Fr. Jerry's Blog
August
by Fr. Jerry on 09/02/10
The month of August has been
slow in my Circus ministry. I am often
am teased about being on vacation all the time because I am on the road so much
with my circus community. The reality is
that I am rarely on vacation or on the road where I am not still fulfilling
some pastoral commitment. However this
month I was finally able to take a few days off for refreshment. Of course, when I wasn't on vacation, my
parish responsibilities held me in North Andover. I did visit Cirque du Soleil's
show "OVO" playing Boston. The theme of
the show was based on our environment and focused on the insects and bugs that inhabit our world. The show opened with
this enormous egg in the center of the stage and from it came many different
bugs and insects. The costume and
lighting were fantastic but I must admit I was disappointed in many of the acts. Only two were up to Soleil's standards; the
four young Chinese girl foot jugglers who are maybe 12 years old, and a Chinese
slack wire act. The wire began about
five feet from the ground but it was raised as high as thirty feet - a great
act. Unlike "Totem" which I saw in
Montreal back in June, this Soleil show was just "OK." The following week I visited
Circus Smirkus in Revere, Mass. I always
try to visit this youth Circus when it tours
This year's theme focused on the great outdoors and many situations the
Smirko's find themselves. Finally I visited Neil Goldberg's "Cirque of Dreams" playing the playing for
six week in a beautiful new theater. The production stared the former teen idol, Deborah Gibson as Mother Earth. She was the connection between the acts she
would sing a song which you couldn't understand. The sound was distorted and you could not
hear the lyrics. The whole show lasted an hour and fifteen minutes because they
want to get you back into the casino. There
were a few good acts but overall it seemed to be thrown together with nice
costumes and dark or poor lighting. There
were mostly average acts with a few above average ones. Nothing super. My Fall will be very busy. I
will be visiting the Big Apple Circus in Walden, NY for their dress rehearsal on Sept. 13th. Then there is the Big E at the end of September and Ringling is coming
to New England with the Blue & Red Units in October
and.
Coney Island
by Fr. Jerry on 07/27/10
Last week I visited the
Ringling Bros. Gold Unit which is playing all summer at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Feld Entertainment
created a third unit of the Circus seven years ago. It is a much smaller unit. It has only one ring and is marketed for smaller
venues than the three ring shows play.
The show travels by truck and the personnel have trailers. It has played across the United States, Mexico and even Europe last fall. This is the second summer that
the Gold has played Coney Island. They
rent a beautiful blue and gold tent with a reception area. Both tents are air-conditioned. The
tent reaches back to the boardwalk and the view of the beach is a
perfect setting for a summer circus. The first year attendance was
strong but this summer there has been a drop off. I saw this show rehearsing in Tampa in
December and in Sarasota in January. The
theme is "magic" with the appropriate name "Illusion." It's a good show. It is fast paced and has strong acts. I was especially impressed by the teeterboard
act. Many of the support staff I've known for many years, some I've married and baptized their children. I was pleasantly surprised to meet up with
Nicole Feld, one of the producers and owners of the show. She was showing Tom Schumacher from the Disney Company the entire complex and
production. I hadn't seen Nicole since
Ringling Blue's opening night in Next week I'll be visiting
Cirque du Soleil show "Ovo" which is
playing Boston and Circus Smirkus which I will catch in Revere, Mass.
Circus Visits in the Hot Summer of North Andover
by Fr. Jerry on 07/08/10
Much of my Circus Ministry work this past month has been developing
a plan with Marge Murphy in writing to some 80 Diocese throughout the United
States asking to be considered for the Missionary Cooperation Plan connected to
the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
We hope to be invited into some Dioceses to visit Churches where we can explain
our Ministry and raise money for CTSM and rewarding. On Sunday, June 20th I visited the Cole Bros Circus in
Newport, RI. Two days prior to my visit,
the human cannonball missed the net and was brought to the hospital. Thank God he was OK and back being shot out
of the cannon in no time. I can't
imagine having that on my resume! I spent
some time with John Pugh, the owner, and Elvin Bale a former superstar whose
career ended when he missed the net in his
cannon act. I have been anticipating the arrival of the Kelly- Miller Circus
into my area for over a month. Adrian and Nellie Polema's children, 11 year old
Marianna and 8 year old Adrian had been planning for some time to receive First
Penance and First Communion while they played my town. I visited the show on a dark day, (a day off),
June 24th in Pembroke, Ma. I reviewed the sacraments with the children which
Fr. Dick Notter had begun with them when he visited them in Southern Texas in
February. Thank God for technology. I had also sent them a DVD on preparing for
First Penance and First Communion for children.
