God Bless Uncle Bob

Dear Hearts,

December 30th is the 12th anniversary of the death of our third patriarch (since we have been in the New World), Robert Mitchel Sullivan, born December 2, 1928, and died December 30, 2007.

He is the husband of Darlene Shajin Silva Sullivan, the son of John Jeremiah (Lefty, our first patriarch in America) and Anna Conick Sullivan. He is brother of James Patrick Sullivan, Sr. (Big Sully, our second patriarch), Sister Anna Rita Sullivan, Order of Preachers (Dominicans), and Sister Margaret Sullivan, Order of Preachers.

He is father of John, Jim, Bobby, Paul, Tim, Mike, Mary, Margaret, Ella and Peter, and the grandfather of 50+ and great grandfather to 2!

Uncle Bob and Aunt Darlene lived one of the great love stories with forty years of marriage, a shining example to all of us. Individually and together, they brought to life the phrase, "There's always room for more!" In other words, all were welcome in their lives, their hearts and their home. Back in the mid 1970s, Uncle Bob scooped up three of us Sullivans from So Cal and brought us along with his own large bunch on a camping trip to Baja, Mexico!

He had the best voice--so kind and sure, and kept us riveted with his wonderful storytelling. But like his brother, my dad, when an injustice had occurred--look out! That voice was strong and sure.

We are so fortunate to have had him for those many years and his advice and influence lives on through his children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. I know my parenting efforts are greatly informed by Uncle Bob and Aunt Darlene.

Thank you, Almighty God, for Bob Sullivan, husband, father, brother, son, grandfather, uncle, priest, warrior, counselor, and faithful servant of The Living God.

Uncle Bob's Legacy!

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Francesca!

Dear Hearts,

December 27th is the birthday of Francesca Mary Hanjani: daughter of Maggie and Kameron; sister of Inez; niece, cousin and friend of scores more folks.

Her gorgeous black curly hair is long and her spirit is strong. Lala, as she is called, flits about her world like a sweet little woodland nymph, but will also become a beautifully fierce ogre if her baby sister, mama or dada are threatened.

She is the fourth Frances carrying the name, along with Boom Boom, Mary Fran, Frannie Ella, and then there are also Claire Marie Frances, and James Patrick Francis Sullivan, and Johanna Frances Clark, and Margaret Frances Sullivan, and Great-great-great grandmother Wanda Frances Zinn, and of course, Tereas, Dave and Camden Francis. And the Holy Father!

Welcome to your sixth trip around the calendar, and may you have 120 more healthy birthdays, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Merry Christmas!

Dear Hearts,

A Christmas message from our patriarch:

Merry Christmas to everyone in the world and especially this, our beloved group of family and friends, bonded together by blood, marriage, friendship, shared hardships and victories, but most of all, deep love and admiration, affection and affinity, respect and admiration.

We have new little babies this year, the first year of their life. In that sense we and they are in union with Jesus. And Happy Birthday to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. And Happy Birthday to the return of the sun, and the lengthening of the days, and the upsweep of Hope in our hearts.

And let us remember and revere all of our old ones who went ahead of us, who loved us, who lived for us, and who gave us life and are gone. And let us remember the fallen, and hold them in our hearts. Especially those who never had much chance to enjoy this beautiful life, who may have been only 18 or 19, or any age, who have fallen on beaches and frozen outposts and in rice paddies all over the world.

And also, there is a special type of person who serves tonight and tomorrow and the next night, while we rejoice and celebrate. They are the real soldiers. They are the ones who must keep the flag up and the fire tended, and must protect and help those who need it at all hours.

My daughter Francie's and Diane Lee's and cousin Teresa Francis’s and sister Anne Daly’s colleagues, the nurses, will be up and out at 0330 hours Christmas day, because their patients at the hospital don't stop being sick.

Francie just called me and had to bow out of our festivities tonight because they are swamped at the hospital, and she has to work the double shift. Please pray for her and her patients tonight.

