St. Mary's begins centennial year

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

SHREWSBURY – Parishioners of St. Mary Parish shared what makes their church community so special at the 100th anniversary celebration Sunday.
One parishioner joked that he’s been there the whole century – and he wasn’t far off. However, another man, a bit younger, was honored as the oldest lifelong parishioner.
Opening a year-long centennial observance, Bishop McManus celebrated the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass in a packed church. Concelebrants included the pastor, Msgr. Michael F. Rose; the associate pastor, Father Jose F. Carvajal; and priests who grew up here or once served here. Permanent deacons assisted and parishioners participated in various ways. Afterwards, they socialized at an outdoor reception.
Bishop McManus spoke at the end of Mass, referring to the day’s Scripture readings and saying that when the parish proclaims the Gospel, celebrates sacraments, feeds the poor and instructs students, these efforts manifest that God is merciful.
The bishop recalled Pope Francis describing himself as a sinner and said “we must acknowledge we are sinners,” or we wouldn’t need salvation. The pope describes the Church as a field hospital where people receive God’s mercy, he said.
Msgr. Rose preached about receiving and sharing God’s mercy.
“Moses always called (God’s people) back to a renewed faithfulness” (Ex 32:7-11, 13-14), he said. He said the centennial gives people at St. Mary’s the opportunity to “remember again who we are, where we have come from and where we are going.” They too can repent and be strengthened by Jesus, like St. Paul (I Tm 1:12-17) and show mercy like God, as illustrated by the parables of the lost sheep, coin and sons (Lk 15:1-32).
The pastor asked whether the image of the father welcoming home the Prodigal Son can illustrate “who we become in the next hundred years.” Can the present eucharistic revival in the U.S. Catholic Church be a time to welcome those not attending Mass? Can parishioners draw young people into living the faith, and reach out to the local community and developing countries, “especially with our now-25-year-old relationship with St. Michel’s in Haiti”?
Msgr. Rose told The Catholic Free Press of some of the parish’s present work, including education, “commitment to good liturgy,” respect life and social justice committees, and support for local outreach efforts, including St. Anne’s Human Services at the other Catholic parish in town.
“St. Mary’s has been such a great blessing to our private lives and to our community, because of the religious services they provide and all the ways they reach out,” said Madeline Iacobucci, a member for 52 years.
“It’s such a welcoming community for those with disabilities, especially autism,” commented Gregory Rosen. He said he has been here four and a half years, and the parish has helped him reach out to people who have autism, like he does.
“It’s home; it’s a beautiful community, lovely people,” said Chantal Kassa, who has been at St. Mary’s since 2011 with her husband, Harold. Some of their five children were altar servers Sunday.
“It’s like family; we’ve been here over 50 years,” said Mary Burgess.
“It’s always been a great community – the people, the school,” added her husband, Stephen.
Samuel Beaton, 11, and his sister Lillian, 9, students at St. Mary Elementary School, shared those sentiments. Asked what they like about St. Mary’s, he said, “We get to go to Mass every month.” (They attend school Masses monthly, and Lord’s Day Masses on weekends.)
“The priests are nice,” commented Lillian, and Samuel said the teachers are nice too.
“We are so fortunate to have Msgr. Rose; that’s the best thing about St. Mary’s,” raved Judy Conley, a parishioner for 46 years. “He’s just a wonderful, caring, true priest.”
“It’s a beautiful church, and well run by beautiful priests,” said Donald Maloney, 94.
He joked, “I’ve been here all 100 years.” Actually, he lived in Worcester at first, and came here in 1930, he said.
“My aunt took me here when I was a little kid,” he said, and later he was a lector, commentator, and choir member.
Thomas Keegan, 87, is thought to be the oldest lifelong parishioner. (He and his wife, Anne, and Sister Lillian Reilly, a Sister of St. Joseph who grew up in the parish, brought up the offertory gifts at Sunday’s Mass.)
Mr. Keegan said he was baptized in the original St. Mary’s Church, and was brought up in the parish. His father was custodian at the present St. Mary’s.
Undertaking construction of the present church was Father Edward W. Lynch, who was sickly when ordained, but ended up being pastor for 30 years. After he was appointed pastor in 1950, “the kids at Ascension School” who were members of St. Mary’s realized he was a priest, Mr. Keegan said. Helping out at Ascension Parish in Worcester, Father Lynch had worked around the school, appearing to students to be a custodian.
Mrs. Keegan said Father Lynch didn’t want to celebrate a Sunday wedding when she and her groom requested that newly permitted option.
“I said, ‘That’s OK; we can go anywhere,’” she recalled.
But Father Lynch celebrated their wedding after all – on July 28, 1974, his birthday - the first Sunday wedding at St. Mary’s, the couple said. Mr. Keegan said the parish Men’s Schola he belonged to sang, the only time they did so for a wedding. A guest commented that she thought they were at the Vatican, so beautiful was the singing.
“I think what makes this parish so strong ... it’s a collaboration between the families and the priests,” said Janet Conlon, a former choir member and now a greeter, who has been here about 30 years. “You don’t leave the parish.”

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