05_07_2020

THE PRINT EDITION

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

Mother’s Day COVID-19 Style By: Brianne Fitzgerald RN, NP, MPH

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mother never has a day off, whether you are a front line worker in a grocery store and EMT or ER doctor. A mother never has a day off, whether you are managing a Zoom meeting from home trying to homeschool 2 under 12 children and carving out extra time to trek to the grocery store. A mother never has a day off, even if she sits alone and knits her anxieties away, worrying about her grown children and her grandchildren.

Add the vicissitudes of Covid19 to the mix, and many of us a re lef t breathless.

This Sunday, May 10, will be a special Mother’s Day. There will be no Lilac tours at the Arboretum, The 24 th Annual Mother’s Day Walk for Peace

will be virtual this year. What can each of us do to honor those tireless workers living and dead who have always made the world a better place? An extra hour to sleep is a no brainer if you can score that. Moms that live alone and have not seen their children/gra ndchildren in weeks might like a drive-by if possible. Mothers who are in the hospital or nursing homes are as unfathomably isolated as one can be. Whatever way, you can connect with those moms is a blessing to you and for them. For those of us who are believers, we think that our moms who have passed rest in peace. Some of us grieve as we are newly bereft of our mothers. It is important to honor that grief and, if possible, share it with another.

It is hard to carry pain alone.

Yes, this Mother’s Day will be different from any day that

has ever come before it. Make a visit to the local garden center.

It will cheer you up, it will cheer your mom, and it most certainly will cheer the small business owner who runs the shop. The gift of homemade food, a handwritten card and/or drawing is something to cherish and ref lect upon as these things take time. A visit to the cemetery that is currently ablaze with the bounty of spring f lowers, new plant life, and silence is time for each of us to review, revisit, and ref lect. Next year it will be different. The secret is that today is all we have, let’s make the very best of it. Share a smile, a virtual hug, a TikTok dance, a drive-by, a deep inhale of some f lowers, a look at the newly cleared night sky and a prayer of hope and thanksgiving for all mothers everywhere who have done and continue to do their best to make us and our world a better place.

A Parents Perspective on Virutal Learning

For all our South Boston Catholic Academy students, Virtual Learning continues!

Check out what our students/parents/teachers have been doing these past weeks at home. Story and photos on Page 8

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Face Covering, Social Distancing, Staying at Home

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overnor Baker has extended the formal precautions against the pandemic of Coronavirus/ COVID-19 until Monday, May 18 (at least).

South Boston Online says “at least” because eliminating continued preventive measures beyond the 18th has not been decided yet. And that decision won’t be made until at least early next week. In the meantime, Baker has insisted upon continuing school, business, sports, and entertainment shutdowns, along with social distancing, and face coverings. In the case of face coverings, he has now authorized fines for not wearing them, beginning as of Wednesday, May 6th, and starting at $300.

The Governor is right in proceeding this way. He’s being extra-cautious about a serious (and often deadly) disease that has spread throughout our city, our county, the Commonwealth, all of the U.S., and the whole world.

That disease, COVID-19 (caused by the Coronavirus officially named SARS-coronavirus-2), is still mostly a mystery, even to our

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apt. Joseph Boyle, who commands South Boston’s Police Station C-6, and Sgt. Stephen McNeil, Supervisor of C-6 Community Services Department, sent us a few quick updates concerning their workload during the ongoing Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

Fortunately, even though the pandemic continues to rage, call volume at BPD Station C-6 has remained steady. That has helped, because a certain number of police officers have been exposed to, and later came down with, COVID-19.

Two types of crime have increased, both here in South Boston and citywide all over Boston – breaking into cars to steal their contents (not to steal the cars themselves), and thefts of packages.

The police have asked South

best medical scientists. Although there are more questions than answers concerning COVID-19, the Governor and all the rest of us know two things for certain: First, COVID-19 has already infected over 60,000 residents of Massachusetts. Second, it has killed 4,000+ of us. Please make no mistake about this – our state is a so-called COVID19 “hot spot”. And without any doubt, COVID-19 exists right here in South Boston, too.

That means every one of us should honor the precautions set up by the Governor. And make no mistake about this, either – starting with Mayor Walsh, these

precautions are also supported by the City of Boston’s elected officials, at least until May 18. So wear your mask, please.

