QUEEN OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL CHURCH • JACKSON • MICHIGAN

M O N D A Y | D E C E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 0 | 1 1 A . M .

Mass of the Resurrection Ron Mason

He was a unique and much-admired person. Words don’t adequately describe him and for those who know him well, words – without humor – will never suffice to tell the authentic story of this outstanding man.

Part of the Ron Mason story is told below.

Ronald William Mason had just embarked on fulfilling his life dream of serving the Catholic Church as an ordained Deacon when he died from complications of COVID-19 on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. Very young at heart, Ron had just reached his 61st birthday.

Professionally, Ron was an expert in public relations, marketing communications and events. He recently retired from Consumers Energy’s Corporate Communications Department after a storied and impactful career. He was beloved at Consumers by people at all levels of the company and was known for his wit, ability to execute flawlessly and for his attention to detail.

Earlier in his career, Ron made contributions and friends working at the American Lung Association of SE Michigan, Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan, Guardian Industries in Durham, NC and Broder Brothers Public Relations. He won numerous awards and much industry recognition throughout his career. Ron’s prowess in public relations was evident in his early accomplishment of establishing the Public Relations Student Society of America at Wayne State University, recruiting members to the fledgling chapter who would become lifelong friends. Ron was the Chapter’s first President. He majored in Mass Communications and Journalism at WSU and graduated in 1984.

Ron’s success in athletics impacted the trajectory of his life. He attended Wayne Memorial High School where Ron was captain of the Cross Country and Track team. To this day, Ron holds the record for 4 x 800 M track relay at Wayne Memorial. Ron received 12 varsity letters in cross country and track and field. He earned an athletic scholarship for cross country, track & field to Wayne State University. His teams received two first team, All-Region citations in the NCAA Great Lakes region Cross Country Championships and 10 track and Field All Conference Citations in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate conference. Ron was a 2006 nominee to the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame.

Family, Faith and Community were central to Ron’s life and purpose

Family was foremost to Ron. He was so grateful that he had found (with a little help from a well-meaning matchmaker) and married the love of his life – Rose Beafore. There were many wisecracks about this beautiful hot-blooded Italian meeting the Scottish rapscallion, Ron. Grandpa Smith told Ron how to woo a woman in the old country. “No woman can turn down a marriage proposal if you bring along a bagpiper!” Inspired by that advice, Ron donned a kilt and led an entire bagpipe band and a hundred friends on a parade though Hamtramck. When the happy mob arrived at Rose’s home on Lumpkin and she emerged to see what was causing the racket, Ron got on one knee and proposed. She said yes! A few years later Gianna Rose was born and quickly became the apple of her father’s eye. Andy rounded out the family – a baseball buddy and another source of pride and joy. Lola the dog was a key member of the family too. Ron fulfilled his dream of having a loving family.

Rose, Gianna and Andy were together in Ron’s hospital room for conversations before what they thought would be a few days of medically induced rest and intubation on a ventilator.

Ron gestured to his family and told the health care workers and the family that “You are my whole world.” When Ron was not responding to treatment a few days later, the family was able to don full PPE to be present with Ron as he passed.

Faith was equally important to Ron. Since the pandemic began Ron, brought Holy Communion to elderly people who would watch the Mass on livestream but could not leave their homes. Sometimes, Ron was the only person these shut-ins connected with and he made sure they had food and spirited conversation from the porch. This Fall he started teaching 8th grade religious Ed classes on Sunday morning, preparing young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation next Fall. Ron had a gift for connecting with these hard-to-reach teens.

He woke in the wee hours of the night twice a week to keep a prayer vigil in the Adoration Chapel at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Church in Jackson. He would pray fervently and created fellowship with the other keepers of the vigil. Through prayer and meditation, Ron heard a calling. In 2019 he made the decision to pursue the vocation of ordained Ministry of the Diaconate in the Diocese of Lansing. He was doing coursework through Sienna Heights University. He had completed a full year of the 2-year academic program heading for four more years of formation.

