Dear Parishioners and Friends,
Well, the day has arrived – the fortieth anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood on September 8, 1984. The Franciscans of the former Holy Name Province never made too much of ordination anniversaries; they put more emphasis on the jubilees of our profession of vows. So stay tuned: the Golden Jubilee of Profession for both Fr. Bill and me will occur in 2027, since we were novitiate classmates.
What makes this particular occasion a bigger deal than otherwise, has to do with my family’s custom of gettng together for one’s 70th birthday. I’m the last of my brothers and sisters to reach that milestone, so five out of the six Shreenan siblings are here this weekend, along with some cousins and other family members. The fact that I was ordained two days before my 30th birthday adds an additional (if not greater) meaning to this celebration.
I remember the details of my ordination quite clearly, since, as you probably know by now, I never leave any detail unnoticed! It took place on a beautiful sunny morning in Silver Spring, Maryland at the chapel of Holy Trinity Mission Seminary, the headquarters of the Washington Theological Union. Sadly, many of the persons and places associated with my ordination are no longer, and I am acutely aware of their absence.
I was ordained by Bishop James P. Lyke, O.F.M., who was then the Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland. Later he became the Archbishop of Atlanta in 1991, but died of cancer just a year and a half later. His death was a great loss to the Franciscans and the American episcopacy.
One other friar was ordained with me, Fr. Tony Gigliello, who subsequently left the priesthood and also died several years ago.
Many other friars of Holy Name Province, who were present at the ordination, have since died, as have several members of my family; all of whom I remember with gratitude and great fondness on this day.
Now let’s move back to the present. Just as it did for my ordination Mass and First Mass (which took place in Buffalo on September 16, 1984, and coincidentally the 40th anniversary of my parents’ wedding), music played an important role, and I spent a lot of time and effort to make sure it was as beautiful and meaningful as possible.
Things haven’t changed much! So today, at the 10:00 AM Mass, our choir returns from its summer break, and there are several pieces they will perform that have some personal meaning for me, which I would like explain briefly.
Since September 8 is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I wanted to include a Marian choral work in the liturgy; thus I chose “Song of Mary” by Dr. Charles Callahan. This piece was first sung by our choir at our Service of Lessons and Carols in 2022. It is a setting of the Magnificat, and it was composed for the Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II in Central Park on October 7, 1995. It is also the piece that led me to get to know Dr. Callahan, and who very graciously composed another Marian-themed work for that same Lessons and Carols – “Christmas Antiphon.” Sadly, Charlie passed away suddenly last Christmas from Covid, but he is fondly remembered for his wonderful, tuneful compositions, like the one we will hear this Sunday.
Another piece is the beautiful Communion motet, “Draw us in the Spirit’s tether” by Harold Friedell, who was the organist and choir director of St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York City from 1947 to 1958. Mr. Friedell died suddenly at the age 52, but left us some magnificent music, especially this little gem. I got to know his son, David, who was a sales representative for M. P. Möller Organs at the time when the Möller organ at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in New York City was installed in the late 1980s.
Many of you have commented on how much you enjoy singing the music I’ve composed, for which I am very grateful and pleasantly surprised. Some have said, “I didn’t know you were a composer,” and my response has been, “I didn’t know, either!” But a few months ago, Gabriel Löfvall suggested that I try my hand at composing a piece for the choir to sing. The result is today’s Call to Worship – a setting of verses from Psalm 96, “O sing to the Lord a new song.” I hope you like it. I’ve enjoyed setting the Mass parts as well as several Responsorial Psalms to music over the past year, but don’t expect a symphony any time soon!
Our opening hymn this weekend is the same one I used at my First Mass: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty.” It’s one of my favorite hymns and, because everybody knows it, I hope you will raise the roof singing it, as we give praise and thanks to God for all that has been and will be. Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Blessings on your week ahead!
Fr. Tim Shreenan, O.F.M.
Pastor