Let’s take a more detailed look at face masks or coverings.

Many disagree that these coverings do much good, and we admit they aren’t perfect. But South Boston Online read more than a dozen articles, some in favor of face coverings, some against them. Oddly enough, even the articles against using face masks said they did at least a little good preventing the spread of the virus. So why not use face masks and coverings as a precaution, at least for the next couple of weeks?

C oupled w it h socia l distancing and stay-at-home behavior (except for private walks and exercising alone), commonsense rules seem to be working.

The “curve has flattened” here; the increases in COVID-19 infections have turned into slight decreases.

Something is working in our favor, so let’s continue to do what we are doing now for a few more weeks.

And there are some limited data coming in from other developed nations that can guide our own behavior in America.

In the most recent issue of The Economist (May 2, pg. 39, col. 2), the least strict countries in Europe are the Netherlands (Holland) and Sweden, who essentially have few or no social restrictions. But their death rates from COVID-19 are much higher than the countries next to them in Europe – two to four times higher, according to The Economist’s article.

So please continue to follow the rules this month.

We know this isn’t easy, but it’s working. Be patient – as the Globe said about the pandemic, “Safety before speed!”

BPD Station Six: A Brief Update Boston Online to remind you that you should always remove all valuables from your autos, including any clothing, sunglasses, loose change, and cell phones with their charging units. And please take an added few seconds to make sure (!) you lock your vehicles at all times, whenever you leave them. Most of these auto break-ins have been what the police call “crimes of opportunity”.

Second, please don’t leave delivered packages unattended and unsecured. Retrieve your packages as soon as possible after they are delivered – preferably right after the delivery. If you are unable to be home when the package is delivered, arrange to have delivered to someone who can receive it, or you can require a signature upon its delivery. Also,

consider utilizing a receiving service like Amazon Locker, where your package can be delivered to a local convenience store.

Finally, if you see an actual crime in progress, or something that simply looks suspicious, please call

9-1-1 immediately. Do your best to provide a detailed description of the suspect and the location of the incident. This will greatly assist the Station C-6 responding officers in potentially making an arrest.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

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A Call to Fix the Flaws of the PPP

By: Tara Kerrigan Hayes

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or many business owners, the Payroll Protection Program sounded like a saving grace.

Until they read the fine print.

The forgivable loan, designed to incentivize small business owners to get employees back on payroll, was plagued with issues from the beginning. From false starts to larger companies overshadowing the smaller businesses, there was a frenzied sense of urgency to get the money before it was depleted.

Then money was gone. Then there was more. Small business owners scrambled to re-apply, many with a loose understanding of how, precisely, the guidelines worked, but desperately seeking a life support to one day reopen their doors.

The general requirements,

according to the Small Business Association website, is that, “the loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities”, and that at least 75% of the forgiven amount must be used for payroll. This seemed straight forward enough, but for those delving further into the details there were serious concerns and whispers of confusion about a fundamental flaw so egregious that it didn’t seem real, and yet it was.

Frustrations quickly grew as many local owners learned that the loan money must be used for payroll in an eight week period immediately following the loan closing, whether their business is permitted to reopen or not.

Considering the forgiveness period could be drastically reduced for businesses under forced closure, this is simply less beneficial for regions hit hardest - regions like Boston.

It’s therefore impractical for many cash flow businesses, particularly t he ser v ice industry, such as salons and the 500,000 independent restaurants across the country that need to generate revenue

Pickup, Takeout, Delivery, and Fine Dining at Home

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s you know, Gov. Cha rlie Ba ker extended the stayat-home, Social Distancing, and face coverage requirements (especially face coverage!!!) from May 4 until Monday, May 18.

This may be the “beginning of the end” for quarantines and business shutdowns due to the COVID19 pandemic (Hey! South Boston Online can be optimistic, can’t we?)

We would like to compliment all those dining establishments in South Boston who stayed open for pickup, takeout, and delivery. They provided you with a real treat during these difficult times. All of them were “front line workers”, who not only gave you what you ordered, but

who also risked getting COVID-19 themselves in order to serve you well.

Please remember them when they have completely re-opened – soon, we hope.