On June 26th I joined the show in Mendon, Ma. where I heard
their First Penances. The show arrived
the next day to North Andover and Nellie took the children to our 9:00 AM Mass. During the school year this is our Children's
Mass and there tends to be a lot of activity with the children's choir and special activities. During the summer we
still focus on the children but without the extras. The Kelly Miller Show played up the street from the Church. The Little Sisters, Jo & Priscella have
been traveling with the show since the first week in June. Jo is helping Brian
LaPama in the cookhouse and Priscella is doing odds and ends sewing and helping
in the school house. Fortunately I was
able to spend some time with Jo & Priscella. They love being with the Kelly-Miller
troupe, a very family oriented show. On Monday, June 28th around 11:15 AM we had a circus
family spectacle at St. Michael's to celebrate Marianna and Adrian's First Communion. A surprise visitor, Struppi Hannerford, the
children's grandmother, came down from Glen, NH. She currently has a show at Story Land that
is playing all summer. It was a two hour
trip for her and it was great to visit with her. St. Michael's is a fantastic parish. We have many volunteers who do extraordinary
things. They serve the poor, teach
religious education to over 2000 students, and support some 65 parish
ministries. Since I arrived here 16 years ago I've shared my love for the circus people and my parish community has
adopted my circus community. We always run
trips to the circus and many performers lay over with their rigs in the back
parking lot. When our organist Brian
Kingsley heard that I was having a circus First Communion Monday morning, he immediately
volunteered to play the music we use at our six First Communions (300 second graders) every year. After the First Communion we gathered upstairs in our
air-conditioned parish hall (escaping the 90 degree heat) for a luncheon. Thirty Circus Fans from New England joined us along with many members of the show. We fed just over 80 people. The next day I headed up to Montreal to see the new Cirque du
Soleil show "Totem." I heard great reviews
and I wanted to see it for myself. After its next stop in Quebec City it is going
to Europe to open in Amsterdam in September.
I don't know when it will play the States. It's a great show! Many of the acts are show stoppers. It was one great act after another. Some Cirque shows seem to emphasize the theme
of the production to the point of overkill. "Totem" does not fall into the same trap. Sadly, I didn't know anyone on the show but
it was worth the trip. When I blog again it will be after I visit the Ringling Gold Unit
playing the summer.
On the Road Again
by Fr. Jerry on 05/20/10
Last Saturday I celebrated the Baptism of Amelia Marie Wiley in the tent
of the Big Apple Circus after the 4:30 Show in Boston, City Hall Plaza. Anissa & Sam are great friends I married
them eleven years ago at Anissa's home Church in Manchester, CT. They met on the Ringling Blue Unit. Anissa was the dance captain and Sam played
the drums. A number of years ago Sam
joined the Big Apple where he played a drum solo in center ring! I baptized their first child Little Sam three
years ago. They recently bought a truck
and a trailer and are official nomads of the Circus. We had a great time. Many of Anissa's family members and friends
drove up from Connecticut, and Sam's brother flew in from California to be the
Godfather. Everyone came together to celebrate Amelia's special day. Priest. I received a number of calls and congratulations. A few people asked me how I was going to
celebrate my Anniversary. I simply said
I'll be in Trenton? I was honored to join the Ringling Blue Unit for
the Confirmation and First Communion of
two young men. My
day started with Mass at my parish in North Andover at 6:45AM. I flew out from Manchester NH airport at 11AM
to Philly where I rented a car and drove to Trenton. Trenton to Philly is like driving from Boston
to Concord, NH. It should only take an
hour. I arrived at 2:00 PM. At 3:00 PM
we began our celebration processing and singing in Portuguese, our hands waving in the air. The
boys receiving confirmation and First Communion are: Ivo Silva Jr., 21, and Angelo Fuentes,
20. Ivo is a flyer. He throws the triple regularly and he attempts
the quad at every show. He has successfully
thrown it five times! This is a
tremendous accomplishment. Angelo is a member of the Torres motorcycle troupe. He performs in the Globe of Death where seven motorcycles circle around inside. Silvo
took the name Jorge (George in English) and Angelo chose Sebastian. A great deal of work went into the
preparation of the liturgy with the help of Sr. Dorothy and Sr. Bernard. Many pictures were taken and a true sense of
community could be felt. After the ceremony a number of people were so moved that they asked to begin their sacramental preparation with Glenda and Sr. Dorothy.
