Pope Francis elevates Richard F. Reidy to Monsignor

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press 
 
The Diocese of Worcester has a new monsignor: Msgr. Richard F. Reidy. He was named a "Chaplain to His Holiness," with the title of Reverend Monsignor, by Pope Francis on Aug. 30, Bishop McManus said.
  The bishop said he “shared the happy news” with Msgr. Reidy on Sept. 28, after receiving the official document that morning from the previous day’s mail. 
  “He was very appreciative,” Bishop McManus said, adding that Msgr. Reidy, his “closest collaborator” as vicar general and moderator of the curia’s offices, deserves the honor. 
  Msgr. Reidy said this honorary ecclesiastical title will not change his job but is an inspiration to try to be better. 
  “I’m very grateful to Bishop McManus,” he said. “It’s very humbling and a reminder that God is far kinder and better to us than we deserve. Hopefully I can live up to the good example of the monsignors who have served so well in our diocese in the present or in the past.  
  “I don’t think it changes my life, but is a moment of reflection about how all Catholics are called to serve God and neighbor. … We’re all part of the Church, serving in different ways the same Lord.” 
Respecting Pope Francis’ decision that a priest must be at least 65 years old before being named a monsignor, Bishop McManus put in the request on Msgr. Reidy’s 65th birthday, May 30, 2023.  
  “On that very day I forwarded to the nuncio” (the papal liaison with the Church in the United States) a letter to the Vatican Secretariat of State, Bishop McManus said. The bishop said he was responding to a questionnaire provided to bishops and included Msgr. Reidy’s curriculum vitae – his education and assignments. 
  Bishop McManus said that, shortly after that, he received a letter from the nuncio saying that the process might take four or five months and asking him not to inform Msgr. Reidy about it. 
  On Sept. 28 he received the document (sometimes called a rescript or diploma) signed Aug. 30 and written in Latin, saying that Pope Francis had added Msgr. Reidy to the number of his chaplains.  
  Asked why he pursued this, Bishop McManus said that Msgr. Reidy, in addition to his administrative abilities, is a “zealous and exemplary priest.” 
  “He’s very balanced,” the bishop said. “He’s patient. He has the esteem of co-workers … and people throughout the diocese.”  “He’s an extraordinary priest, a very devout, prayerful, hardworking priest,” said Msgr. Thomas J. Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Worcester, where Msgr. Reidy is in residence. “I’m extremely grateful to the Holy Father for honoring him in this way.” 
Bishop McManus said Msgr. Reidy’s new robes (made by a tailor for monsignors) will not likely be finished before January. After they are ready, a formal recognition is to take place, probably during a Mass at St. Paul Cathedral, he said. The diocesan chancellor, Raymond L. Delisle, is to read aloud the official document and Bishop McManus is to formally present it to Msgr. Reidy. 
  The previous most recent naming of monsignors in the diocese was in 2009. Pope Benedict XVI named as Chaplains to His Holiness Fathers Peter R. Beaulieu, John E. Doran, Michael G. Foley, Francis T. Goguen (d. 2013), Robert K. Johnson, Rocco M. Piccolomini (d. 2015) and Michael F. Rose.  
  They were recognized Aug. 14, 2009 at St. Paul Cathedral at a celebration of First Vespers for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.  

About Msgr. Reidy:

Msgr. Reidy, son of the late Robert C. and Barbara A. (Lee) Reidy, was born May 30, 1958, in Worcester and grew up at Immaculate Conception Parish in Worcester.  
He was a member of the law firm Mirick, O’Connell, DeMallie and Lougee from 1983 to 1990, studied for the priesthood at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore and continued studies in Rome, where he received a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Gregorian University and a master’s degree in spirituality from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 1994 in St. Paul Cathedral and served as associate pastor of St. Peter Parish in Worcester before being named rector of the cathedral and pastor of St. Paul Parish in 1995.
He began graduate studies in canon law in 2008 and earned his licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Upon his return, he was appointed pastor of St. Ann Parish in North Oxford and defender of the bond for the Diocesan Tribunal in the Judicial Vicar’s Office. In 2013 he was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia.