Mass of Remembrance

On Sunday, November 15, 2009 alumni and friends of St. John’s University gathered in St. Thomas More Church on the Queens campus for the inaugural concelebrated Mass of Remembrance, an opportunity to reflect on and pray for their deceased family and friends as part of All Souls Month.

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“We profess our faith and we are a people of hope,” noted Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President, St. John’s University, who served as principal celebrant and homilist of the Mass.  “That hope should be with us throughout our lives.  We need to always remember that even in times of trouble and sadness, the Lord is near.”

Since the Mass of Remembrance was scheduled to coincide with the weekly student liturgy, Fr. Harrington shared with the students the story of Leon Finley ’29L, a generous alumnus and benefactor who was forever grateful for the opportunity offered to him by the University to attend St. John’s School of Law.  He described how Finley, a non-Catholic, always admired the sense of hope that is such a pivotal component of our Catholic faith, and reminded the worshippers that “…this hope is indeed a gift from God.”

Fr. Harrington also invited the alumni to come back to campus and participate in the 5:30 p.m. Sunday student liturgy whenever possible.In his pre-dinner welcoming remarks, Fr. Harrington expressed his appreciation to the alumni and their families for helping to establish a new St. John’s tradition.  “Thank you for coming back to campus and for taking advantage of this opportunity to pray for those who have gone before us,” he said.  “Thank you also for staying a part of our University community.”

William G. Schaeffer ’73CBA, Director, Office of Alumni Relations noted that traditions have always been an important part of the St. John’s experience.  “It’s wonderful to see so many alumni coming back to campus for the Mass of Remembrance,” he said.  “I’m sure that this event will become more popular every year, and will take its place among the many initiatives that keep the members of our University family so close to each other.”

Alumni were grateful for the opportunity to remember the deceased members of their personal families while in the company of their St. John’s family.  “I graduated a long time ago, back when St. John’s was in Brooklyn,” recalled Charles Rattoballi ’47CBA, ’49L, “but I’ve always kept my ties to the University.  My family pushed me to come to St. John’s and helped to pay my tuition, so St. John’s has always been important to me.  I’m here tonight to honor and pray for my wife, who passed away two years ago.”

Gregory O’Regan ’65CBA was pleased that the University had scheduled this wonderfully spiritual event during November.  “I’m here to remember three members of my family,” he said.  “It’s nice to remember them during the month of All Souls and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.  This campus and this church are absolutely magnificent.”

For Nancy Keegan ’59Ed, the Mass of Remembrance was an appropriate way to keep the memory of her special friends from years ago alive at the University she loves.  “My best friend recently passed away,” she remarked, “and I’m very happy to have her listed among those we’re praying for tonight.  She deserves to be remembered.”

For many alumni, the chance to visit St. Thomas More Church added to their decision to attend the Mass of Remembrance.  “My wife and I wanted to see the new church here on campus,” said Edward J. Franke ’88SVC, “and when we heard that Fr. Harrington would be celebrating Mass and many of the other Vincentian priests would be here, we decided that we wanted to be a part of this event.  It’s nice to see many of the people that I remember from years ago.”