue service over in Fairhill, MD.

We later found out Rufus (on the right) was born with a heart defect. After a few months he became very sick, and when I put him in a carrier to take him to the vet, he let out a loud scream and died on the spot. Kinda sad....

But Rollo is still going strong.








And here's little Renee! A lovable, hyper-active little feline who 'breaks us up'! She's also a rescue cat from the same Fairhill agency.














Whiskey and Annie only tolerated each other's presence all those years they were together. But these two! They play together. They 'wash' each other with fervent lickings. They eat together. Take naps together. Hit the litter box together.

Yeah, real togetherness! Atta go, Rollo and Renee! (Sounds like a dance team, right!)

Can't read the inscription?

"Lordy, it's Cho-cho san and Liu....I mean Joe and Pat [our friends]....we were all young....long ago.

Cho-cho and Liu were English Sheep dogs. Very majestic. Look at the coat of hair! Wow!

And yes, believe it or not...we were all young.....once upon a time!

Years later....here's Fiona and Siobahn. Also English Sheep dogs. Very 'intelligent'.

So much fun!

Uhhh.....

THE END!

WE WISH YOU....

Celine Dion...magnifique, eh!