My son Doctor Mickey have to go if they are called, and they are on call. Same with our cousin, Dr. Seamus Sullivan. And also, the police and the firemen, and most of all, our beloved troops, are out on the line for us. So, let's pray for those who serve tonight, like the first responders and the troops--and give thanks to all those out on the outposts.

Soldiers, that's what I think all of these public servants of ours really are, and I attach the prayer here, to St. Michael, and for them. St. Michael the Archangel is the Patron of Paratroopers. Whitey once gave me a medallion of St. Michael the Paratrooper to wear on my dog tags, and I'm looking at them right now.

We all can stand easy because of these servants of humanity.

On this vigil of Christmas, I think of what our beloved grandfather Boompa always would pray, about the poor and hungry and homeless, and about his big circle of family and friends, and I offer up this prayer in Boompa’s place, for us, our families, and all our loved ones:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. Please, God, spread your care over the poor, cold, hungry and lonely, those sick or imprisoned or without home or shelter.

Please , God, take care of John, ease his pain, and grant us all the miracle we hope for as we seek your Holy Will.

Please, God, bring home all our troops safe, and all the troops of all the peoples of all the world, safe, even the enemy.

Thank you, God for all we have, life and love and opportunity. Thank you, God for the new little babies you have sent us.

Thank you for all our beloved dead of the family, and for all our fallen troops over all the years. Hold us all in Your Big Hand and close to Your Sacred Heart.

Amen.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Merry Christmas.

Love,
Seamus the Older

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

PATRON SAINT OF PARATROOPERS AND SOLDIERS

St. Michael the Archangel, Defend us in battle.

Be our protection against the malice and snares of the enemy.

Restrain them, O God, we humbly beseech Thee,

And do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Host,

By the Divine Power,

Thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil souls

Who prowl about the earth,

Seeking the ruin and destruction of souls.

Amen

Prayers Answered But Don't Let Up!

Dear Hearts,

This just in from Jim's West Point classmate who requested our spiritual support on behalf of his son, Douglas, who has been living with kidney disease for 20+ years. Proof that our prayers are carrying others through tough times:

Now please pass this good news onto your Dear Hearts: Their prayers were answered! We just found out that Douglas is scheduled to get a new kidney on January 12th; you can bet that we are gonna have a blow out Christmas celebration. It is going to be a complicated chain of exchanges: eight people, eight surgeries, and four exchanges of kidneys. So the transplant team says to understand that there are a lot of moving parts, and lots of things can get it the way. If one person comes down with even an ear infection, or chickens out at the last minute, or (worse) tests positive for Covid, then everything stops and they regroup. But the process is firmly in place, and unless something goes wrong, then Douglas will have a new kidney in a few weeks. God is so good, and we are so grateful. Thanks, Sully, for your prayers and support, and thank those Dear Hearts for us.

Merry Christmas!

Skip

Skip also requests that we continue to pray for a successful outcome.

Never doubt the power of prayer and how we can carry others when they are too weak, afraid, overwhelmed or sick to carry themselves. I am proud to be part of this Dear Hearts gang.

Much Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Callum!

Dear Hearts,

Callum and Ewan in Flagstoff

December 21st is the birthday of Callum James Sullivan: son of Paul and Stephanie; brother of Hannah, Jack, Emma, Liam and Ewan; grandson of Bob, Darlene, Robbie and Jill; cousin, nephew and friend to dozens more.

In his seventh grade year, Callum works hard in the classroom, as well as whatever sport field or court he enters. He has loads of athletic talent playing flag football, basketball and soccer, as well as swimming and hiking. Callum has no idea how darn handsome he is, which will make him even more the object of many girls' affection! 

Happy Birthday, Callum. May you have 112 more healthy ones by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Jim III!

Dear Hearts,

December 20th is the birthday of James Patrick Francis Sullivan III: son of Jim and Nancy; brother of Mick, Amos, Miles and Franny; nephew, cousin and friend to scores of us. I was just four years old when his arrival made me an auntie!

Jim is working as a sales representative in the thermoplastics industry and has become a talented and hard-working tradesman in his spare time.

