This is a story about “La Familia.” If someone were to go back in history to search the genealogy for his or her family tree, then he or she may be in for a painstaking serendipity and become implanted with tons of homework! For instance, every child has two parents, a father and a mother. Now, granted, not every father and mother is parental, but still, every child has two parents.
Continuing, if my mother and father each have two parents, whom they do, then their parents have two parents as well. That means that I would possess eight great-grandparents. Following this further, I have 16 great-great-grandparents, 32 great-great-great-grandparents, 64 great-great-great-great grandparents, 128 great-great-great-great-great grandparents, and so on. Whew!
Dear Reader, by the time I got so far back in history, then I would have far greater multi-great grandparents than the population of the Earth at that time; hmmm, this is very mysterious, no! Therefore, one could never do an accurate and complete family tree. Tracing these roots, I have not begun to consider the children of these multi-great grandparents in this coppice at all. Wow!
Dear Reader, This story is about “La Familia” de James Cavanaugh Sr. (all surnames are omitted in this story). Going forward in a family tree is much simpler to do! James Cavanaugh Sr. (JC) was born on June 19, 1926. His mother, Helen Cecilia (RIP), a cradle-Catholic, and his father, Thomas Martin (RIP), a converted-Catholic, are good old-fashion parents! Together they have two boys and two girls. JC is their second son.
Anyway, Dear Reader, The incantation, “Alleluia” intimates to praise God! “Allelu” signifies “Praise” and the ending polysyllable, “IA,” professes God. Alleluia, “Praise God!” Following this further, the word, “Familia” is a Latin word that means servants of a household.
In the Spanish language, also, “La Familia” means, “the family.” With the ideal ending-annunciation, “IA,” La Familia contains servants of a household who praise and worship the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity!
From the beginning of the Holy Catholic Church, believers and their whole household wanted their families to be saved through mutual love and service towards Our Resurrected Jesus. They sought out the Holy Apostles and their disciples to become baptized in both water and the Holy Spirit!
In our post-modern world, often hostile to the Catholic Faith, families are extremely important centers of living out the Catholic Faith. Catholic families are the Domestic Churches, in which the good-parents are the first heralds of Catholic Faith.
Moreover, in the home, the father, the mother, and the children freely exercise their baptismal Catholic priesthood in a privileged way. The home is the first school of the Catholic Faith where all learn and practice the three most vital aspects of being a Child of God: love, forgiveness, and prayerful worship. To teach or to catechize the Holy Catholic Faith is to “echo” the Truth!
Anyway, Dear Reader, This is a short story about La Familia of JC. At 4 a.m., on March 28, 1979, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, the Three Mile Island Nuclear (TMI) accident occurred. It was and still is the worst nuclear commercial power plant accident in US history. Matter of fact, the man whose leadership and supervision produced the construction of the concrete containment buildings surrounding each of the nuclear reactors was JC (Civil Engineer).
Once upon a time, there was a prayerful, pretty young lady named, Loretta Martha. Loretta (Homemaker/Nurse) grew up to be an outstanding yet humble Catholic woman. She married a very smart and prayerful man named JC. The name, Loretta Martha, contains 13 letters of the alphabet. Loretta Martha & JC have 13 dedicated children! Loretta has 12 brother and sisters. James (RIP) and Mary (RIP) are her good Catholic parents.
Some would say that Loretta was a faithful Catholic, who did not believe in birth control, and that is why she had so many children. However, Loretta would correct them by graciously indicating that she believed in Catholic birth control – good birth control. Anyway, she wanted as many babies as God would allow her to conceive! Naturally, the joy of rocking a newborn baby is a supernormal event!
Anyway, Dear Reader, the first child, James Cavanaugh Jr. (Business), is named after JC. Timothy Paul Sr. (Construction) is the second son. His second son, Conor Wood, is the second son of the second son of a second son! While Timothy Paul Sr. is the second child, Timothy Paul Jr., his first son, is the second grandchild of amiable Loretta & JC. Timothy Paul Sr. also has a third son named Shane Christopher (RIP). Timothy Paul Sr. married Christine.
Stephen Joseph (Construction) is the third child of delightful Loretta & JC. Peter Thomas (Construction) is their fourth child. His son, Peter James, is the first grandchild of marvelous Loretta & JC. While Peter Thomas was born in the fifth month of the year, Peter James was born on the fifth day of a month. Peter Thomas married Valencia, and later, Tracy, who has two daughters named, Lindsay and Ashley.
