Funeral Mass offered for Father Stanley F. MacNevin, C.S.P.
This homily in honor of Father Stanley Francis MacNevin, C.S.P., was given by Father John B. Ardis, C.S.P., during Father MacNevin’s funeral Mass offered Dec. 27, 2008, at the Paulist Center in Boston. He was interred at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Roxbury, Mass.
Words could never totally grasp the man of faith that Stanley Francis MacNevin was. He grew up 20 minutes south of here in Dedham, the middle son, two older and two younger brothers. While most of his nearly 49 years of ordained life were spent elsewhere doing campus ministry, it was always clear Stan was a Bostonian.
In the 12 years that we lived and ministered together in Knoxville and Boston, it was clear what was important to Stan – his extended family: his brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews. And also the family that he inherited, his fellow Paulists, and many men, women and children whom he so lovingly and faithfully served at West Virginia University, Memphis State, MIT, Ohio State, UCSB, UConn and the University of Tennessee, before becoming superior here in September 1995. Most in each of those locations will remember Stan as always tanned, impeccably dressed and not a silver hair out of place.
Stan never spoke of his early childhood faith, certainly a major part of his faith journey took place right here on Park Street. Park Street Church down on the corner is where he started his adult faith journey, but one day, led by the Spirit, he made his way half way up the block to 5 Park Street. He cherished the fact that he received five sacraments at 5 Park. From Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and Penance to being ordained in this very chapel on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle nearly 49 years ago.
As much as Stan enjoyed excellent food and beverages, what drew him to the Catholic Church was the Eucharist. The words from the Gospel of John rang true in Stan’s life: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life and will be raised on the last day.” The sense of gnawing on the Eucharist, which this passage speaks of, being nourished by the bread of life, was the same way he gnawed on the bone of an excellent cut of prime rib. Celebrating the Eucharist and preaching a great homily were his trademarks. Stan always excelled in making the celebration of the Eucharist one that would be remembered, from setting the ambience to being attentive to the Holy Spirit in his life so as to proclaim the Word in a way that would leave those who attended fully nourished. If he had his choice, I think every Mass would have been followed by a meal for all who had gathered. With Stan, all were always welcome.
While Stan was one of the best mentors I or any priest could ever have, he was also a wonderful collaborator in ministry as well as a great leader. Be it a fellow Paulist or a lay staff member, he was always open to the ideas others offered. At the same time he never hesitated to share things he had learned from his associate pastors, especially Tomaso Kane and Mark-David Janus.
I will always remember a late October day, three months into our time together in Knoxville. I received a call early that morning that my father had died. I went to Stan to share the news. His words of comfort and compassion to me then were that he would be there for me to continue what my father had begun. Certainly, 10 months later when my mother died, Stan did indeed become a member of my family, there to comfort me and my siblings. I will always cherish the many vacations we shared together with my siblings, whether it be at sea on a cruise ship or at cabins in the Smokies.
One of Stan’s favorite expressions when he was impressed was “Woo, woo, Woo!” when you scored one of those, often around a meal, you knew you had done well.
As I reflect on the relationships in Stan’s life, be it family, fellow Paulists or significant people from each of the stops on his Paulist journey, the word loyalty comes to mind. From his first assignment at West Virginia University as the associate to the Good Stop, Fr. Bob Scott, to the cherished memories throughout the journey, one of the hardest things for Stan besides loosing many he loved along the way, was the decision the Paulists made to leave Storrs and the ministry he loved at UConn. While others might have just taken senior ministry status and said “enough is enough,” not Stan. When called to become pastor at John XXIII in Knoxville, he accepted the call, and once again excelled in sharing his many gifts and talents.
I thank Paul Huesing and all of the Paulists here for their care of Stan in his final days. Today as we celebrate Stan’s life and mourn his death, may we be comforted by the words proclaimed so eloquently today by Ruth Queen Smith from the Book of Wisdom: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God, no torment shall touch them.” God indeed has tried Stanley Francis MacNevin and found him worthy. Having been fed and nourished by the Bread of Life, he now takes his place among the elect, God’s chosen ones forever at peace.
PAULIST SERVICE OF FATHER STANLEY F. MACNEVIN
Ordained
Jan. 25, 1960
Staff
Paulist Center, Boston: 1960-62
Canpus Ministry
West Virginia University, Morgantown: 1962-66
Assistant
St. Patrick’s, Memphis, Tenn.: 1966-70
Campus Ministry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston: 1970-74
Campus Ministry (Superior)
Ohio State University, Columbus: 1974-78
Director
Paulist Center, Boston: 1978-79
Campus Ministry
University of California at Santa Barbara: 1979-82
Campus Ministry (Superior and Pastor)
University of Connecticut, Storrs: 1982-90
Sabattical 1990-91
Capus Ministry (Superior and Director)
John XXIII University Parish
University of Tennessee, Knoxville: 1991-95
Superior
Paulist Center, Boston: 1995-97
Senior Ministry Status (Retired)
Boston: 1997
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