There’s something truly remarkable about the way social media has the ability to bring back memories from the past. Just the other day, a post from four years ago appeared on my newsfeed, and it left me feeling utterly astonished. It wasn’t because I had forgotten about the post from four years ago, but rather because the content seemed to be exactly what I needed to see and recollect at that moment. In an ever changing world (a time where our faith and religious beliefs seem to be challenged) the quote that I posted some years ago still rings true:
“The unfolding of the days may be paying for joyful. But last year’s mistakes and memories become this year’s fertile ground teasing and pulling us daring us to plant seeds for tomorrow.”
This quote is just one of many poignant verses that encapsulate the essence of the late Fr. Joseph Fata’s poetry, homilies, short stories, and reflections—a testament to the enduring legacy of a remarkable individual and one of my role models. Fr. Fata, a revered priest of the Diocese of Youngstown, was not one to seek the spotlight.
Yet, his profound impact on social justice, dedication to the impoverished, racial justice, and unwavering advocacy for the dignity of every human life inevitably brought him into the limelight. His words offered solace while beckoning for introspection. His influential presence resonated deeply within both the parish and local community, drawing over 800 mourners to his funeral at St. Luke Church in Boardman, Ohio, on August 4, 2016. While many people today look to a professional athlete or some person of power, wealth, and prestige as their hero, I look to Fr. Fata and his life’s work as my hero.
This quote is just one of many poignant verses that encapsulate the essence of the late Fr. Joseph Fata’s poetry, homilies, short stories, and reflections—a testament to the enduring legacy of a remarkable individual and one of my role models. Fr. Fata, a revered priest of the Diocese of Youngstown, was not one to seek the spotlight. Yet, his profound impact on social justice, dedication to the impoverished, racial justice, and unwavering advocacy for the dignity of every human life inevitably brought him into the limelight. His words offered solace while beckoning for introspection. His influential presence resonated deeply within both the parish and local community, drawing over 800 mourners to his funeral at St. Luke Church in Boardman, Ohio, on August 4, 2016. While many people today look to a professional athlete or some person of power, wealth, and prestige as their hero, I look to Fr. Fata and his life’s work as my hero.
The definition of a hero can be flexible and adapt to different circumstances. However, at its core, a hero is someone who displays great courage. This perfectly describes Fr. Fata. He fearlessly stood up for what was right and just, even when it wasn’t the popular choice. Fr. Fata never sugarcoated the truth; he remained unwavering in his commitment to honesty, even when it led to challenging and painful revelations. This unwavering honesty either earned him adoration or became the reason for others to distance themselves from him. While all these traits – and so many more; he was a great chef, writer, lyricist, gardener, and artist – his greatest mission in life, one he was very successful at, was being a Catholic priest whose work brought many closer to God!
As the day of my own ordination as a Catholic priest (God willing!) approaches, I find myself praying for the ability to emulate Joe Fata. In a world where the important work of justice and love for all people needs to continue, someone has to carry that torch. Someone has to live a life that welcomes all, inviting people into a closer relationship with God.
In today’s rapidly changing world, Fr. Fata’s timeless words continue to deeply resonate with readers. He never sought recognition during his lifetime, yet his profound impact led to the publication of a book including some of his most powerful homilies. Inspired by his words, his family and friends published two additional books after his death, one dedicated to his insightful homilies and the other to his captivating poetry. Come and discover the enduring wisdom within these profound works with us.
I know well that Fr. Fata would never consider himself a hero, however, he has touched the lives of so many people through his ministry and his words that he is an example of how to live a life that is modeled after the Gospels and the life of Jesus Christ. People can say what they will about his liturgical style or belief in Church teachings, but all I can say is that his ministry and our friendship up to his death and now our spiritual friendship has opened my eyes to the real issues at hand and lead me deeper into a relationship with the Living God. Here was a man who was not overcome by the trappings of vestments, cassocks, lace, priceless chalices, and the finer things in life. None of this mattered to him – none of it matters today! He was a man that believed that God would judge him based on how he helped and treated others not on what he owned or wore to celebrate Mass. His ministry – for and with the people of God – was the most important thing in his life.
To think that this entire reflection/blog post came about thanks to one memory on social media from four years ago. It’s fascinating how these digital archives can unexpectedly provide moments of reflection and nostalgia. So today, the question remains, what have we done today to plant seeds for tomorrow?
Happy Planting!
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