Here are the neighborhood establishments (listed alphabetically) we’ve already mentioned in our recent (online) issues of South Boston Online: Boston Bagel Company, Café Porto Bello, CAPO, Deja Brew, Fat Baby, Fox & Knife, Joseph’s, J.P. Lick’s, Lincoln, LOCO, L Street Diner, Lulu-Green, MOKO, Paramount, Purple Shell, Roza Lyons, Seapoint, Shennanigan’s, Teriyaki House, and The Village.

Please let us know if we have missed anyone. Thanks.

to be able to maintain payroll when they do actually reopen.

Not to mention the difficult position some owners are put in, knowing some of their employees are faring better under unemployment provisions. “I feel terrible”, says one local salon owner, “I’m in a position where I either upset all of my team, or risk losing my business because I can’t pay my rent”. Like so many owners grappling with the affect the loan will have on staff they care for on a personal level, she prays for a rent freeze. There is also the issue of low morale for employees who feel uncomfortable returning to work in what they consider to be prematurely.

The consensus amongst many owners is that the most logical, (and helpful), use of the funds would be to pay rent and utilities up front, and let the clock start ticking on payroll when employees can actually return to work. Or better yet, let businesses decide to how best allocate the money, depending on the structure of their business.

Many who were approved can’t seem to determine if the loan is a curse or a blessing, since time constraints are not the

only detail they were unaware of. Another issue with the loan is the additional restriction, which penalizes small businesses that don’t bring back the same number of employees they had prior to the pandemic. Those who can’t are under pressure to quickly replace any lost workers, or face the punishment of having the loan forgiveness amount reduced.

Another common fear echoing through the community is that the forgiveness process could prove more difficult than owners were led to believe, and result in them incurring loans and accruing interest they hadn’t bargained for. While some will undoubtedly hail the loan as a gift that saved their business, others are starting to feel that the loan is less of a bailout for small businesses and designed, rather, to get people off of unemployment.

While it’s been claimed that changes to the loan are being made “in real time”, the most crucial change necessary has yet to happen; to move the origination date of the loan to when businesses can actually, legally, reopen and operate.

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

Interview: The Gavin’s CEO John McGahan

The original Gavin House (still active in recovery programs) on East Fourth Street.

by Rick Winterson

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he Gavin Foundation, originally named the Gavin House, was founded in the 1960s, so it has now passed its 50th Anniversary of continuous services to those in recovery from alcoholism and substance abuse. John McGahan, the Gavin’s President/CEO for 25 years (since 1994), updated South Boston Online in an interview last week, especially concerning the challenges the Gavin has encountered during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Under John’s guidance, and with the dedicated efforts of an excellent staff, the Gavin Foundation has grown into many locations. There are the half way houses – the Gavin House, the Cushing House (Boys), and the Cushing House (Girls), along with locations in Dorchester and Charlestown.

Interestingly, the Foundation has four “graduate houses” where those who are in recovery can live for a while, if they are in job training or the like. The Gavin operates a medical facility in Quincy, where doctors and nurses can detoxify and stabilize clients who are still active.

The message here is that the Gavin Foundation’s multiple facilities can serve people in all phases of recovery. John spoke of how the Gavin’s systems of

treatment are “seamless”, which is extremely important to the nearly 1,000 clients pursuing their recoveries with the Foundation.

As you might have expected, the Gavin Foundation has had to take several steps to continue its mission while the worldwide COV ID-19 pandemic is still present everywhere and growing, as various “hot spots” crop up.

Obviously, masks, rubber gloves, and hand sanitizers are basic personal protective equipment (PPE) that are essential . These PPE supplies are checked daily at all of the locations in the Gavin Foundation, and sevenday supplies are always kept on hand to sustain constant, continuous usage. Shipments, when needed at a specif ic Gavin site, can be made each day, so that no individual Gavin location ever runs short.

Funds for PPE during the COV ID-19 pandemic weren’t budgeted for the simple reason that no one knew it was coming until it hit. The Gavin employs 270 personnel who must be supplied. John says that he has dipped into the Gavin’s reserve funds and has received one-time donations, too. He’s very grateful to Mayor Walsh and Governor Baker. “They

John McGahan, Gavin Foundation President/CEO, updates South Boston Online last week. have been a great help,” he says.

