And he did. Abraham took his firstborn and only Son, and raised the knife to sacrifice him to the will of God. Now, God stopped his hand, recognized his devotion and blessed Abraham and his descendants. But first, he required Abraham's willingness to sacrifice that which he loved the most.
And so with our forebears for a 150 years, who have worshipped on the spot we occupy on this morning.
“The roof was finished, the basement roughly fitted up and the first mass celebrated on Sunday, July 4, 1869, on which day was performed the ceremony of laying the corner stone by Right Reverend JJ Williams, the sermon being preached by Reverend James Fitton of East Boston,” Father John Power, our founding pastor wrote in 1873.
“The various Catholic societies of the city,” he continued, “rendered escort to the Bishop on the occasion and assisted in maintaining order. The ceremonies were conducted according to the Roman Pontifical, and one of the Worcester bands furnished instrumental music as accompaniment to the singing. The exercises were interesting, the weather was delightful, a large concourse of people present, and the celebration passed off in a manner satisfactory to all concerned. Regular services were held from this time forth, and Saint Paul’s took its place among the parish churches of Worcester.”
From then on, until now, for a century and half, the Mass has been offered here, each and every day, despite the sacrifice.
As Worcester’s young sons went off to die in the First World War, Father Goggin offered the Perfect Sacrifice in this place for their safety and safe return.
As we suffered the devastation of the Great Depression, the rich and the poor alike ascended Chatham street to beg God to show them a way to get through it all, as Father McGann received them, and led the people in feeding and clothing them in their need.
As the Second World War sent our sons to fight in Germany, Japan, Italy and the South pacific, Father Slattery and Monsignor Kananagh inspired the people to light candles for them and offer endless prayers for the defeat of Evil and the triumph of the Good.
As Father Elwood and the same Monsignor Kavanaugh before him, welcomed a new Diocese and a new Bishop Wright, who like his successors, Bishops Flanagan and Harrington, Riley and McManus, would gather the people of Worcester to the Cathedra in this Church and weave their voices into one holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith, a song whose strains perdure to this very day.
As on the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and Monsignor Daley welcomed the overflowing masses to enter these doors, weeping in sorrow at the death of the young President in whom they had placed such hope.
Then through the chaotic 60’s and the Vietnam War, Father Burke and his associates tried to help people to make sense of it all and to beg God to give us some peace.
As even today, like the Irish immigrants who came before them, Ghanaians and Dominicans, Colombians and Ecuadorians come to follow in the steps of Abraham and join the crosses of their lives to the Perfect Sacrifice of Praise offered upon this Altar, and to make sense of it all, in the shadow of the Cross on Calvary Hill.
As today, we continue what was so well begun in the days of Father Power, to proclaim the Catholic Faith, to Live the Catholic Faith and to spread the Catholic Faith under the patronage of Saint Paul and in the image of Abraham, who offered all he had to the glory of God and in obedience to his Holy Will.
Saint Paul, Apostle to the Church in Worcester, Pray for Us!
