Mr. Mario E. Rosa has been a parishioner at Saint Anthony Parish since coming to the United States in 1958. The reason for his departure from his home island of Faial in the Azorean Islands was due to a volcanic eruption that lasted for 13 months, from September 27, 1957 until October 24, 1958. What could have been a disaster turned into an opportunity. Certainly coming to the United States, especially after the devastation of such an earthquake would become for him and his wife, Maria Fernanda, an opportunity, but more importantly it became an opportunity and a tremendous gift for the priests and the parish of Saint Anthony in Cambridge. Mr. Rosa served as a sacristan at his home parish in Faial. From the time he arrived in Cambridge he became the all around caretaker of the many and sundry needs of the parish complex.

  

He has taken care of all the locks in the church, fixing them, including the one of the tabernacle in the chapel, which was stuck closed. He kept track of the keys- even taking those with no designation and hunting down the lock that they fit. The kneelers in the church were under his vigilant care making sure all the brackets and hinges were in good working order or making sure there were there were enough replacements on hand. If anything appeared to be unfixable, Mr. Rosa would find a way to repair it. All of these were done at little or no cost to the parish, at times paying for parts out of his pocket.


I have known Mr. Rosa and his wife, always at his side, since first assigned here in 1995. I think that makes me one of those knowing him the least amount of time. They would come by at least two or three times a week either dropping something off that he had repaired or to see what else might need to be taken away for his gentle fix. Their most constant presence at the parish has been at the 4:00 o’clock Mass on Saturday. With the exception of being kept away due to illness they are usually here between 2:30 and 3:00 o’clock, putting the bulletins in place, as well as the Pilot and the Portuguese and Brazilian Journals.  And then he would set up for Mass making sure everything is in place, form setting out enough hosts so there is no need to go to the tabernacle, and finding out which priest is celebrating so our personal chalice is set out.


When he was diagnosed with cancer he remained stoic in the face of the illness and talked of having lived a good life, never intentionally hurting another person. Being a realist he knows that life doesn’t last forever. Both he and his wife have discussed his passing, naturally, they would prefer to remain together but are prepared, confident that they will be together for eternity.

In November Cardinal Seán celebrated a service at which 121 faithful of the Archdiocese of Boston received the Chevrus Award. While the award is given each year, only a third of the parishes of the Archdiocese may submit a name, and so the award at each parish is only received once every three years. The parish recipient this year was Mr. Mario Rosa. It was with great pleasure that I received the news that he would be receiving the award. It is an honor for him and also for us that a gentleman of such openness and charity received this distinction.  

Mr. Rosa passed away at 4:00 pm on January 25th. Since I have known them, Mr. and Mrs. Rosa attended the 4:00 pm Mass every Saturday, barring any illness. Even after he was diagnosed with cancer he was at Mass each weekend unless his therapy was too taxing. Last week on the Saturday prior to his passing he mentioned to his wife that he wanted to come to the 4:00 Mass. She said they would do whatever he wanted as long as he was up to it. He was and they came. It was the last time he drove. He was 91 years of age at his passing. For reasons known only to himself, he had told others that he preferred to die in the hospital, rather than at home. His wish was granted having been taken to the emergency room at Mt. Auburn Hospital.

He will be sorely missed by this priest and, I know by the other priests at the parish as well as the parishioners. Thank you Senhor Rosa for all that you did in service to this parish and to the Lord.





Mario Egidio Rosa, of Cambridge, January 25^th. Devoted husband of Maria (Fernanda) Rosa. Loving brother of Angelo Rosa and the late Gabriella Tanjo, Jaime, Gabriel and Eduardo Rosa. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and many other loving relatives and friends. Funeral from the Rogers Funeral Home, 380 Cambridge St., Cambridge Monday at 8 am. Funeral mass at St. Anthony’s Church in Cambridge at 9 am. Visiting hours Sunday 2 to 6 pm.
In lieu of flowers donations in Mario's memory may be made to St. Anthony's Church, 400 Cardinal Medeiros Ave, Cambridge MA 02141.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him. 
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, 
Rest in Peace.
 
May Christ, who called you, take you to himself;
may angels lead you to the bosom of Abraham.
May choirs of angels welcome you
and lead you to the bosom of Abraham.
And where Lazarus is poor no longer
may you find eternal rest.