'We Trust Them'

Priests hear praise from the faithful at Masses on Staten Island and in Mahopac

BBy CLAUDIA McDONNELL and JOHN WOODS

Concerned about how priests are being affected by the fallout from the clergy sex abuse crisis, parishioners on Staten Island and in Mahopac prayed for their priests and thanked them at two special Masses.

"We just wanted to show them our love and support, and that we trust them," said Sister Anne Kniphuisen, R.D.C. She helped organize the Mass June 13 at St. John the Evangelist parish in Mahopac, where she is assistant principal of the parish school and has served for 30 years.

"They work so hard for us, and we want to let them know that."

Father Kevin Creagh, C.M., was the homilist at a Mass of Thanksgiving and Solidarity for the Religious and Clergy on Staten Island, where he is associate director of St. John's University campus there.

"What a wonderful gift you are for us," he told the congregation at the Mass June 9 in St. Peter's Church. "To know that people are behind us is very important." He spoke about coming together "in a spirit of gratitude for the many labors of priests, sisters and brothers."

Father Creagh said that at this "difficult time in our Church," Catholics "need to be in solidarity with victims of abuse" and must pray for those who have sinned against them. But he said that the scandal that has been making headlines for months "isn't the whole story" about the priesthood, and he noted the good works carried out each day by faithful priests and religious.

The Staten Island Mass was sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 4, with many members attending. James Gallagher, an AOH member and the main organizer of the Mass, spoke during the liturgy about the need to extend a hand of hospitality and friendship to priests and religious. He suggested that families invite them into their homes for dinner. Sean King, who heads the Catholic Action Committee of AOH Division 4, said at a reception later that members would discuss other steps soon, such as prayer chains in support of priests.

The celebrant at St. Peter's was the pastor, Msgr. James J. Dorney, vicar of Staten Island, who was joined by 10 concelebrants including Msgr. Peter G. Finn, rector of St. Joseph's Seminary and former co-vicar of Staten Island and pastor of St. Joseph-St. Thomas parish. In opening remarks Msgr. Dorney said, "On behalf of all of us here in the sanctuary, let me say thank you for your tremendous support."

Attending the Mass were nuns from the congregations of Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sisters of St. Dorothy and the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master, as well as religious brothers including Brother Finbar Gallagher, T.O.R., who was the lector.

About 300 to 350 participated at each Mass.

The Mass in Mahopac was organized by the spirituality and liturgy groups at the parish. The celebrant was Father Brian C. Brennan, the pastor; concelebrants were the three parochial vicars and Father Joseph P. Tierney, archdiocesan director of vocations, who was the homilist.

Father Tierney remarked that following the attacks of Sept. 11, Americans had rekindled their patriotic spirit and asserted that "united we stand." He said that Catholics must likewise stand united in the current crisis.

"We must not be afraid," he said. "We must not be ashamed to call ourselves Catholics." He urged all to defend the Church; deepen their spirituality; pray often, privately and with their families and parishes; recognize the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and "take joy in our privilege" of receiving the Eucharist.

Father Tierney called for prayers for priests, for victims of abuse and their families, for accused priests and for parishes in which a priest has been asked to leave pending investigation.

Speaking only days after the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop James F. McCarthy, who admitted having improper relationships with women, Father Tierney did not refer to him by name but called for prayers for "the Church in Northern Westchester and Putnam," where Bishop McCarthy was vicar, for the priests and people of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in nearby Shrub Oak, where the bishop was pastor, and for the bishop himself.

Concluding, he called for "commitment to our faith, to our Church, to our priests of Jesus Christ." He received a standing ovation.

The atmosphere at both Masses was joyful and at times emotional. The congregations seemed eager to show that their love and gratitude for their priests remain undiminished.

Jake Lugay, a retired chemist and a member of St. John the Evangelist for 20 years, spoke on behalf of parishioners just before the end of Mass. He told Father Brennan and the concelebrants, "We want you all to know that we love you, we thank you for all you do, we believe in you, we need you now and we'll always need you, and we are always here for you."

The congregation stood and applauded, and the ovation continued as Father Brennan walked to where Lugay stood and embraced him.

Father Brennan thanked all who had planned the Mass. He noted that priests try to serve faithfully.

"For the times that we do not do that very well, I, for one, would like to apologize to you," he said. "By your prayers, your example and your piety, you offer much to us...You speak volumes with your own devotions and your own spirituality. For this, as a priest, as a person, I thank you, my brothers and sisters."

A reception followed, sponsored by the parish hospitality committee.

In interviews, worshipers expressed concern about the crisis but strong conviction that the Church will emerge from it strengthened and purified.

Looking ahead to the U.S. bishops' meeting which was to take place in Dallas a few days after the Mass, Patricia Matula, a parishioner of St. Joseph-St. Thomas parish on Staten Island, told CNY that "we are hoping to see some solid guidelines about what will happen with criminal activity."

"We are confident that when the bishops discuss the situation, there will be a good outcome for the Catholics and the clergy," she said.

Joe Carr of Mahopac said, "We'll do fine. We'll be the stronger for it." He added, "I find it so ironic that a country that sells sex is now crucifying the Church" because of priests' sexual abuse or improprieties.

Gloria Rufino, a catechist at St. John the Evangelist, said she came to the Mass "because the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church."

Discussing priestly sexual abuse, she said, "I feel that the Church should have handled the situation better. They should have been more honest and open about the problems that were going on." But, she continued, "We're all human beings, we all make mistakes...We need to purge our Church of these problems, and we'll come out stronger. God didn't abandon us, he's with us."

She is troubled that faithful priests are bearing an undeserved burden of shame.

"I'm devastated for the good men we have," she said. "It's an honor to be a priest, it's not an embarrassment."