As you may be aware, the Gavin’s Award Night fundraiser had to be cancelled. And the Gavin has a question about the Walsh Gym, which had been closed due to the virus.

Their challenges are many.

John and his staff are also keeping their eyes open about another source of concern. The Federal government, as you know, is sending out checks up to $1,200 to those who are suddenly unemployed due to t he COV ID -19 pa ndemic.

While this is a decent, wellintentioned way to help those who are destitute because of the virus, it could be a problem if a

person struggling with addiction suddenly receives a lump sum inf lux of dollars like that.

B ut d e s pit e c u r r e nt challenges, John closed this interview with great optimism.

He emphatically stated, “The Gavin Foundation is open for business as usual, despite the COV ID-19 pandemic.

We are mission driven, and we are blessed to have so many committed people on the job.”

He gave a final round of praise to the Gavin staff, and said, “Yes, we worry, but we’ll deal with problems as they arise, and we’ll trust to the future.”

Well spoken, John. All the best.

The Devine Recovery Center on Devine Way (St. Monica’s steeple is in the background).

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

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Councilors Flynn, Flaherty & O’Malley Call for Hearing on Impact of Delivery Fees for Restaurants During COVID-19

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ity Councilors Ed Flynn, Michael Flaherty, and Matt O’Malley filed a hearing order to discuss how commission fees from third-party delivery companies have been affecting Boston’s restaurant industry during this pandemic. As local restaurants have become dependent on delivery for their sales, many are concerned about the high commission fees paid to third party delivery companies.

This hearing order aims to discuss how we can help our local restaurants during this pandemic, including the possibility of placing a cap on delivery commission fees during this time.

Many restaurants use third party delivery companies such as Grubhub, UberEats, Doordash, or Postmates, and their commission fees can be up to 30% per order and reach hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. As restaurants become more reliant on

delivery sales as a critical piece of their revenue, they’re now expected to pay an even larger portion of commission fees while already struggling during this pandemic. Moreover, it is difficult for restaurants to negotiate a favorable commission fee structure because they lack negotiating power due to the industry being dominated by only a few third party delivery companies.

To address this issue, San Francisco has placed a 15% cap on delivery commission fees through an emergency order back in April, and the Mayor of Baltimore has written a formal letter to delivery companies requesting them to cap their fees to 15% for local restaurants. More recently, the Cambridge City Council and Mayor filed a policy order to talk about capping the delivery commission fees to 10%. This hearing will also discuss the possibility of placing a cap on commission fees in Boston.

“Restaurant owners and residents in the industry are deeply concerned about the excessive delivery commission fees paid to third party delivery companies,” said Councilor Flynn. “During these uncertain times, it’s almost predatory to charge 30% fees to our local restaurants that are heavily reliant on delivery revenue to help them survive and get to the other side of this crisis. I want to thank Councilors Flaherty and O’Malley for their partnership, and I look forward to this important discussion with pertinent stakeholders.”

“Regulating delivery fees was already a topic of discussion among many in the restaurant industry prior to COVID-19, but, as with many things, this pandemic has added an increased sense of urgency to our action on this matter,” said Councilor Flaherty. “I recognize that these delivery services have bills of their own to pay, but to this

point their practices feel exploitative. My hope is that the stakeholders can come to a solution that is economically viable for the restaurants, delivery companies, and consumers independent of a hearing, but nonetheless look forward to working on the issue and if necessary, a productive hearing on the matter.”

“This measure provides relief for Boston’s restaurant industry during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Councilor Matt O’Malley. “Third party delivery service fees during this time are absolutely crippling many local restaurants while the delivery companies are experiencing windfalls. We are aiming to cap the fees as a means of supporting our local restaurateurs as well as their customers.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203, and Ed.Flynn@ Boston.gov, or contact Councilor Flaherty’s office at 617-635-4205, and Michael.Flaherty@Boston.gov.

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

A LaboureAuction forUnsettled Times All of us realize these are unsettled times, and you know the reason why – the COVID-19 pandemic. One resulting problem is a “budget gap” encountered by South Boston’s Laboure Center at D and Broadway. Due to the pandemic, Laboure deferred its 38th Annual Spring Reception, which was originally planned for April 30, until Thursday evening, September 17 – over four full months from now. The Spring Reception is Laboure’s biggest single fundraiser, and their fiscal year begins in July, so there is an urgent need for funds to cover this “budget gap”.

