Mass of Resurrection for Shirley Pisegna

Mass of Resurrection for Shirley Pisegna

Sacred Heart Church New Smyrna Beach, FL.

Wednesday August 20th 2014 11 am

Gospel: John 2:1-11

I’m so touched that you all are attending my mother’s funeral Mass. It isn’t very often the Gospel at a funeral is the wedding feast of Cana.

The reason I chose that Gospel is because it was through Mary’s counsel, suggestion and advice that Jesus began his ministry in John. In a very real way he discerned the voice of God through his mother. Jesus’ ministry would be one of abundance (as indicated by the overflow of wine) signs and wonders that would benefit many. Mary was the catalyst for this. God worked through Mary for Jesus.

I think you know where I am going with this. In a similar way, I discerned the voice of God through the counsel and advice of my mother. When I was 19 years old I was touched by the Holy Spirit. I experience a dramatic rebirth and came to know Jesus Christ in a very real and personal way. Along with my conversion came a new fire and energy to want to share Jesus with others. I used to take my Bible to work and looked for opportunities to evangelize.

One night I sat with my mother on our couch at our home in Massachusetts. I said, “Mom, I’ve been touched by God! All I want to do is share with people that God is real! I want to bring people to Jesus and I want them to know eternal life. People are in danger and I want them to be saved. I want to go out on the streets and preach and go knock on doors so everyone will know.” I’ll never forget her reply: “Cedric, you can go knock on doors if you want to and preach on the streets, but no one will listen to you. You must get an education. You must learn about the truths of our faith. Otherwise, you won’t get a hearing.”

My heart dropped. I was ready to leave college and be a street evangelist. Now she was suggesting staying in school and obtaining even more education? I went back to my room and thought about what she said. As I prayed, I realized she was right. If I wanted to impact people, I needed to be educated. Since I felt called, I decided to pursue my education. I changed my major from Business to Social Work. After I graduated, I got involved in youth ministry. I then joined the Passionists. I was formed, studied philosophy for a year, formed further, years of seminary, further formation and evaluations, studied abroad, ordained a deacon, more evaluations and then after many years, ordained a priest. Now I have my education, formation and credentials. And Mom was right. Through preaching, writing, radio and television, people all over the world are now listening to me.

Mothers have great wisdom and always want the best for their children. I’m sure my sisters Frannie and Evie could say the same thing about Mom’s influence in their lives.

I want to make this clear: I didn’t become a priest because of my mother.
But, because of my mother I became a priest.

Most of you know I have a God given call to preach on television. This became a reality in 2006 when I began to broadcast. Now I am on the Trinity Broadcasting Network each Sunday at 8 am. My program reaches people here in the U.S. and abroad. Long before I went national, I was on several stations in various cities. One time I was visiting my mother in Florida she told me about some Catholic programming on a station in Orlando Sunday afternoons. She said, “Why don’t you contact them with your programming?” I thought, “I don’t know them and they won’t want my programming.” I went back to my room and thought about it. I contacted them the next day. Not only did they like my programming, I’ve been airing with CCTN each Sunday at 3:30 pm for the last five years. Not only that, but I’ve been invited to preach at their church in Leesburg several times now. The pastor there also sent some of the flowers that grace our sanctuary today. Once again, Mom’s counsel led to abundance.

Besides her counsel, she always stood by myself and my sisters and supported us wholeheartedly. We never doubted her resolve to make our lives better. We know that Mary was one of the only ones who had the guts to stand beside the cross of Jesus when he died. I believe my mother would have died for me is she had to, so sacrificial was her love.

Recently Mom told one of our good friends, Patricia, “I’m ready to go.” She didn’t say that pridefully or will presumption. But rather, humbly because she had faith. My mother knew my teachings well. She has read all of my books a few times over. She watches (and critiques) all of my TV programs at least five times each. She is familiar with the Gospel I preach. What do I teach? That Jesus Christ suffered and died for us on the cross so that our sins could be forgive and we could be saved. Jesus rose from the dead so we could experience new life now and resurrection in the future. Faith in Jesus Christ brings salvation and eternal life! Perhaps the centerpiece of my teachings is some sort of “surrender” to Jesus. Although the form of this prayer is varied they appear in all of my books and many of my TV programs in some way shape or form. On today’s worship program I placed the prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Take Lord, Receive.” Mom prayed these surrender prayers thousands of times, I’m sure. I pray you too will surrender your life to Jesus and know that blessed assurance. Mom said she was ready because she had committed her life to Christ.

