Senior priests share their gifts throughout diocese

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

Continuing to celebrate Mass is important to the diocese’s two newest senior priests. And the longest-serving senior priest is still in the ministry after 18 years.
The diocese’s five men in this type of work live in rectories and help meet sacramental and pastoral needs at those parishes.
I’m still in ministry,” said Father Michael J. Roy, who became senior priest at St. Anne Parish in Southborough July 1 this year, shortly before his 76th birthday. “I wanted to be part of a faith community where I could continue to celebrate the Eucharist.”
“I enjoy saying Mass; I get into it emotionally and spiritually,” said Father Thomas H. Hultquist, who became senior priest at St. George Parish in Worcester July 1 and celebrated his 75th birthday Oct. 2. He told The Catholic Free Press, “I like to give the body and blood of Jesus Christ some time, [so] people recognize who he is.”
These two priests said they wanted to do more for their parishes before stepping down as pastors, but they are settling into being senior priests elsewhere. Father Roy was pastor of St. Roch’s in Oxford for 12 years and was also appointed pastor of St. Ann’s in Oxford in July 2022. Father Hultquist was pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lancaster for nine years.
Father Paul T. O’Connell, 88, who has been a senior priest the longest, said he asked for that transition after serving as pastor of St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury for 13 years.  
“When I saw the diocesan policy on senior priests, which had been made years ago, I thought that I would like to do that,” he said. He knew administrative duties often left pastors with less time for pastoral ministry, and St. Mary’s was preparing for a major project.  
“I don’t want to spend the last five years of my ministry building buildings,” decided Father O’Connell, who was approaching the traditional retirement age of 75. He said he inquired about being a senior priest and Bishop McManus responded, “Find your own place.”
Father Edward J. Moran, then pastor of St. Anne Parish in Shrewbury, did not have an associate pastor.
“He was in need of some help,” Father O’Connell said. “I asked [to be a senior priest there] and he was delighted.” So, in 2005 Father O’Connell moved to St. Anne’s.  
“It was like being a curate all over again … with the exception of youth,” he said. “When I first came, I was doing baptisms, weddings and funerals.”  
He said he still baptizes and officiates funerals if asked, and celebrates some Masses at St. Anne’s, at other parishes as needed and for religious sisters in Marlborough. He visits the sick and shut-ins, and once a week works in the diocesan Tribunal, where he is associate judicial vicar. He’s also a member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council, the environmental stewardship committee, and chaplain for the Shrewsbury Knights of Colombus.
“It’s all pastoral,” Father O’Connell maintained. “I do all these things at my own pace. That’s the beauty of being a senior priest – you can say, ‘No.’”
Father Kenneth R. Cardinale, pastor of Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Leominster, said he served as a seminarian at St. Mary’s when Father O’Connell was pastor there. He marveled that, years later, Father O’Connell is still engaged in parish life and concerned about what’s happening in the world.  
“He’s like a triple senior priest,” said Father Walter J. Riley, pastor of St. Anne’s in Shrewsbury. “He’s going to be 89 in November. … He’s been able to last this long, which is wonderful. He just stays busy. That’s what keeps him going. He’s such a total asset to St. Anne’s, really the entire town. … Everyone knows and loves him.
“He’s a bundle of experience … We work as a team.”
Father Roy works with Father Albert Irudayasamy, pastor of St. Anne’s in Southborough, who lived with him at St. Roch’s when pursuing an academic degree. That experience, and the fact that St. Anne’s rectory is accessible, motivated Father Roy, who has mobility problems, to ask Father Irudayasamy about being a senior priest there.  
“From the get-go he was very open and welcoming,” Father Roy said.
“I’m really glad, and our parishioners are so happy to have him,” Father Irudayasamy said. Father Roy celebrates two of the weekend Masses.  
With him there, “people asked whether they could have Mass on Friday,” the pastor’s day off. Father Roy obliged, and also celebrates the Thursday Masses and monthly healing Masses, hears confessions, does counseling and is part of parish council meetings.  
Father Roy said he also has more time to read, pray and “be reflective.”
St. George’s pastor, Father Edward D. Niccolls, said having a senior priest in the past worked fine for him and the parish.
“I’m very pleased being here … not having to worry” about an administrative “headache,” Father Hultquist said. The bishop knew of his health concerns and “made the right decision for me.”
Father Hultquist described himself as “somewhat retired but able to help out sacramentally,” with Masses, confessions, and baptisms if needed.
“He has a young spirit,” commented Michael Garceau, organist at St. George’s. “He’s got really good enthusiasm. He makes me want to be there.”