Father Steichen passed away February 1, 2022. As far as I know, he was in his 80’s? Father served Sacred Heart Chapel in Apple Valley, CA. a private chapel. A Traditional Catholic friend of mine introduced him to me about 30 years ago. He became disenchanted with the changes brought about by the Council and went Independent. Believe it or not, he told me, that he used to go on walks with pope John XXIII. Like most priests, he had a hard time in believing that these popes were the AntiChrist’s of the Bible. Since I was involved in preaching the Second coming of Christ, I made sure that I made the rounds to all the Traditional chapels, churches I could get to. I bring this up because this is what brought us back together again.

When Mel Gibson opened up a hall, he had on his new property for Mass I found myself going there. Things were going pretty well for me until a Father Somerville temporarily filled in and I made the mistake of giving him one of my Parousia cards. This didn’t go over very well with management, and I was told to leave. I bring this up because little did I believe that I would be coming back there again. Years later, after Mel built his Church a friend of mine, who also new Fr. Steichen told me he was serving Mel’s Church and that I should join him and return to the now new Church. In asking who was now in charge there he gave me a new name other than the person who asked me to leave. I figured by then most of the people had forgotten about me anyway, so what do I have to lose? I’m sorry, but I have to tell you, my story on this. 

In returning everything went smooth and Father was happy to see me again. Also, Hutton Gibson was now living there as well. Hutton had a newsletter that I subscribed to and one day I wrote a rebuttal to one of his articles and at the time he was on his second book and instead of writing me he mentioned me in his 2nd book (The Enemy is still Here) but did not mention my name, referring to me as that “self-proclaimed prophet from Los Angeles.”  I went public on the preaching of the Lords return in 1973. By now Hutton was in a wheelchair and stopped printing his newsletter. After Mass we had a patio where we could go to for coffee and snacks. There was only one table on the patio, and it was reserved for Hutton and his friends. Mel was still on location somewhere shooting a movie and I was worried what will happen if he remembers me when he comes back.Now as you know, Mel had a large family and believe it or not, years ago I attended both of Fr. Schell’s Mass’s and the one in the Valley was a protestant church called the Chapel of the Flowers? 

Now Mel and his Family attend this church but at this time he was out of town shooting a movie and Hutton would bring in Mel’s children. Hutton was living in Santa Monica at this time. The usher at the time was a guy named Steve Kucharik. He used to say the Rosary and usher at the same time. So, I said to him you pray, and I’ll sit the people and some of those people were Mel’s children. I remember asking Hutton if we could go over some things privately on matter of faith. We agreed to meet the following Saturday morning at his apartment, however it had slipped his mine and when I got there his wife told me he went somewhere and back then we had no cell phones, so, I figured he wasn’t interested.

Fast forward back to the Church. As I was coming back from communion, this little girl, about 7 years old, came running up the aisle, right towards me and I moved from being hit but so did she and I almost tripped over myself. After Mass, as I started to head for the patio, this young pretty lady approached me and started to apologize for her daughter and I said,” my football moves saved me.” Then said something stupid to her like, shame on you. Unfortunately, she wasn’t smiling after that. Well guess what, on the way out to the car my friend said, do you know who that was that ran into you, no, who is she. That’s Mel’s granddaughter. Wow I said and I said something stupid to her mom. What’s her name, Hanna he said? I had scheduled a trip to St. Josephs in Las Vegas the following week and won’t be able to apologize for two weeks. Wow, Mel’s daughter. As we were on the way home, I began to realize that Hanna had to be one of Mel’s children I was directing to where she could sit at Father Schell’s Mass. Unbelievable, I thought. But then again this gives me a reason to talk to her. On my return to the Church and after Mass I approached her and said that I had to ask her a question, so, I asked her if she remembered going to Father Schell’s Mass, she acknowledges, then I told her I was one of the ushers there at the time telling her and others where they could sit. She looked a little bewildered, then I told her that I was only joking when I said, “shame on you” and went for my coffee.A short time later, I got a phone call from a friend who has a bookstore, his web site is “Catholic counterpoint.com” a John Maffei, out of Pennsylvania. He found out from other friends who new Hutton that I was going to the same Mass as Hutton. Hutton had been living in Pennsylvania and left a lot of books with John and John wasn’t sure if he wanted to continueselling them, so, he asked me to ask him since neither one of us had his phone number. 
Now I did meet Hutton briefly since he was back to California, and it was over a funeral which was conducted at their Chapel and as we were leaving Hutton was close by outside the chapel, so I went over to him and told him who I was as we shook hands, then I said, “next time you write about me, please mention my name,” and we both laughed.
So, the following Sunday After Mass I looked for an opportunity to go over to his table as one of his friends left the table, which was seated next to him, that’s when I jumped in and told him what John wanted to know, and he said, sell them, ha. Hutton, I said, I know you’re a sede vacante from the theological viewpoint, but I have the Biblical reason for it if you’re interested, and he said sure bring it in. Well, the next Sunday I brought my literature in for him and as I was having coffee on the patio, I see this guy with a beard pushing Hutton, (It’s usually his lady caretaker) coming my way and as they started to pass, I said to him, “I got something for you, and the person pushing him said, “He’s got something for you.”. Right away I recognized his voice, it was Mel. I never saw him with a beard before so that threw me off and I dodged a bullet because he didn’t recognize me, and he just went back into the chapel office. About two weeks later I managed to have coffee with Hutton at his table and as we were going over my writings, Mel came over and joined us, Hutton made me give him one of my Parousia cards and I wound up lecturing him on the Status of the Church. One thing about Mel, he did everything for Dad.One more note, Jim Caviezel would drop by once in a while, so I gave Mel some literature for him but doubt that he did, and I regret not talking to him when I had a chance. Also, Governor Brown’s term was running down, and I suggested to Mel that we get Jim to run for Governor, and Mel said, “Does he want to?” Well, that killed that.
Fathers’ health was failing. He was doing Apple Valley and Agoura Hills. I was fortunate to spend three days working on his property with a friend in Arizona where he moved to.Fathers’ main thesis was for us to always strive to be Saints. So long Father Ray, it was my pleasure knowing you and hope to see you again, soon.
Grace be with us all, in Christ, Joseph B. D. Saraceno