The ingenious folks at Laboure have come up with a great idea to do this. They’ve arranged an auction, all of which will be held completely online for pandemic safety purposes, that extends from Thursday, May 7, for two weeks until Thursday, May 21. This online auction is one of many efforts Laboure Center is undertaking to fund this "gap"

The auction is made up of 15 highly attractive items. Among them are various tickets, including a Red Sox/ Yankees tilt, Kenny Chesney’s performance at Gillette, and Lady Gaga’s upcoming mega-event in Fenway.

Trips, dining, golfing, American Realist art by Deb Putnam, and a flag flown over the Capitol from our Congressman Steve Lynch will also be auctioned off. Maybe (just maybe) you can find an outstanding delayed Mother’s Day gift among the 15 auction items.

We’d like to mention some of the auction items that not only reflect, but also take advantage of, these unsettled pandemic times. You may bid upon a “virtual” interior design consultation with JS Interiors, or a “virtual” facial tutorial with Chantecaille that includes a $300 gift certificate. A conversation via ZOOM has been graciously donated by former Labouré Director, Sr. Maryadele Robinson (you choose the topic). All of these will be done remotely; you can assemble your family or your closest friends at home to take part in them, if you wish. And the Laboure auction also features a luxurious private limousine trip (for two or for a small group). You lay out your own route. Accent Limousine will take you out for an evening visiting your most memorable places. The evening includes drinks and takeout supper from CAPO – all done within pandemic-safe guidelines.

Please log onto the addresses below. Read about Laboure’s novel online auction, which extends from 8 a.m.

(EDT) this Thursday, May 7, for 14 days until 10 p.m. (EDT) on Thursday evening, May 21.

To Access Auction via Web: https://www.biddingforgood.com/LaboureSpringReception To access Auction viaMobile: https://bforg.com/LaboureSpringReception To Donate to Labouré: https://www.ccab.org/Laboure-Spring-Reception

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Laboure Auction Items

Flag flown over the Capitol

MULS DINER

A Newport, Rhode Island, Getaway

Art by South Boston’s Deb Putnam

Kenny Chesney’s Performance at Gillette

Lady Gaga at Fenway – WED, AUG 05

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

South Boston Catholic Academy News

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A Parent’s Perspective on Virtual Learning

or all our South Bo s t on C at hol ic A c a d e m y students, Virtual Learning continues! Check out what our students/parents/teachers have been doing these past weeks at home. Some of our South Boston Catholic Academy parents/ families have been kind enough to share some of their perspectives and family photos with us, so we can see what life has been like at home as their children continue with their Virtual Learning.

From one of our SBCA Parents who writes... This has definitely been a huge change for us. Working from home and remote learning has taken some adjustments especially to get an active nine year old to sit at home and do his schoolwork that is for sure. We tried to keep the day as close to a “normal” school day as possible but that didn’t work out too well, we all were losing interest and it ended up being too long of a day. Our son starts by 9am and goes through the assignments on google classroom and gets the work done at once.

All extra math, typing, reading, etc. is done later in the day after lunch, a walk (social distancing and wearing masks) or spending some family time together. In the beginning we felt a little lost and on our own but we know how challenging it must have been for the teachers as well. We think the video meetings twice a week with the class and Ms.

Donlon, (who is doing a great job trying to keep the kids engaged) and spelling quizzes on Friday are helping to keep our son focused.

From another SBCA Parent, Mrs. Bento, who writes: Of course, this has been a whole new experience for both us as parents and for the kids.

Fortunately, kids are resilient and take changes in stride.

We have worked on keeping a “regular” school schedule starting each day at 8:30 with morning prayer and the pledge of allegiance. The teachers have been wonderful, adapting their teaching to a virtual world. Ms. Jacobsen and Ms. McCarthy have been the reason we have been able to make it through.

Each day they provide lesson plans, as well as, using new technology to be face to face

with the kids. From Zoom calls to grading their work through various apps to assigning reading books for their reading level.

We could not be more happy with their efforts and support in this very difficult situation.

From our Principal, Mrs. Civian… We want families to know the goal of South Boston Catholic Academy is to remain committed to staying connected to each and every child. Despite this very different context, we continue to do everything we can to provide all students with what they need.

