Father Martin Malloy came to Texarkana, Texas straight from Ireland to serve as an Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart Church. One of his first duties was to give a talk to the PTA about Thanksgiving. Not being well versed in the American traditions of the Autumn holiday, Father Malloy gave a very informative talk after researching the history of our nation’s forefather’s interactions with the Natives who taught them the values of harvest.
Waiting for a local parade to start, I overheard the bawdy conversations of a group of teenagers and then noticed Father Malloy standing near a pedestal trying to obscure his presence by reading a newspaper held up in front of his face. To encourage the group to speak in a more courteous manner, I walked over and said loudly, “Good morning, Father!”
The humbled group took the hint and toned down their rhetoric.
Embarrassing moments continued to follow Father Malloy as he became integrated into American culture. Taking some Boy Scouts to an outdoor movie seemed a proper entertainment situation for the young boys until a risque preview scene of almost naked Gina Lolabrigida appeared on the screen.
Visiting me in the Hospital after the Texas birth of Duyn, Father Malloy carefully turned his back on my roommate who was breastfeeding her infant in full-fashioned Gina glory.
Father Malloy has remained in my thoughts and prayers over the years and I can still hear his Irish accent addressing ladies whose names he could not recall as “Misses”, his polite version of Mrs.