I've
been busy since I last sat down to blog. 
Sacraments by Glenda Nidai De A.
Figueiredo,
a
dancer who is a catechist. She is our test
subject for our new program called SPEC, Show
People's Evangelization of
Catechists. Glenda
will start on-line
courses through the University
of Dayton preparing for certification as a
Catechist for the circus community. You
can
find out more about SPEC on this web-site on
the Box Office page.
Bernard and I found a restaurant for a quick
meal. I was back on the road by 5:30 PM for a
scheduled
8:10 flight back to Manchester.
Well, the ride back took over 90 minutes. I hit
traffic heading towards Philly. You see the
Phillies, baseball team, as well
as the Flyers,
hockey team, were playing Tuesday night. Both
the hockey arena and the baseball/
football
stadiums are beside each other and share
parking lots. I finally got to the airport only to
find out
my 8:10 was delayed until 8:40. Then
9:35 we finally took off at 10:15 arriving in
Manchester at 11:00 PM. My only satisfaction
was when I got into my
car I listened to the
last three minutes of the Celtics beating the
Magic and
the Sox take the lead and finally beat
the Yankees. My head hit the pillow at 12:30 AM!
Playing catch-up
by Fr. Jerry on 05/15/10
5/15/10
On Thursday May 6th I visited the University of Notre Dame, in South
Bend, IN and attended the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops
Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church's Conference. Try saying
that three times fast. This three day meeting was used to talk about the
important issues surrounding the changing Church in the United States related
to issues of diversity. Circus and Traveling Show Ministries embodies
many different Cultures, thus we were invited to share our experience of
ministering to our diverse Catholic population. The conference was set up so
that we could dialogue with many different people of vast backgrounds from
Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders,
and Migrants, Refugees and Travelers ("People on the Move"- my
population). We had a number of small group discussions with a
broad cross-section of cultural backgrounds. The success of a conference
like this isn't based on a written report handed in to the Bishop's Conference
but the acknowledgment that we know we need to change and be more welcoming on
the parish level.
Notre Dame is the perfect location to gather. It's a beautiful campus
with a magnificent Basilica and a modern conference center. While at the
conference I met up with our friends - Sr. Myrna Tordillo from the USCCB
and Deacon Luis Trevino from the Arlington Back Stretch. Sr. Myrna
was one of the organizers of the conference, so she had her hands full.
This past Thursday I took 55 people from St. Michael's parish to the morning
show of the Big Apple Circus in downtown Boston. Everyone had a great
time. Bello came out after the show to say "hi" and take questions.
The first question is always "Is that your real hair and how do you
make it stand up?" Let's just say that Bello keeps the hair spray
industry very profitable with his can a day requirement. While we were
there I was able to visit with many people and talk about the baptism I'll be
doing after the 4:30 show this Saturday, May 15th.