Jim the Third, as I've called him my entire life, is an intelligent, articulate and hilarious man who always makes me think a bit harder and ask a few more questions, no matter what topic we may be discussing. He's a wonderful listener and I find his frank communication refreshing.

So, happy birthday, Jim the Third, and may you have 74 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

God Bless Bud

Dear Hearts,

December 20th is the 101st anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allen Cusick, Bitsy's Dad, known to the Calumet Region, where he lived and died, as Bud. He started and ran the famous Budd Auto Body, still in business, run by his son, Brian Bud Cusick.

Bud served in the Army Air Corps during WWII, like Big Sully, and taught tail gunners on bombers. He was a wonderful man and a fine husband and father, and Bitsy loves him so. He had a special place in his heart for her, and has come to her in dream since his passing, to tell her how he loves her.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Violet!

Dear Hearts,

December 19th is the birthday of Violet Sands Sullivan: daughter of Lindsay and Michael; sister of Evangeline; granddaughter of John and Nancy and David and Lee; niece, cousin and friend to many more lucky folks.

As Violet grows older, her beautiful imagination is blossoming with creative stories and wonderful images. She--along with her sister, mom and dad--loves to cook, draw, play and is always up for whatever adventure presents itself. Today Violet is enjoying a magical unicorn birthday with cheese pizza and a unicorn cake!

So happy birthday, Violet, and may you have 118 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Isaac!

Dear Hearts,

December 18th is the birthday of Isaac Miles Whalen: son of Sean, grandson of Christian and Moira; nephew of Nicholas, Connor and Morgan; cousin and friend to many more. He is celebrating his 11th birthday!

Happy Birthday Isaac, and may you have 114 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Marcos & Roman!

Dear Hearts,

December 14th is the birthday of Marcos and Román Sullivan Jiménez: twin sons of Amos and Sara; brothers of Carmen; grandsons of Jim, Bitsy, Nancy and his Spanish grandparents in Badajoz; nephews, cousins and buddies to many more.

These two clearly love spending time in the great outdoors, hiking, running, swimming and more, and are sure to lead their little sister in some fun discoveries along the way.

Papa Sully calls them Speedy and Tuffy and is completely smitten with them. Happy birthday Marcos and Román, and may you have 119 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Longevity Aspiration Protocol of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

Happy Birthday, Molly!

Dear Hearts,

December 14th is the birthday of Molly Clevenger Russell: daughter of Mercy and Hal; sister to Claire; wife of Daniel; niece, cousin and friend to a whole bunch of us. She states that when she grows up, she wants to make people smile. And she does that in so many ways!

Molly is a free-lance graphic designer and illustrator who creates impressive work on her own and for an agency. She's also always open to collaborating with others.  Take a quick glimpse of her design work here.  And if you've recently enjoyed a can of Sincere Cider, you've held Molly's design in your hands!

She and Daniel have settled in their new home in Missoula, Montana, and have collaborated on their biggest, most wonderful project yet--Baby Russell is due in late January 2022! The two have set up a beautiful home and are both enjoying work and life in Big Sky Country.

So happy birthday, Molly, and may you have 92 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty

Happy Birthday, Margaret!

Dear Hearts,

December 12th is the birthday of Margaret Glick: daughter of Jim and Mary Claire; sister of Jim, Mary Fran, John, Mike, Matt, Anne, Jerry and Patty; wife of Brian; mother of Daniel and Elizabeth; Gigi (grandmother) to Levi, Amos, Maggie and Holden; aunt, niece, cousin and friend to hundreds more. Margaret is lucky to share this day with Our Lady of Guadalupe and Frank Sinatra. What a trio, eh? 

With her four grandkids living just a few miles away, Margaret rarely goes a day without seeing one or all of them, whether just a fun visit or a regular babysitting shift. She's sharing her talents with the students of Mt. Baldy School, teaching music and storytelling. It's nice for everyone to be together again on campus. She and Brian explore the West in their motorhome and were very happy to fly to Hawaii last month for a week's vacation.

Margy, Migs, Midge, Ada, Gigi, Jeej--she'll answer to all the nicknames given through the years with a smile. Her artistry continues to decorate her life, whether she is painting, cooking, teaching, decorating or gardening. Margaret has discovered the world of Peleton, so combining that activity with regular hikes and yoga makes her a fit and youthful grandma!

