Giving thanks to God for a humble priest and friend; vespers service held

By Maria LeDoux
Associate editor, The Catholic Free Press
 
A vespers service was attended by hundreds of people and included many songs, prayers, and the reading of the diploma recognizing Msgr. Richard F. Reidy,  who received the title of Reverend Monsignor by Pope Francis.

Deo Gratias, translating to “thanks be to God” was printed on cards announcing Solemn Vespers on the feast of Christ the King and to recognize Msgr. Reidy’s appointment as “Chaplain to His Holiness,” granting him the title of Reverend Monsignor. It was held last Sunday at 5 p.m. at St. Paul Cathedral, 19 Chatham St. A simple reception followed in the cenacle beneath the church.

Msgr. Reidy was given this title on Aug. 31, the day Pope Francis officially added him to the number of his chaplains. Bishop McManus was made aware of this on Sept. 28 and told Msgr. Reidy the news.
Msgr. Reidy has been the diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia since 2013. 
 During the service Bishop McManus cited Pope Benedict XVI’s “brilliant and pithy” definition of the priesthood: “The priest is a friend of Jesus.” 
Bishop McManus explained, “As a friend of Jesus, the priest is another Christ who has been chosen, called and sent to bring the person in the saving mission of Jesus Christ to the world of today, a world sadly that is being racked by two horrific wars, a world that desperately needs the hope that only can come from Christ, the king of the universe. … The priest is not ordained only for himself, rather he is ordained to serve his brothers and sisters in the household of faith [and] called to share his intimate knowledge and love of Christ with others.”
In his remarks to the congregation, Msgr. Reidy said he has “been humbled by the faith of saintly parishioners who welcome their priests into their homes to share their family's joys and triumphs, their sadness, losses, worries and fears, and above all, to share their faith in Jesus Christ.”
He said that when he started to use the title “monsignor” a “regular email correspondent took note of the title and replied, not with congratulations or best wishes, but with a warning. ‘Someone hacked your email. They signed it: Monsignor Reidy.’
Msgr. Reidy thanked Bishop McManus for the nomination and his service to the diocese. He expressed gratitude to Bishop Reilly and Bishop Harrington, to his brother priests and deacons, to the religious communities throughout the diocese, friends, parishioners and to his family. “But above all” he gave thanks to God.
He concluded, “Thank you all for coming here tonight to honor Christ our king on a weekend when we give thanks, may we never forget to whom we owe all of our thanks.”
After the vespers service, David E. Surprenant, managing partner at Mirick O’Connell Attorneys at Law, said he met Msgr. Reidy 41 years ago at Boston College while the two were in law school. Msgr. Reidy was two years ahead of Mr. Surprenant who had a job in the library. He worked there on Friday nights, figuring not many people would be there but Msgr. Reidy was “one of the only students” in the library at that time, he said. 
Mr. Suprenant said it was Msgr. Reidy who encouraged him to apply to Mirick O’Connell; however, being from Rhode Island and having no place to stay the Reidy family took him in.
“His parents were very welcoming and kind to me,” he said.
Gary and Cheryl Gagne met Msgr. Reidy at St. Peter Parish when he first became a priest. Mr. Gagne joined Msgr. Reidy’s Bible study group. 
Shortly after, Msgr. Reidy was transferred to become the rector at St. Paul Cathedral and eventually Mr. and Mrs. Gagne followed him and became parishioners there.
But why follow him to a different parish? Mr. Gagne responded, “It's good faith in the Catholic Church. We were totally impressed by him when we met him. He is just a great teacher and a lot of things he does; he teaches by example [and] leads by example through his faith. It's just unbelievable,” he responded. “He is just a wonderful guy.”
Mr. Gagne recalled Msgr. Reidy calling him on the phone to ask him to apply for the director of facilities job at the cathedral. After some thinking, having said he “almost didn’t take the job,” he began in March of 1999 and has been there since.
“We became real good friends over the years. It has been a blessing in our family to have him as such a good friend. We have him over for cookouts and he has been there for everything that has happened in our family's life,” Mr. Gagne said. The Gagne’s son Michael grew up with Msgr. Reidy there for the sacraments, as well as other activities such as the Scouting program, CYC (the Catholic Youth Council) and white-water rafting. 
Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King Parish where Msgr. Reidy resides, said in an announcement in his parish bulletin that the new monsignor “certainly deserves this honor and title.”  
He wrote about Msgr. Reidy’s contributions to parish life at Christ the King in addition to his other responsibilities “that take him into the life of virtually every parish” throughout the diocese. Msgr. Sullivan stated, “He is ever so prayerful and a true servant of all and has a heart of gold.” 
As the crowd piled into the cenacle after the conclusion of the service, Christopher Reidy told The Catholic Free Press that his younger brother “has always been a hard worker, very dedicated ...” 
“... And his mom’s favorite!” chimed in Joseph Reidy, his other older brother.
A woman who attended the vespers service said she “cannot be more thankful” for Msgr. Reidy, who helped her when she was in a difficult situation. 
She met him at Christ the King Parish while she was in a domestic violence situation, with no friends or family for support because she is from another country. (She asked that her name not be used.) In addition to asking her about her safety, living conditions and finding ways to help, she said Msgr. Reidy advised her to pray more. She told him that she had “many problems” and was too busy to pray. He told her that times like those are when “prayer is most important,” she said. 
“My life changed tremendously. I love him to death,” she said. She now attends St. Paul Cathedral.
“He is a very compassionate person. There is something about him that is very special. I think God put him in the right place at the right time. [He helped] me carry the stuff better. I can’t emphasize how thankful I am.”

To watch a recording of the occasion go to worcesterdiocese.org/livestreams.