On Friday I drove up to Manchester, NH for a tent meeting of the newly formed
tent, named after me. Frankly I feel honored and embarrassed about having
a tent in my name. We had 25 members gather. Bob Goldsack gave a
presentation on entertainment in the United States before television came
along. Did you know that the first amusement parks in New England were built by
the trolley companies? The reason why, was that the trolleys had to pay
for their electricity for seven days a week. People only rode the
trolleys from Monday to Friday for work. So they had to find ways to get
people to ride the trolleys on the weekends. They created the parks at
the end of their runs; such as Canobie Lake Park, still open in Salem, NH, and
the Norumbager Park, in Newton, MA which closed in 1963. It's always great to gather with Circus Fans and
talk about our love for the Circus. As we started to leave I had a
surprise. My car battery died. Thank God for AAA!
5/01/10
On Monday April 19th, Scott O'Donnell and I visited John
"Eggroll" Kane on the Hamid Show in Portland Main. We
shared many laughs and stayed for the show. On Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday, I visited the Hannerford Show in Wilmington, Ma. On Thursday
evening I met up with Wayne McCary, CEO of the
Big E in West Springfield, MA and Bob Commerford, owner of Commerford and Son's
Petting Zoo out of Goshen, CT. The following week I visited Toronto on
pilgrimage to see the Red Sox play the Blue Jays. I joined the
Ringling Blue Unit in Providence on April 29th and 30th
where I heard two performers First Penance, as they prepare for First
Communion and Confirmation.
I've updated my business card. On the front I have information regarding
my Circus Ministry and on the backside there is a listing for the two
organizations we have incorporated in Florida, the Circus & Traveling Show
Ministries Inc. and the Circus & Traveling Show Retirement Project
Inc. We also created a brochure that I distributed at the conference at
Notre Dame about a new project that we are trying to find funding for. We
are calling this project SPEC. Naturally, we are stealing from the circus
term Spectacle. But our SPEC stands for Show People's Evangelization of
Catechists. We are hoping that folks from within the Circus and Traveling
Show communities will participate in some on-line catechetical courses to learn
more about their faith and then can pass the Good News on to others in their
communities. We've applied to different foundations to fund a pilot for
this project. We'll keep you posted.
4/7/10
Holy Week is over and I finally have an opportunity to update you on my circus
ministry. On Tuesday March 23rd Art Provencher and Bob Goldsack
visited for a tour of my office and for lunch. We jackpotted about recent
Circus information and discussed a tent meeting in Manchester for May and the
Kelly Miller Circus. They are coming to North Andover Sunday June
2th and Monday June 28th. On Wednesday, March 24th
I took the train to New York and attended the Ringling Blue Dress rehearsal
before the opening. Unfortunately I got sick and couldn't attend the
opening. The Big Apple Circus set up the week of March 29th
for an opening on April 3rd in Boston.
I visited their set up in the rain.
Easter weekend - we celebrated the vigil Mass Saturday night at my parish, here
in North Andover, MA. On Easter Sunday I celebrated the 7:30 AM and 9:00
AM Masses in my parish. Then I drove down to Boston and said Mass for the
Big Apple at 10:30. I barely had enough time to give out Easter Baskets
to the children as I had to dash off and catch the 1:30 Delta Shuttle to New
York. There I said Mass for the Ringling's Blue Unit at MSG at 5:30.
They fit their celebration in-between their 23rd and 24th
shows in eleven days. My Easter Dinner consisted of a beer and a
hamburger at an Irish pub around the corner. I return to MSG to say
goodbye. To my surprise the line for the tickets for their last show at
7:30PM was around the corner. I went to the Capuchin Father’s friary
where I’ve been staying for the past 17 years. My head hit the pillow at
8PM. I got up at 5:30AM the next morning to catch the 8:30AM shuttle back
to Boston to return back to North Andover and I was in my office by 10:15AM
opening mail.....I successfully juggled another Easter weekend. Thank God
Easter only happens once a year!
What's Happening?
by Fr. Jerry on 03/20/10
I haven't blogged since my trip to Philly. Time marches on. My condolences to the Montoya family for the loss of Tito on the Walker Bros Circus. The whole Circus family is affected when tragedy strikes our industry. Tito has been remembered at my Masses.