Happy Birthday, Midge, may you have 67 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Anticipation of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Pidge

Below are Margaret Catherine and Margaret Poppy sharing a Thanksgiving treat! I apologize if the video doesn't come through well. Not sure about this feature.

Happy Birthday, Margaret!

Dear Hearts,

December 11th is the birthday of Margaret Lewis: daughter of Bob and Darlene; sister of John, Jim, Bobby, Paul, Tim, Mike, Mary, Ella and Peter; wife of Paul; mom of Ella, Paul Jr., Robert, William and Timothy; auntie, cousin and friend to scores others.

Margaret is refreshingly kind and honest--I've always left a conversation with her feeling happy and enlightened. She has as many hilarious stories of childhood as the rest of her siblings and takes parenting her brood in impressive stride--she offers no drama, holds high expectations, requires everyone to pitch in and sprinkles it all with great humor.

She is smart, athletic, loyal and hardworking, managing much of one of Arizona's most successful bar/restaurants in Scottsdale. She recently found Guy Fieri standing behind the bar next to her taking her instruction! Back at home, Margaret remembers to less fortunate, provides for those in need and lives as a true servant to God and her family.

Happy Birthday, Margaret, and may you have 80 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

O Mary, our Immaculate Mother,

On your feast day I come to you,
And I come not alone:
I bring with me all those with whom your Son entrusted to me,
In this city of Rome and in the entire world,
That you may bless them and preserve them from harm.

I bring to you, Mother, children,
Especially those who are alone, abandoned,
And for this reason are tricked and exploited.

I bring to you, Mother, families,
Who carry forward life and society
With their daily and hidden efforts;
In a special way the families who struggle the most
For their many internal and external problems.

I bring to you, Mother, all workers, both men and women,
And I entrust to you especially those who, out of need,
Are forced to work in an unworthy profession
And those who have lost work or are unable to find it.

We are in need of your immaculate gaze,
To rediscover the ability to look upon persons and things
With respect and awareness,
Without egotistical or hypocritical interests.

We are in need of your immaculate heart,
To love freely,
Without secondary aims but seeking the good of the other,
With simplicity and sincerity, renouncing masks and tricks.

We are in need of your immaculate hands,
To caress with tenderness,
To touch the flesh of Jesus
In our poor, sick, or despised brethren,
To raise up those who have fallen and support those who waver.

We are in need of your immaculate feet,
To go toward those who know not how to make the first step,
To walk on the paths of those who are lost,
To find those who feel alone.

We thank you, O Mother, because in showing yourself to us
You free us of all stain of sin;
You remind us that what comes first is the grace of God,
The love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us,
The strength of the Holy Spirit which renews all things.

Let us not give in to discouragement,
But, trusting in your constant help,
Let us engage ourselves fully in renewal of self,
Of this city and of the entire world.
Pray for us, Holy Mother of God!

God Bless Uncle Bob

Dear Hearts,

December 6th is the 93rd anniversary of the birth of Robert Mitchel Sullivan: son of Lefty and Anna; brother of James Patrick, Sr. (Big Sully), Anna Rita and Margaret (Sister Joanne Marie and Sister James Timothy); husband of Darlene; father of John, Jim, Bobby, Paul, Mike, Tim, Sr. John Mary, Margaret, Ella and Peter; grandfather of 50ish; spiritual grandfather, godfather, uncle, cousin, nephew, friend and mentor to hundreds more.

Uncle Bob was born in Chicago in 1928. He was ordained a Dominican priest and took the name Father Timothy Sullivan, O.P. Father Tim, after his great-grandfather. When he went to see Pope Paul VI, who released him from his vows and blessed his entry into the laity, we didn't know a thing about it, until much later. His vocation as a husband and father was strong and fruitful having been married to Aunt Darlene for 39 years and raising ten children. Indeed, they have shown the world, their children, nieces and nephews, grandchildren, friends and neighbors, the very model of married life, and social justice, love and decency.

