What about the Parents?

Doreen and I are doing well, as wehave officially entered that stage in lifecalled senior citizenship – or is it middle-age? I guess it depends who you ask.(We get AARP mailings periodically, buthave not yet committed.) But for thetelevision set, it’s pretty quiet withoutthe kids around – Mary busy at work,Joseph away in school. Doreen’sgarden, as well as her dad, keep hervery busy. My job in the city keeps mebusy… the commute is trying, at times,but otherwise, the job is good.

The Catafago Newsletter (Christmas 2013 edition)

The year 2013 was a rather uneventfulyear for us. Doreen and I made ourannual time share trip up in the Catskillsin June, but without either Mary orJoseph, who are fashioning their own lives. With other seminarians, Josephtraveled to Our Lady of Guadalupe inMexico in February, and Canada in thesummer. He also went to New Mexico with the Boy Scouts and our ParishPastor. He also made a camping trip to upstate New York. And he visited

Where’s Waldo? Washington. He leads a very activelife, and, fortunately for Facebook,we’re able to keep up with at least some of it.

Mary, also, has been extremely busy,working at both Macy’s as well asRidgewood Savings Bank. They loveher work ethic and wonderful personality and humor at both places, and, luckily, both jobs are in Hicksville, so her commuting is minimal; though, when she started with the bank, she did have to navigate to the farreaches of Queens, for training.

Mary, Joseph December 2012 Joseph, now taller than Marcel

• Mary- working 2 jobs- at Macy’s and at bank

• Joseph -

in his second year at St. John’s University and Cathedral Seminary House of Formation, a minor seminary

• Marcel – in his 23rd year working for State University

• Doreen – keeping it all flowing as smoothly as her home-made chocolate and fudge

Some of Doreen’s “fruits’ of her labor—all from her vegetable garden

wish you good health in 2014. Wewish you prosperity, not so much ofmaterial goods, but also of friends,family, joy, and fun. We wish youwell. We wish you a MerryCHRISTmas, a Wonderful New Year.

Our Holiday wishes for you and your loved ones The Catafago’s Reside at 95 Brittle Lane Hicksville, NY 11801 We can be reached by phone at 516 495-4568 Doreen’s email is dcatafago@optonline.net Marcel’s is mcatafago@optonline.net

You know, though our family lifehere in Hicksville has been prettyuneventful this past year, thecountry, and, indeed, the world hasseen dramatic changes. Thecountry is in the process of ensuringthat millions who were uninsurednow will be able to afford healthinsurance; hopefully, Washingtonwill also be able to address theimmigration issues in acompassionate and fair manner.Globally, we saw the death ofNelson Mandela, the great leader,by all accounts, and father of SouthAfrica. We also witnessed theunprecedented retirement of PopeBenedict, and the emergence ofPope Francis. It is with all that inmind, especially, Pope Francis’beautiful examples, that we wishyou all peace, love, charity. We

Is that the best picture you could find?

At least I’m smiling

“How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, His precepts!”

Benjamin Franklin