This homily was given By Rev. Fr. Ryan Connors at St. Michael’s the Archangel Parish, Winthrop, on the 22 May2022 at Fr. Maxwell’s first Thanksgiving Mass.
Like Saint Patrick, the circumstances in which you exercise your ministry will require that your fatherhood be bold, courageous, and missionary.
Like Saint Patrick, you will confront superstition and obstacles. You will face religious indifference and the despair-inducing plague of moral relativism. To be set free from sin and gain everlasting life, the people of Boston need your preaching and sacramental ministration.
The people of this local church will benefit from your joy, your good humor, and your hard work. Your celibate chastity, your simplicity of life, your obedience to take any assignment, to go
wherever your bishop asks for as long as he asks it, and your dedicated prayer will make your priesthood a living witness to Christ who alone sets free.
While your priestly fatherhood will be exercised here in Boston, you first discovered the grace of a priestly vocation by contemplating your own father’s witness to the Catholic faith.
I learned recently that Father Max’s grandfather served as a translator for the Irish missionaries to Nigeria. You come from a long line of fathers of the faith.
Your parents, whose Catholic faith was so strong, were devoted to you and your priestly vocation. We often say at first Masses that the joy of these days belongs especially to the parents of the newly ordained. Your Mom and Dad observe today’s festivities from the vantage point of Heaven.
Indeed, their joy at their new priest-son echoes among us today. How proud they are of you. I join Father Chris O’Connor, pastor of this wonderful parish, who has been such a spiritual father to you. You find in him a model of sound priestly friendship and a prayerful exercise of the priestly office. He is indeed such a good priest. Father Dan Hennessey, pastor of Saints Agnes and Rose of Lima parishes has been such a generous and strong support too. How blessed you are to have them as priestly mentors.
I join all the priests of this local church and beyond in welcoming you our newest brother.
You enter a great storied presbyterate. Stay close to your brother priests. Find in them an indispensable support. In the memorable words of Benedict XVI: “You cannot be a priest on your own.”
Finally, dear brother in the Lord,’ dear brother in Christ’s priesthood: I learned recently that your father had one desire stronger than all others: to meet you at the altar. Indeed, today and every
day you meet him at the altar. Here Heaven meets earth. Here God wipes away every tear and draws together all those who love Him. Here at the altar, the God of the universe makes Himself
small.
Here, at your command, the Lord Jesus continues His redeeming work. His sacrificial love comes to Winthrop and everywhere you offer Holy Mass. Father Maxwell, we need your priesthood. We need your pastoral care. We need your fatherhood.