We are providing remote learning opportunities and support to help students maintain and develop their skills and knowledge while advancing through their grade level curriculum. Teachers are communicating with students to help them access the materials, to

offer support and encouragement, to clarify any questions they have and provide feedback.

St udents are expected to engage in meaningful and productive learning, which will be both educator directed and self-directed. Remote learning can be either synchronous, when the teacher and students are virtually connected at the same time, or asynchronous, when students engage with the learning opportunity at a time that is most convenient for them and their family. During this unprecedented time, our priority has been to make sure that our students have access to remote learning and know they are loved and safe. We are SBCA Strong.

From Mrs. Civian and our Pastor, Father Casey… You are all in our prayers. May God Bless Everyone!

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

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Hope And Faith Matter – Especially During Difficult Times By: Ray Flynn , Former Mayor of Boston and U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican

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eeing the look of despair on the faces of so many people during the brutal war in Bosnia- Herzegovina (the former Yugoslavia), while waiting for Pope John Paul II to arrive in Zagreb was a day I will never forget. The war raged during the time I served as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, which wasn’t very far from the Bosnian border.

Terrorist bombings and shellings

by Serbian troops would explode through the night from nearby mountain tops.

Small villages and cities like Sarajevo and Srebrenica, which were occupied by Muslims, Croatians and Catholics, would suffer heavily from the terrorist attacks.

The torture of children and mass rapes of women were a regular part of the brutal ethnic cleansing campaign by troops, mainly from nearby Serbia. I had visited several of the former Yugoslavian countries during my tour of duty as ambassador, to

help keep the United States government informed of events in that troubled region, especially the many acts of violence.

Medjugorje is a town in BosniaHerzegovina where many thousands of Catholic pilgrims from around the world have visited since the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared there in 1981.

I especially loved to listen to Pope John Paul II talk to people under stress, because he had a beautiful way of looking directly at them, connecting with them and making them smile and feel safe maybe for the first time in a long while.

I sensed this when I first met him at St. Adelbert’s in Hyde Park in 1969, when he was then Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Wadowice, and long before he became the first non-Italian pope on Oct. 16, 1978.

I attended many events with the pope over the years from private briefings, his birthdays, World Youth Days, meetings with presidents and other world leaders, concerts and formal Catholic religious ceremonies, but seeing him connecting with people who were in pain and grieving is something I cannot get out of my mind, such as that day

Special Mother’s Day Presentation of Song and Reflection - Live Streamed on our parish website: https://www.gateofheavenstbrigid.org/ This coming Sunday, May 10th immediately following our 10AM Mass.

Join us immediately following our 10AM Mass on next Sunday,May 10th for a special presentation of beautiful songs andMother’s Day reflection. It will be inspirational, fun and entertaining for sure! Join the priests, cantors, and a few surprise guests who will lift your spirits as we celebrate our mothers living here on earth and in heaven!

There may even be a few old favorite Irish songs sung!

in Zagreb, or listening to Mother Teresa talk to him privately about the desperate mothers and children in Calcutta. I think about that day all the time, listening to two saints talking passionately to each other at the Vatican about suffering Muslim people, or standing next to Mother Teresa as she served food to homeless and hungry people who lived on the streets and back alleys in Rome.

As I promised myself, if it was the last thing I did, I was going to attend the funerals of both Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa, and I’m humbled to say I did. Not as a U.S. official or diplomat, but as a proud American who greatly admired the life’s work and dedication of these two extraordinary Catholic servants, who also blessed the people of Boston with many memorable visits.

I am hopeful that our churches, synagogues and mosques may be opened

by May 18, which Gov. Baker announced, because that is date is the 100th birthday of Pope John Paul II, and one I will never forget.

But if the churches are not open, my prayers

will still go out to our coronavirus victims.

The other special saint I believe we should pray to for help is Mother Teresa, “the Saint of the Poor” from Albania. In light of all the suffering and pain that families throughout the world are experiencing today from the coronavirus pandemic, I can’t help but believe that Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa would be the people we could turn to for hope, strength and courage in these difficult and challenging days, and I’m proud and happy to have called them friends and believe that our prayers in this time of desperate need will be heard.