I had lunch with Bob Kitchen March 2nd and he presented me with three boxes of Circus books that we will donate to St. Michael's School. Many of our former CFA members of the Fr. Ed Sullivan Tent have gone to God and left their Circus books to the Tent. I'm happy that the students of our school will benefit from knowing the history of the Circus. Bob and I also discussed the annual Tent Meeting that takes place Sunday, April 18th in Seekonk, Mass.
I traveled to New York on March 3rd, not for Circus business but to attend the opening of the revival of "The Miracle Worker." It was directed by my cousin Kate Whoriskey. It's her first play on Broadway. Our whole family was excited. Naturally, we loved it and met many Broadway and movie stars at the opening.
I have been invited to the Catholic Cultural Diversity Network Convocation sponsored by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops at Notre Dame May 6-8th. This three day meeting theme is "It's Better Together." We will gather to share our common faith and our cultural differences. They have asked me to participate by bringing in the Circus experience and inviting some Circus performers to share their skills and story. Presently I'm working on enlisting the assistance of a circus family.
Father Dick Notter has been visiting Circuses throughout
Southern Texas. He called me recently to mention that he has met a Circus family who has 30 acres of land in Mayaka, FL. They are willing to share some o the land for our Circus retirement project. This would be a huge break in our hope to provide some place where our retired Circus people could hook up their trailers and live in community with their friends. Please pray that this comes to fruition.
Next week I travel to New York for the opening of the Ringling Blue Unit in Madison Square Garden the 140th edition. I'm looking forward to meeting with many old friends. Until next time, "see you down the road."
Trip from Snow Covered Hell
by Fr. Jerry on 03/02/10
I just returned from my visit on the Ringling Blue Unit in Philly a challenging experience. I flew out of Manchester, NH on Wednesday Feb. 24th the big news in Philly was the approaching fourth nor'easter snow storm this winter. Forecast was for 10 to 20 inches Thursday afternoon into Friday panic was setting in the entire city and outline areas. Philly has already received the most snow in their history. Needless to say the show hadn't encountered snow this year and a number of the performers have never seen snow. I attended the afternoon run through and visited many people I hadn't seen since the show opened in Tampa early January. We have a few people out of the show Russian wire walker broke his foot during a load in and one of the Torres bikes in the Globe of Death is out with an injury so they are only riding six in the glove than their usual seven. The show Wednesday night looked perfect and attendance was around nine thousand.
Next day anxiety griped the city waiting for the snow to begin to fall schools were close but no snow. We had a 10:30 AM kids show expecting 6,000 school children since there was no school less than 1,000 showed up. The show went on two old friends and former Ringling performers Silvo & Joanne Laskvo who live in the outskirts of Philly visited the show. We watched the show together and shared many memories I've known them 15 years. After the show we went to a traditional Philly diner for lunch.
In the afternoon I went back to the building, still hadn't started to snow, and visited Sr. Dorothy and her religion class. She teaches religion on Thursday's after school at 3:00 PM. I dropped in and hear the twelve students confession. Sister is fantastic the children have a great sense of all the sacraments and prayers. After class Sr. Dorothy,, she teaches grades 1 to 6 and Sr. Bernard ,who is in the wardrobe dept. went out for an early supper the only restaurant near the building. Great Italian food I've been there a number of times run by the same family for 48 years at 4:30 PM we were the only people. Private dinner with our own chef and guess what it started to snow. After dinner we went back to the building and the snow and wind got heavy. I decided to head back to my hotel and seen if my plane was still "on time" for tomorrow.
I checked on line and my plane had been canceled I tried to call southwest airlines but it was a three hour wait. I got up a 5:30 in the morning still couldn't get through again went on line. Got a seat on the 4:20 PM to Manchester Sisters told me the 10:30 morning show had been canceled there was about 5 inches outside my hotel but the surrounding area was getting hit. I told the Sister I would come over for Mass at noon and lunch. When I arrived snow covered the wagons got into their trailer and my phone rings my 4:20 has been canceled. I had just checked out of the hotel but panic set in I immediately went back to the hotel to use their computers and try to get out of Philadelphia! Nothing I couldn't access a seat of the 10:15 AM on Saturday. I decided to head to the airport and take my chances. Turn in my car arrived at the Southwest Airline counter long lines but I expected that line moved took an hour to meet an agent. I asked to be rebooked for a Saturday flight to Manchester. All flights to Manchester filled only one seat available Sunday at 4:20 PM did I want it. No I needed to get back Saturday for Masses!! The agent said I can get you to Providence Saturday morning leaving Philly 8:50 AM arriving in Providence at 10:00 AM. I said book it! I had a seat but no room I decided to stay at the Marriott Hotel at the airport.
