This January 19th marked the 10th Anniversary of my beloved husband Frank’s passing. Frank was known to many in Communion and Liberation for his triumph over drug addiction and homelessness to living a life of joy and sanctity in the full embrace of the Church through our companionship. I met Frank through a mutual friend, and we married on July 19, 2003. We were closely accompanied by Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete and others in the movement who trusted our strong desire to be together and God’s preferential love for us. We were blessed with two sons, Micah and Martin, and Frank’s second chance at life also afforded him the opportunity to reconnect with his two adult children, Marshall and Wendi. Frank traveled the CL circuit giving talks about his conversion at adult, CL University and GS (high school) gatherings. All who met him were moved by his story and many became Frank’s close friends. He was a man of mercy, having lived such a wayward life and been forgiven.

Frank’s life continued to prosper. He got a job that he loved, working in the IT department at a business loan company in Manhattan and had his own side business fixing computers. He became the leader of his School of Community and eventually the responsible for the New York CL Community, and he also carried the Cross in the Way of the Cross Procession over the Brooklyn Bridge every Good Friday.

In 2013, Frank was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of retreating into a shell, Frank decided to offer all of his sufferings for the world. He made several YouTube videos asking others to join him. He continued to share his experience of faith, telling everyone, “Cancer has to get God’s permission to take me out.” On Good Friday, 2014, greatly weakened by the progression of his illness, Frank could only hold the Cross at the ceremony’s beginning. But Frank's love for God and trust in His mercy never wavered. He spent his last days in Calvary Hospital in Brooklyn, surrounded by friends and family who came to comfort him, but left comforted by him.

In 2020, I published a book about Frank’s life, Convicted by Mercy. That same year, I left New York City and moved upstate to Rochester, NY with my two sons. It was a hard move, but being a widow in Brooklyn with two teenage sons during COVID was even harder.

This year, for Frank’s 10th Anniversary, I gathered with friends at Regina Pacis Church in Brooklyn to participate in a special Mass for Frank celebrated by our dear friend, Fr. Rich Veras. I was moved by how the closeness of these friendships has not diminished over time. I felt so accompanied it was impossible to be sad. Later that weekend, in Port Jervis, NY, Fr. Anthony Giacona celebrated a second 10th Anniversary Mass for Frank with members of our small fraternity group who decided to vacation together over the MLK holiday weekend. Fr. Anthony remarked that many of the people at our Mass were also mentioned in my book. Again, the value of our companionship was brought home to me. We are part of a great communion where nothing is lost. When I returned to Rochester, since our School of Community was ahead of schedule, I offered to give a witness about Frank’s life to a group of people who’d never met him. Fr. Peter Mottola, faithful attendee and pastor of the church where our School of Community meets, gave a full front page spread about the meeting in his parish bulletin. The meeting room was packed. I gave my witness about Frank’s life and noticed that these people who’d never met him had the same reaction as those who’d heard him speak over 10 years ago.

The flourishing of Frank’s life 10 years after his passing has witnessed to me the greatness of our companionship, stronger than death, and the truth, goodness and beauty of God’s merciful love.

Rita, Rochester, NY

Additional articles sharing Frank’s profound witness:

My Friendship With Frank
Frank, Future Leader
"I Had a Fraternity and His Name was Frank"