From Dorchester’s Our Lady of Czestochowa Polish Church and St. Teresa of Calcutta Church to St. Patrick’s in Roxbury and throughout America, we have two very special friends in spirit that we can call on for help in this critical time, all we have to do is believe and ask. We’ve listened to politicians, medical experts and business leaders, but maybe it’s time we spoke to Saints John Paul and Mother Teresa. I’ve seen what faith and hope can do for struggling people.

Gate of Heaven, St. Brigid Parish and St. Augustine Chapel News Father Karlo Hocurscak, our Parochial Vicar, has been temporarily reassigned to assist hospital chaplains in their duties of caring for the sick and dying. Fr. Karlo volunteered to assist at this time of pandemic to minister to those affected by the COVID-19 virus. He will join a group of 20 priests around the Archdiocese that will be on call for hospital duty. The priests will live apart from their regular assignments and for the next few months minister in hospitals around the region. All necessary precautions will be taken to ensure that the priests have the proper safety equipment before entering a patient’s room. We will pray for Fr. Karlo and all the priests on this team - that they remain safe and healthy, and that their ministry to the sick will be a consolation to the patients and their families. God Bless you Fr. Karlo!

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THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

A Lady Friend Revisited

by Rick Winterson Ed Oliver regularly comes a-calling on his lady friend, Mary Lou, at Compass on the Bay. He and she visit through her window on the east side of the Compass residences.

This kind of a visit was first described in Elizabethan times, better than anyone ever possibly could have, either before or since then. Yes, Ed’s visit was originally described by William Shakespeare in “Romeo and Juliet”, Act Two, Scene 2 – their balcony scene.

Romeo says: “But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?

It is the East, and Juliet is the Sun. Arise, fair Sun, and kill the envious Moon …

That thou her maid art far more fair than she …

It is my lady. O, it is my love!”

Juliet replies: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou. … be but sworn, my love.”

Enough said.

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SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020

Prayer At The Time Of A Pandemic

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BERNARDI, Roy

Lord Jesus, Who promised to remain with us always, When information overwhelms us and fear overtakes us, speak to us again those comforting words, “Peace be with you.”

Though we cannot be physically close to others, give us the ability and courage to love as well as we can, since “perfect love casts out all fear.”

Direct your caring gaze on doctors and nurses, researchers and safety personnel; Come to strengthen the sick, the vulnerable, and comfort those who are grief stricken.

And when the pandemic has passed, and this frightening crisis is resolved, teach us to know You more certainly as our dearest Friend and our only Hope.

You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.

Amen. (offer one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Glory be…)

Our Lady, Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us. www.gateofheavenstbrigid.org

THE BELLS OF GATE OF HEAVEN CHURCH Ring in Honor of The Grocery Clerk Workers GATE OF HEAVEN STEEPLE Lit in Honor of The Ambulance Personnel The Church Bells of St Brigid Church and Gate of Heaven Church will ring at 3PM every day For the Nurses, Doctors, First Responders, National Guard, Military and all those workers who everyday sacrifice keeping us healthy, fed and safe.

It’s our way of supporting them and letting them know how much we appreciate them. You are in our Prayers daily!

God Bless America!

Formerly of South Boston, Massachusetts, currently Dixon, California. After a lengthy illness passed away peacefully April 25, 2020 with his wife Robbin at his side. Son of the late August A. Bernardi and Ruth E. Bernardi of South Boston, MA. Brother of the late Judith Bernardi. Survived by his wife Robbin and daughters Shirley & Jessica, all of California. Brothers Paul Bernardi of East Sandwich, MA, James Bernardi, South Boston, MA and his sister Carol Bernardi of South Boston, MA. Full Military Burial at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.

Services will be held at a later date.

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020 THE PRINT EDITION

The State of Real Estate Besides following all the measures that the CDC urges all individuals to follow, Rooney Real Estate will be adding the following practices : • Our staff and agents will work from home as much as possible • Online virtual tours of each of our listings to limit showings • Personal / Private showings, not conducting open houses • We will provide sanitizers at all showings • Sales and rental contracts will be signed electronically

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Rooney Real Estate, LLC. 617.269.1000 | www.Rooney-RE.com Jackie Rooney | jackie@rooney-re.com