October 12, 2009
More than 150 Paulist priests, friends and family members gathered at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Oak Ridge, NJ, to celebrate the lives of 70 Paulist priests who were recently reinterred in the parish cemetery during Oct. 5. Mass.
“We come to celebrate the reinternment of 70 men who gave faithful service through the Paulist Fathers,” said Paulist president Father John F. Duffy, who presided at the liturgy. “We come with love, and with fond memories.”
The remains of the priests were transferred to their new resting place from the cemetery at nearby Mount Paul. The Paulists purchased Mount Paul in 1924 as the Paulist novice house. The facility became a retreat center when the novitiate moved to Washington, D.C., in 1997. The retreat ministry was unfortunately not able to cover property taxes and maintenance costs.
The nearly 1,200 acres of pristine woodland – including hiking trails and 12-acre pond – is nestled between the Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area and the Mahlon Dickerson Reservation was purchased by the State of New Jersey to insure the area’s continued preservation.
The monies paid to the Paulists from New Jersey’s Green Acres fund will help fuel Paulist ministries in the areas of evangelization, reconciliation, ecumenism, interfaith relations and young adult ministry.
The Paulists will remain on the property until July 2010.
“It’s the end of an era,” said Father Sean Foley, CSP, who has been in charge of Mount Paul for the past nine years, “but it’s time for us to be moving on.”
The Paulists have had a longstanding relationship with St. Thomas parish, and pastor Monsignor John E. Fitzpatrick said he is glad to see the relationship will continue. It is still not unusual to come to St. Thomas on the weekend and find a Paulist presiding at Mass.
“I love the Paulist Fathers,” said Monsignor Fitzpatrick, a priest of the Diocese of Paterson. “They have been part of my life for the 36 years I have been at St. Thomas. Looking at all of the Paulists who are now buried here, I am taken aback by how many I knew personally.”
It was not lost on Father Duffy that the day of the Mass was the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
“We give thanks for 70 Paulists who were instruments of God’s peace,” he said during the homily. “They have gone before us as signs of faith.”
- Father Walter Anthony, CSP
- Father Robert C. Barrett, CSP
- Father Donald L. Barry, CSP
- Father Michael R. Binette, CSP
- Father John J. Bradley, CSP
- Father Alvin R Burggraff, CSP
- Father John F. Carvlin, CSP
- Father James B. Corbett, CSP
- Father Thomas E. Comber, CSP
- Father Thomas J. Connellan, CSP
- Father Patrick J. Curtin, CSP
- Father John J. Dimond, CSP
- Father James E. Dixon, CSP
- Father John M. Donelon, CSP
- Father Frederick T. Draeger, CSP
- Father Joseph H. Finegan, CSP
- Father James F. Finley, CSP
- Father Henry P. Fisher, CSP
- Father James F. Fisher, CSP
- Father Maurice M. Fitzgerald, CSP
- Father Joseph P. Flynn, CSP
- Father Joseph R. Foley, CSP
- Father Donal F. Forrester, CSP
- Father Michael X. Frassrand, CSP
- Father Joseph V. Gallagher, CSP
- Father Edward J. Gleason, CSP
- Father Walter T. Gouch, CSP
- Father James J. Harrington, CSP
- Father Joseph F.X. Hayes, CSP
- Father George F. Helmich, CSP
- Father Vincent F. Holden, CSP
- Father Michael J. Hunt, CSP
- Father Francis C. Keyes, CSP
- Father Paul H. Lewis, CSP
- Father Martin B. Lombardi, CSP
- Father William A. Lynahan, CSP
- Father Edward J. Lyons, CSP
- Father Richard A. Malloy, CSP
- Father William F. Manning, CSP
- Father Francis P. Mannion, CSP
- Father Harold J. Masterson, CSP
- Father Thomas J. McCormack, CSP
- Father Steven F. McFarland, CSP
- Father Joseph T. McGinn, CSP
- Father Francis T. McGough, CSP
- Father James Arthur McGuire, CSP
- Father Maurice E. McMahon, CSP
- Father Francis R. McNab, CSP
- Father James A McVann, CSP
- Father John D. Mitchell, CSP
- Father J.R. Goldwin Moir, CSP
- Father Robert E. Moran, CSP
- Father Kevin D. Munn, CSP
- Father J. Edward Nugent, CSP
- Father James A. Noon, CSP
- Father Justin J. O’Brien, CSP
- Father Norman J. O’Connor, CSP
- Father John C. Reynolds, CSP
- Father Richard Russell Ryan, CSP
- Father Edward A. Sheehy, CSP
- Father John B. Sheerin, CSP
- Father Arthur F. Spear, CSP
- Father John N. Tarrant, CSP
- Father James W. Tiedman, CSP
- Father Joseph F. Troy, CSP
- Father John Overend, CSP
- Father James G. Walsh, CSP
- Father John P. Wheland, CSP
- Father Charles Skomro White, CSP
- Father James J. Young, CSP