In the community, Ron loved to be Santa Claus for many different groups. He worked with adults seeking religious education who were

developmentally challenged. Ron was their Santa and each and every member of the class got to sit on Ron’s lap and talk about their dreams. Some of those wishes came from pretty large, older fellows, but Ron treated them to the wonder and delight of sitting on Santa’s lap. Santa Ron visited sick and injured individuals leaving home on Christmas Day while Rose cooked dinner to cheer families. Gianna or Andy would chauffeur the right jolly old elf from place to place. For the last five years, Ron was Santa at an ecumenical Community Christmas dinner for the elderly and the poor on Christmas Day visiting each table to make merry and bring joy.

Ron served on the Boards of Directors of the Wayne State Alumni Association and Children’s Leukemia Foundation. He was a literacy mentor, volunteer for many causes and a play-write for the New Detroit Science Center’s Children’s Live Theater Engineering Career event.

Ron loved carving elaborate pumpkins, telling Ghost stories, movie quotes and doing nice things for others. His favorite snacks included Twinkies and Ho-Hos and he has given advice about the healing powers of Popeye’s Chicken. Ron could consistently kick a 35-yard field goal but baseball held a special place in his heart. Ron hit a 340-foot home run in the American Heart Association Home Run Derby Challenge at Tiger Stadium in 1997. He threw out the first pitch in a Lansing Lugnuts game. And believe it or not, Ron encountered Reggie Jackson in an airport and asked him for an autograph. Reggie was holding a hot dog at the time. Ron offered to hold the hot dog while Reggie signed a napkin and Ron took a bite of Reggie’s hot dog!

Ron was born in Detroit, Michigan to Margaret (Smith) and William Charles Mason both of whom pre-deceased him as did infant sisters Sally and Sharon. Ron is survived by his loving wife Rose Beafore Mason and children Gianna Rose, and Andrew Ronald. Ron also leaves his siblings Diane Fogarty of Wayne, MI, Theresa Yurmanovic of South Lyon and brother Bill of Canton as well as many nieces and nephews and loving in-laws.

To know Ron Mason is to love him.

Entrance Hymn Soon and Very Soon

Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King, Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King, Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we’re goin’ to see the King!

No more cryin’ there we are goin’ to see the King, No more cryin’ there we are goin’ to see the King, No more cryin’ there we are goin’ to see the King, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we’re goin’ to see the King!

No more dying there we are goin’ to see the King, No more dying there we are goin’ to see the King, No more dying there we are goin’ to see the King, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we’re goin’ to see the King!

Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King, Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King, Soon and very soon we are goin’ to see the King, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, we’re are goin’ to see the King!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.

Introductory Rites

Greeting

Sprinkling with Holy Water

Opening Prayer

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading Isaiah 25 : 6 – 9

Read by EJ Pappas, dear friend

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, The web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever.

The Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces; The reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.

On that day it will be said:

“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the Lord to whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

The Word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Response to the First Reading Jeremiah 31 : 3

I have loved you with an everlasting love, I have called you and you are mine.

Second Reading 2 Timothy 4 : 6 – 8

Read by Mary Zatina, dear friend

A reading from the Second Letter of Paul to Timothy

I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.

From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Word of the Lord.

Response: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Luke 23 : 33 – 43

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke

When they came to the place called the Skull, they cru-cified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah of God.”

Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.”

The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Response: Praise to you Lord, Jesus Christ.

Communion Hymn What Wondrous Love is This?

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul? What won-drous love is this, O my soul? What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, to God and to the Lamb I will sing, to God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am, while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and through eternity I’ll sing on.

Eulogy Dear friend Kevin Prihod

Concluding Rites

Prayer

Prayer of Commendation

Song of Farewell This Day in New Jerusalem

Refrain:

May the angels welcome you to paradise. May the martyrs greet you on your way. May you see the face of the Lord this day.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Closing Hymn Jesus, Remember Me When You Come into Your Kingdom

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus, remember me when you come in to your kingdom.

Pallbearers

Gianna MasonAndrew Mason

John Beafore, Jr.Kevin Kochen

Frank RagonaRichard Williams

Bagpipe Send-Off

Homily

Prayers of the Faithful

Read by Renee Ragona, dear cousin

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Preparation of Gifts

Preparation Hymn Where Charity & Love Prevail

Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found; Brought here together by Christ’s love, by love are we thus bound.

With grateful joy and holy fear His charity we learn; Let us with heart and mind and soul now love him in return.

Forgive we now each other’s faults as we our faults confess; And let us love each other well in Christian holiness.

Presentation of the Gifts

Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer

Sign of Peace