He taught Philosophy at Phoenix College for 38 years and spoke English, Spanish, Latin and Greek. He would get such a kick out of so many of his grandkids going to the same grade school he and Aunt Darlene sent their children, St. Gregory Catholic School in Phoenix.

Several years ago, my family and I visited Phoenix. We all had dinner at Margaret's house and I fondly recall sitting at the table after dinner with Uncle Bob, listening as he went down the line, updating us on his children. When he finished, I asked, "Okay, Uncle Bob, how do Andy and I do that?" referring to the beautiful success, spiritually and otherwise, of each his nine living adult children. "The kitchen table," he answered, tapping his finger on the table between us. He explained this is where we eat, we talk, we argue, we laugh, we plan, we pray, we cry--as a family. In other words, we're in this together, in all things in life.

He was full of love, brimming with affection, a joyous man, an emotional and passionate man. He was good to everybody. Years ago, at Lefty's wake Jim recalls that Uncle Bob taught him that we never die, because we love each other and love never, never, never dies. A truly profound idea that he could make so many understand.

Uncle Bob passed away at age 79 in Phoenix, just as his grandson, another John Jeremiah (Peter and Melody's son) was entering the world. We were blessed to have him for those 79 years, and we all miss him immensely.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Bob. Please watch over us, with all the Ancestors. God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love,
Patty

P.S. As the oldest of Big Sully's children, Jim had the most number of years on earth with the generation above us and has beautiful memories of time spent together and stories told to family:

When I was little, I got to spend two weeks at the Dominican retreat camp with Uncle Bob, in Menominee, Michigan. Every day we would walk from the retreat house to the mess hall, a half-mile through the woods. He would tell me we were in the Bear's House, and it was the scariest, the funnest and the wildest event of my life up to that date. That Bear was always right around the corner. Bob would stop, real dramatic, hold up his hand and say, "Shh! What was that? I think it was The Bear! Then there would be a pause and he'd say, "Nah. No Bear." I'd go "Whew" and thank my stars. It was unbelievably fun. Then we'd run like hell the rest of the way.

When he went down to Bolivia to serve as chaplain to the Catholic underground fighting the Communists in the University at Cochabamba, we didn't know how much danger he was in. He fought several pitched battles in the Plaza mayor. He originally went into battle ( and this was old school infantry combat, with a few scattered fire arms, but mostly knives and sticks, rocks and bottles, fists and teeth) to lend spiritual support, holding the crucifix, tending the wounded, giving the last rites. But more than once they were over-run and he had to engage, so he pitched in with the troops.

As the Dominican priest in charge of the Newman cell, he taught all the time, and was leading a walk in the outskirts of the town, when his group witnessed a brief and fierce firefight between a group of foreign, Spanish speakers who sided with the Communist forces, and some men who looked and spoke Spanish, but smelled like American tooth paste and shaving cream, and arrived in a helicopter. These Norteamericanos killed the Communists and took their bodies out on choppers. Years later, we found out that the bodies were the Cubans, and among them was Guevara.

Big Sully got a cryptic note from a messenger who came to our house, from Bob, asking for 400 dollars to be given to the messenger. Big Sully did so at once. Again, years later, we found that Bob had been driving the Archbishops truck with supplies, had been ambushed and the truck destroyed. That was it for the Catholics' transport. So the $400 got them new transportation capability to wage the war. They ultimately won and freedom of religion was established in the university.

Happy Birthday, Nathaniel!

Dear Hearts,

December 4th is the birthday of Nathaniel Russell Brogdon: son of Russ and Dagne; brother of Matthew; grandson of Larry (Whitey) and Signe White; nephew, cousin and friend to many more.

Nathaniel looks a lot like his brother and the Old War Horse, Whitey. He has a lot of fun with his mom, dad and brother, taking trips to the beach, celebrating together on holidays and hanging around at home.

Happy birthday, little Nate, and may you have 118 more healthy ones, by the Aunt Joannie Sullivan Law of Longevity Aspiration of 2008.

God bless us and save us and keep us from harm.

Love, Patty