The fifth child of lovely Loretta & JC is Daniel John (Firefighter/EMT). He was born on the fifth of July. Francis Nicholas (Civil Engineer) is the sixth child, and his son, Benjamin Francis, is the sixth grandson of enchanting Loretta & JC.
Eugene Anthony (Homemaker/Educator), is the seventh son of JC & graceful Loretta. He has six older siblings and six younger ones. His first daughter, Shanee Renee, and her cousin Shane Christopher, were born on the same day of the month.
His second child, Loretta Maria, was born on the same day of JC & Loretta’s second child. Both JC and the seventh son have had a new child named, Loretta, at the same age, 38.
Sunshine-running Shanee Renee is the third granddaughter, and lovely little Loretta Maria is the fourth. Loretta Maria was named after her daddy’s enchanting earthly mother and Our Most Loving Heavenly Mother! Eugene A. married beautiful Nadia who already has a child named, Vincent (US Navy).
Andrew Charles (Landscaping) is the eighth son of radiant Loretta & JC. His son, Andrew James, is the fourth grandchild. Andrew Charles and Andrew James were both born on the same day of the month. Andrew Charles married Kim.
Anne Marie (Homemaker), the first daughter, and Joseph Edward (Construction), the last son, are twins, and they share the same birthday;) Anne Marie, the ninth child, has two sons, Keith Lyons and Karl McKee. Keith Lyons is the ninth grandchild, and Karl McKee is the thirteenth. Anne Marie married Brian, who has a son named Daniel.
Loretta Martha II (Homemaker/Nurse) is the second daughter of JC & sweet Loretta. She has two daughters named, Julie Caitlin and Karen Christine, and a son named, Edward Thomas IV.
Precious Julie Caitlin is the first granddaughter, and darling Karen Christine is the second. Edward Thomas IV is the fourteenth and last grandchild of fascinating Loretta & JC, to date. Edward Thomas IV shares his birthday with his grandmother. Loretta Martha II married Charles, and later, Edward III.
Note: All three wonder-filled Loretta’s of La Familia are second-daughters in their respective domestic-families!
Molly May (Homemaker/Horticulture), born in the month of May, is the twelfth child and third daughter of JC and resplendent Loretta. She has a son named, Errol James. He is the eighth grandson. Molly May married Errol.
Finally, Rebecca Mary (Educator) is the thirteenth child! Rebecca has twelve brothers and sisters older than her, and she has fourteen facinating nieces and nephews younger than her. JC & elegant Loretta do not have any great-grandchildren, yet!
Married on April 12 1947, engaging Loretta & JC had two sons at the end of that decade, five more sons in the 1950s, two more sons and three daughters in the 1960s, and finally, one more daughter in the 1970s. All the very interesting grandchildren of the Loretta & JC were born in the latter part of the 20th century.
Continuing, Dear Reader, the awful and horrific consequences of the Fukushima (2011) and the Chernobyl (1986) nuclear power plant disasters are still ongoing. Those two nuclear power plants did not possess the concrete containment buildings for their reactors. The human casualty rate is still climbing for both catastrophes. The flora and fauna will be greatly depressed for years to come.
Conversely, the TMI meltdown caused no significant environmental degradation or increased injury to any person. Not even the plant operators, who stayed on duty, were adversely affected! It has been said that this “lack” of detrimental public and environmental impact was due primarily to the concrete containment structures that were built to secure and to protect life from any nuclear accident! Meanwhile, the flora and fauna continue to flourish and thrive in and around TMI.
Not to be lost, Dear Reader, single persons, who are often not married by the differing branching of circumstances, are also very, very dear to Our Saviour Jesus, Holy Mary, and St. Joseph, who are The Holy Family! Indeed, good Catholic families have opened their doors to single persons throughout history.
Forever, the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is the Sacred Home, “La Santa Familia,” for everyone! Viva La Familia! And ever, long live the Domestic Catholic Church of the loving, forgiving, and prayerful Loretta & JC and all their relatives and descendants!
May the souls of Loretta Martha (2004) and James Cavanaugh (2011), and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the Mercy of God, Rest in God’s Peace. Amen!
St Francis of Assisi, assist us!
St. Anthony of Padua, help us!
Blessed Junipero, pray for us!
St. Padre Pio, guide us!
St. Claire of Assisi, intercede for us!
St. Maxmillian Kobe, guard us!
Blessed Michael Giedroyc, pray for us!
Stay-tuned for “The Be-In” on Thursday, May 10.
Peace & JAMLY,
hobo euie