I had the honor and privilege of being by Mom’s bedside as she passed. I anointed her, held her hand, stroked her hair and whispered in her ear over and over, “Jesus.” “Jesus loves you.” “Jesus is with you.” “Just say Jesus.” “Jesus will take you home…”

Mom believed in Jesus and she was truly ready to go…

Just a few things out of so many about Mom…

First of all, she adored my Dad. They were married and faithful to each other for 54 years before Dad died 14 years ago. This is part of where my sisters and I get our great faithfulness in our commitments. My sisters have been married for 44 and 26 years. I’ve been a religious for 29 years. Faithfulness is so important to us. After Dad’s death Mom never even thought about another man. Dad was the one and only one for her.

Secondly, Mom loved to shop! Because of her I now know all of the stores in New Smyrna Beach and even some in Port Orange, Edgewater and Daytona. There is the fruit and vegetable store next to this church, Bealls, Big Lots, more than one Dollar store, Walgreens, Publix and of course, the Super Walmart. I knew she was sick at the end because I offered to take her shopping and she didn’t even want to go.

When we would go to Publix, the grocery store, even though she didn’t walk very well, she would go up and down EVERY aisle in the store even though there were things in that particular aisle she would never buy. She simply didn’t want to miss anything. She wanted the full shopping experience. You’ve heard of “shop till you drop?” She would shop till I dropped! But I fixed her. The longer she shopped the more stuff I liked I would collect and discreetly drop in her basket that she would pay for!

The Super Walmart was another story. She loved to shop there. That place is huge as you know. I would leave her in the garden dept. Before I departed, I would set up a place and time (usually an hour later) to meet. I always paid close attention to see what she was wearing (color/pattern) so I could try to find her later. I knew from experience she wouldn’t be ready in an hour and I would have to go looking for her. Sure enough, the hour would be up and no Mom. Then I would start circling the store looking down every aisle trying to find her. It is hard to find a 4 foot 11 inch woman in a Super Walmart. I got to know every nook and crannie of that store! I can tell you where everything is.

I worried about the manager of the store thinking I was a thief. I kept circling near the check out cashiers and I noticed he would see me walking by, then a few minutes later walking by again and again. I was afraid he would call the cops on me! Eventually I’d find her somewhere and say with exasperation, “Mom where were you?” She would always reply, “Is it time already?”

What is heaven for Mom? A Super Walmart with a 90% off sale on everything and plenty of money in her wallet.

Mom really loved jewelry and had plenty of it. The more bling and sparkle, the better. She has willed all of her jewelry to be sold and the money given to the poor elderly who don’t have the resources she had. If you would like to give to this worthy cause in Mom’s honor, simply make a donation on my website and designate it “For Shirley.” I will make sure that money goes to the poor.

Mom loved to eat! Especially sweets. I knew how to get on her good side. I would take her to Blackbeards or Norwoods and let her have anything she wanted. She was a great cook, but loved to eat out also.

On the cover of the worship program there is a picture of Mom doing one of her favorite activities: eating. This time: tomatoes. Apropos because mom had a green thumb. Growing up she had a vegetable and flower garden in the backyard. She grow corn, tomatoes, peppers and zucchini among other things. She also loved flowers, especially red roses and orchids. For mother’s day and her birthday I would always send her roses. Thanks to those of you who donated flowers for the funeral.

Her yard was always well manicured. She loved working in the yard and because of her garden and yard maintenance, her house won yard of the month in her neighborhood some years back.

Mom wanted to have the heart valve operation to extend her life a few years so she could garden. God had other plans. In the first pages of the Bible we hear about Eden. This word means “pleasure garden.” Rather than gardening in arthritic pain, God planned for Mom to garden in pleasure instead. Mom had a sign in her garden that said, “You are never closer to the heart of God than in a garden.” “Mom, you are now close to the heart of God in Eden…”

Lastly, Mom had a wonderful affinity with angels. If you ever visited her house, it was like a museum for angels. The angels were everywhere.

There are fat angels, skinny angels, tall angels and short angels. There are hallmark angels and heavenly angels. There are angels with harps and halos. But the centerpiece angel had to be the one Mom and Dad designed and made that hung over the fireplace. It was a ravishing angel made out of stained glass. Mom and Dad had this gift of making stained glass pieces of art. This is the angel (I had it in the sanctuary, picked it up from where it was hanging and walked around and showed everyone.) In my parents’ memory we are donating this to the Redemptorists. (It will hang in the Villa window closest to N. Riverside Dr. As you drive by you should be able to see it in the Northernmost window.)

In Catholic tradition, we believe it is the angels who usher people to paradise. We get that notion from Jesus himself who told the story in Luke about Lazaraus being taken in death to the bosom of Abraham by angels. If the angels are going to take anyone to heaven, it would be Mom who surrounded herself with angels all of her life and so honored them.

“Mom, thank you for your faith, your courage and your love! We miss you already and we’ll never forget you! May the angels lead you into paradise!”

I then incensed the picture of Mom and Dad before the altar, as well as the angel, altar and the people gathered as the song “In Paradisum” was sung. It was a mystical moment for all.