‘A CRAZY, SMALL WORLD’

A story of family and faith at the New York State Eucharistic Congress

Deacon Norbert Archibald of Worcester, Mass., blesses 3-month-old Nellie McCoy, who rests in the arms of her grandmother, Karen Riley of Amsterdam, during the New York State Eucharistic Congress on Oct. 22 at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville. That photo of Nellie inspired her grandmother to write about her experiences at the congress. (Cindy Schultz photo for The Evangelist) (Courtesy photo of Cindy Schultz)

Editor’s Note: This story was inspired by a photograph that Cindy Schultz took of Karen Riley and her granddaughter, Nellie, during the Sunday Mass at the New York Eucharistic Congress last month.

My late husband, Joseph Riley III, and I were born and raised in Amsterdam at St Mary’s parish, going to St. Mary’s Institute (SMI) and Bishop Scully High School. We raised four children, two girls and two boys. They all attended St Mary’s Institute and then the girls graduated from Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons and the boys from Christian Brothers Academy.

I lost my husband in 2019 just as my youngest daughter, Annie, was finishing her senior year at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. All of my children are working and living in different places throughout the world. Annie, the youngest, met her husband, Joe McCoy, while she was a missionary teacher at Christendom Academy, a startup classical Catholic school in Omaha, Neb. They met at a First Communion celebration for her young cousin, Maura Drapa, and Joe’s young cousin, Leo Groenwald. Joe was assigned to drive his grandparents to Omaha from Kansas City for the celebration. They were married last August at St. Mary’s Church. Joe is from a big Catholic family in Kansas City and that is where they live. They brought into this world their first baby, Ellen Francis, aka, Nellie on July 21.

I first heard about the New York State Eucharistic Congress last spring through our pastor, Father Martin Kordel. I was committed to attending and hoped some of my children and spouses could as well. As soon as the registration opened this summer, I registered myself and four others. Annie was planning to come home with Nellie in early October to introduce her to her New York relatives. She and Joe were interested in the Eucharistic Congress and once they saw the program outlined on the internet, the speakers coming and the number of attendees registering, they were hooked and decided to attend.

Annie and Nellie arrived on Oct. 6 and stayed with me for two weeks. Joe flew in on the Wednesday before the congress. The three of us, plus my sister and some friends, walked the procession to the shrine on Friday with Father Stephen Yusko and Father Dan McHale and other pilgrims from Mt. Carmel Church in Amsterdam. We brought Nellie along in a stroller and were fortunate to have mild and dry weather for the six-mile walk.

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I am from a family of nine. My youngest sister, Megan Drapa, lives with her husband and five children in Omaha. She works for the pro-life Vitae Foundation. Over 20 years ago, she was living in Washington, D.C., and became very good friends with a fellow young Catholic named Kathrine Hamm from a big family of 12. They met while attending a “Theology on Tap” event. Kathrine came to visit Megan’s family home many times during those years of discernment before she entered the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal Convent in New York City. They often spent time exploring the St. Kateri shrine in Fonda and Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville. Sister Ann Kateri, formerly Kathrine, has an interesting story herself with obvious connections to the Mohawk valley

Flash forward 20-plus years, Megan and Sister Ann Kateri keep in touch. The sisters were planning to attend the congress from their convent in Atlantic City and would need a place to stay for the weekend. Sister Ann Kateri called her old friend, Megan, who she knew had family near the shrine. I was so excited when Megan called and asked if the four sisters: Sister Ann Kateri, Sister Faustina, Sister Guadalupe and Sister Philomena and four missionaries: Kate Gallagher (Ireland), Katie Rose Borrello (Georgia) Elizabeth Martinez (Texas) and Sheryl Stommes (Washington) could stay with me. What a wonderful opportunity to host and live with these humble and holy women.

As a family, Annie, Joe, Nellie, Kelly (my sister), Jacqueline Murphy (my mom) and I attended both Saturday and Sunday from early morning through afternoon. The speakers were amazing and inspiring. I was able to meet up with a good friend and her young daughter who traveled with their school, Mater Salvatoris in Stamford, Conn. Their school community came to participate in the congress and support their fellow school dad, Patrick Kelly - Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus - who spoke Saturday. We were able to enjoy a picnic lunch together before Beth Lynch, pilgrimage coordinator and museum manager, gave their school a tour of the ravine.

We met up again during the Eucharistic Procession that weaved and winded throughout the grounds of the Shrine, walking with thousands participating in song and prayer. We were all able to follow along and participate in the Latin and vernacular songs made possible by the detailed and thorough program each attendee was given. Both Saturday and Sunday Masses on the high altar were so beautiful and reverent. The music throughout the weekend was both traditional, contemporary and powerful in lifting praise and worship to God. The highlight was the Eucharist procession on Saturday afternoon.

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It is a crazy, small world sometimes. The Sunday Mass in the Coliseum was well attended and we were able to sit together near the main altar. As the deacons began distributing the Eucharist, my mother nudged me and said she recognized the deacon who came to our aisle. Deacon Norbert Archibald hails from the Diocese of Worcester, Mass. He spent some years at the parish of St. George in Worcester, where my sister, Casey, and husband, Owen Murphy, belong and raised their four children. Deacon “Archie” celebrated Baptisms, First Communion and Confirmations of the Murphy children in Worcester. Of all the dozens of deacons present at the Mass on Sunday, Deacon Archie came to our Communion station. When he gave my mom Communion, there was a look of surprise and recognition from him. Unfortunately, we were not able to connect with Deacon Archie after the Mass because there were so many people going in many directions. He probably doesn’t realize that he blessed the newest addition to the Murphy/Riley family that day! My sister, Casey, is trying to contact him and relay the story and give him a thanks from Nellie and her parents.

Through the physical experiences during the Mass - hearing, seeing and smelling - our souls are stirred and this helps us encounter Jesus. We hear the Word, prayers and music. We see the celebrant in vestments so royal, his movements so precise to the 2,000 years of tradition. The processional and altar candles are dazzling and beautiful. We see the bread and wine transfigured and lifted up with the ring of bells. We see and smell the smoke of the incense and candles. All these assist us in experiencing His presence.

There is definitely a need to catechize the young and old about the Real Presence. I am so grateful for Father Roger Landry and his whole team and our Bishop Ed for hosting this congress and bringing so many pilgrims and religious together to learn from top-notch speakers, and to adore, praise and worship our Lord in such a historic and holy place.