In recent weeks, we have had a lot of Funerals at Saint Paul’s, for parishioners of the Cathedral, friends and brother priests.
Bishop McManus celebrated the Funerals of Father Marty Donahue and Father Connie O’Leary on February 2nd and 11th. Father O’Leary’s burial took place during some heavy snow showers at Saint John’s Cemetary
Worcester seminarian John LaRochelle's grandmother, Cecile LaRochelle, was buried from Immaculate Conception Church in Holyoke. This is from the main stained glass window in the Church, which depicts the mills which dominated Holyoke in Cecile’s youth.
David Lebudzinski, who died this morning of cancer, was in the seventh grade when I arrived at my first assignment at Sacred Heart in Webster Massachusetts in 1981. David is the one in the cap on the right and he later became a great medical doctor and was a devoted husband (pray for his wife Julie-Ann) and a man of deep faith. Here he is some 37 years ago at the Aquarium in Boston with the other altar servers and a young “Father Jim” kneeling at the center in the front.
Joe Brady, longtime devoted sacristan of this Cathedral Church was buried from Saint Paul's on January 30th, while the Funeral Mass for Eileen Flannery, one of our most devoted and generous parishioners, was celebrated on February 12th. Here is the homily I preached at Eileen's Funeral.
Seventy three years ago, William and Rita brought their little baby to Church in to be Baptized. The Priest took water in a small golden shell and pouring it over the child’s forehead said: Ego te baptizo, in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sanctus. I baptize you, Eileen, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Thus began a great journey, as Eileen was joined to the death and rising of Christ Jesus. She would learn how to pray, to make the sign of the cross (struggling to hit the right shoulder first), how to kneel down and say her prayers, to go to confession and to receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
Day by day and year by year, he came to know Christ Jesus. She learned to love, to forgive and to live in the model of her Lord and Savior.And she learned that lesson well.
For seldom have I met a woman for whom faith came more naturally. The presence of Christ in her life was as natural as the air she breathed and her belief in the Gospel and the Church were as sure as the summer sun and the winter snows.
Was there ever a parishioner of this Cathedral Parish as quick to say yes when the Rector asked her to serve the latest project of the Saint Paul’s Club or anything else he asked her to do?
And was there ever a woman who faced the struggles of life with the such accepting faith. Maybe it was her Irish heritage, but I suspect there was something more to it even that that, for Eileen always reminded me of Martha from today’s Gospel, every willing to undertake the latest task, dedicated to the latest project and convinced of the latest initiative. But there was also something remarkably life Mary, the sister of Lazarus, about her as well. Mary, who chose the better part, sitting at the feat of the Lord and faithful to listening to his voice.
Those who knew Eileen know what faithfulness meant, faithfulness to the Sacraments, faithfulness to the Church and faithfulness to this Cathedral.
I think of that monumental window, which depicts the first years of the life of Saint Paul, Eileen;s pattern and the patron of this Cathedral Parish. Atop the window is the face of Christ, who looks down on each of us and every parishioner of this Catherdral Church, calling them to faithfulness to Christ and to his Church.
And that faithfulness in the life of Eileen came from somewhere. It came from the waters which poured over the head of that little baby seventy-three years ago. And it came from the Body of the Lord: the Holy Communion she received at this altar and the Gospel of love which she heard preached from this pulpit,
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I know that there were many gifts which Eileen gave to each of you throughout the years. But today she gives you the greatest gift of all. For today she reminds each one of us of the journey we’re on. It starts in the arms of our parents…it starts at the font of blessed water where we are first joined to Christ and to his cross. And then it takes all kinds of twists and turns, sometimes bringing us closer to God and sometimes leading us away from him.
But today Eileen reminds us where that journey ends. It ends in the same place it began: before Christ, who will judge each one of us on the last day. Christ, who calls us to turn away from selfishness and sin, and cling to faithful love. Christ, who urges us to forgive, even as we ask to be forgiven. Christ, who laid down his life for the world, and asks us to do the same. Christ, who loved us faithfully and then commanded: love others as I have loved you.
For the greatest memorial to Eileen will not be the biggest Celtic Cross in Saint John’s Cemetery. It will not even be the wonderful stories you will tell of her, or even the moments you will recall her wise and faithful words. No, the greatest memorial to Eileen, will be the life of faithful love which you are invited to live with the Son of God and his Church, the same journey which we pray that Eileen has walked, into the arms of Christ Jesus, her merciful Lord.
Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them!