Saturday got to the airport at 6:00 AM took half hour to get through security plane needed to be deiced ( It was still snowing in Philly) finally took off at 9:30 AM arrived in Providence at 10:45 AM, Rented a car drove to Manchester arrived at 1:00 PM picked up my car and got back to the Church at 2:00 PM. Celebrated the 4:00 PM Mass! Truly one of those trips from Hell!
As many of you know traveling can be difficult and the weather plays a big impact. I enjoyed my trip every time I arrived at a Circus I am refreshed and enjoy renewing my friendships and meeting new people. Circus people are open and kind and concerned about you because they fill your part of their family.
Looking forward to joining the Blue Unit for opening night
in Madison Square Garden, March 25th!
First Entry
by Fr. Jerry on 02/18/10
Welcome to Circusrev's Blog my attempt of keeping you updated in the wonderful world of Circus Ministry.
I just got off the phone
with my good friend Bob
Commerford. He and his Sons will be displaying their animals and carnivals rides
at the Shiners Convention Center in Wilmington, Mass. this weekend only ten minutes down the road from my
Church in North
Andover. They have been coming to this
site for about five years some years have been strong others just about enough
to "make the nut." I traditionally visit on
Saturday afternoon and bring them some Lobster Bisque from the Chowa House here
in North Andover. Many of my show people have feasted on this famous
Lobster Bisque.
My friend Marge Murphy
is working on this Web page I hope you like it. I want to capture all the
activities that the entire Circus and Traveling Show Ministry is attempting to
accomplish. Always looking for some insights so drop me off a line, circusrev@aol.com.
I talked to Bob Kitchen,
our secretary/treasurer of the "Fr. Ed Tent." We finalized that we are
meeting on April 18th in Seekonk, MA. Art
Provencier, the last owner of Benson's Wild Animal in Hudson, NH will be our speaker. Art
has many stories about the park.
Today I'm traveling to
Plaistow, NH to visit Cosimo Marra. He read
about me in the Eagle Tribune last week and called me because he heard that I was the
present Circus Priest. Cosimo worked on Ringling from 1943 -1947. During that time he had many jobs. His final one was as a rigger. He is 80
years old and mentioned that he was on the show at the Hartford Fire. I'm
bringing a tape recorder to get his story.
I can't wait to met him.
This past week many of
my parishioners have been real excited as I was on the Boston Catholic TV
station on a show "Going my Way" with two other Priests Fr.
Chris Hickey &
& Fr. Paul Rouse. We taped it in December. The format is a 15 minute interview with Fr. Chris. It's like being on the Jay Leno Show. Chris is behind a desk, the whole bit. The second half you
join Chris and sing a song with Fr. Paul Rouse playing the piano. Now
anyone who knows me realizes I'm tone deaf can't carry a tune with a
shovel. They have been after me for years to come on the show and talk
about the Circus but I always put them off because the singing aspect of the
show. Parishioners would ask have they contacted you about being on "Going my Way" and I would say "my people are talking to their
people." Well, I finally did the taping!
The song I attempted to sing with the great help of Fr. Chris and Fr. Bob Reed,
the head of Boston Catholic TV, was "Send in the Clowns" from Sondheim's "Little Night Music." Before we sang the song I mentioned
the significance of the term ""end in the clowns" in the
Circus. When a performer has an accident the band immediately plays the "12th
Street Rag" so all Circus personnel know there has been an accident. The
Clowns are sent in to distract the audience while the performer is taken from
the ring. Unfortunately I have been on a number of shows when we had an
incident that's called for sending in the clowns.
Well, next week I'm off to Philly to join the Blue Unit.
