Father Brendan Murray’s 35^th Anniversary Mass.

These are the words God spoke to Jesus when he was baptized and while he was praying. They marked the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry. These are the words that God spoke to every one of us when we were baptized and began our life of sacramental grace and our entrance into the Church as baptized members of the Body of Christ and brothers and sisters of the Lord. These are the words that God spoke to Brendan J. Murray when he was ordained a priest in the Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome 35 years ago on December 20^th, 1968 and began his priestly ministry.

Christian baptism changes a person at the deepest level of their being. The theologians tell us that baptism confers a "character", a "distinctive mark, imprinted on the soul. The beginning of a special relationship with God and the Church. Once baptized a person always remains baptized and therefore different. This is why the Sacrament of Baptism cannot be repeated. The power of the Holy Spirit enables a person to struggle against sin and evil and - if she or he perseveres to the end - become a Saint, according to their own vocation as a married person, single lay person, priest or religious sister or brother.

Indeed one of the opening prayers for our Mass today expresses our faith which we celebrate today on this the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord. It expresses the very reason for the Incarnation of God - the whole meaning of Christmas.

We celebrate and thank God today for Father Brendan’s priestly ministry on this day of the Baptism of the Lord, which is also Vocation Awareness Sunday. Priesthood and its meaning for us as it has been lived out by Father Brendan Murray is foremost on our minds and in our hearts.

Like Baptism, ordination to the priesthood also changes a person at the deepest level of their being and confers a character, a distinctive mark because it means that a man remains a priest forever. This mark, this change, does not confer superiority but servitude for a priest is called to be a servant leader in imitation of Jesus, the High Priest, who came not to be served but to serve others. When a man is ordained a priest an irrevocable relationship is forged between God and him. The priest commits his life to the Lord, and, the Lord grasps him by the hand to help him in his ministry forever. Priestly ordination means that the priest begins a relationship with the Church, the People of God. He accepts the responsibility to lovingly care for the people he serves and leads with great devotion. It means that the people have a claim on him, his life, his talent, his energy, his heart. They have a right to his life, and he has accepts the challenge to make their needs his own. At the end of the Instruction in the Rite of Ordination when the Bishop speaks to the one about to be ordained, after describing all the duties of the priesthood, he concludes with the most important charge of all. "Model your life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross and always imitate Christ the Good Shepherd who came to search for and save those who are lost.."

Father Brendan has lived this each day of his life since his ordination 35 years ago. From the moment he was ordained in St, Peter’s Basilica, he preached the Word and celebrated the sacraments with his own family as well as dear friends that he met in Italy during his studies there. Once home he tirelessly extended himself to the people he had already known as well as the countless people he has met and served over the years in his assignments at St. James, Totowa, St. Michael’s, Paterson, St. Vincent’s Madison, the sick and medical staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Paterson, the members of the Catholic Charismatic communities he served so well, the parish of St. Pius X in Montville and the good people of St. Cecilia Parish and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, in Rockaway.

By my calculations over his 35 years he has celebrated well over 1200 baptisms, witnessed over 500 marriages, and conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation over 150 times through the RCIA and other circumstances when allowed. It is impossible to count how many confessions he has heard, penitents absolved, sick he has prayed with and anointed, First Holy Communions he has celebrated, funerals he has presided at, bereaved he has consoled, houses he has blessed, persons he has counseled - young and old - as well as persons he has taught. It is also impossible to count how many weddings and graduations and anniversary celebrations he has attended. And it’s impossible - absolutely impossible - to count how many times he has danced the electric slide.

It is impossible to find the limit of his knowledge on so many topics. It is impossible to find out how many books he has read, notes of kindness he has written, languages he speaks, saints he knows about and religious icons of saints he owns. It is impossible to find a limit or an end to his generosity and his loving kindness to people. He gives his time and his love selflessly, making himself available to all who need him on joyful and sorrowful occasions. It is impossible to adequately describe his priesthood for it is rooted in the utter mystery of God’s infinite goodness, love and mercy.

He immerses himself especially in caring for the sick, the dying, and the grieving. In those dark times, he plunges into the abyss of sorrow and with the tenacity and courage of Gandalf the Grey battling the Balrog and smiting that awful monster, he brings light and hope: the message of Christ’s victory over sin and death. A man of valor, he is more fiercely courageous and dedicated in his priestly ministry than the bravest hero of ancient or modern literature or mythology. He lives the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s dying and rising each day.

How is Father Brendan able to accomplish so much, to give of himself so tirelessly, charitably and generously? What is the secret to his fruitful priestly ministry and the fulfillment of his responsibilities as a loving son, brother, uncle, brother priest and friend? How can we learn from him today. The answer is found in Luke’s Gospel and the example of our Lord Himself. Luke tells us that Jesus was praying at the time of his baptism. Luke alone mentions this as well as other times throughout the life of Jesus. Jesus heard His father say, "You are my beloved Son. On you my favor rests." This voice, which Jesus, in his humanity, needed to hear spoke of the relationship and the link with the Father. Everyday of Jesus earthly ministry, as he preached, taught, performed all kinds of miracles, healing the sick, raising the dead, and journeyed on the road to Jerusalem, Jesus, Our Divine Lord was in union, in prayer with the Father in Heaven in the Spirit.

Father Brendan is a man of fervent prayer. In this, and in many other aspects of his priestly life, Father Brendan is much like our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. According to one story, in late 1997, two old, old friends of the Pope were staying at the Papal Villa at Castelgandolfo with him as his guests. Their bedroom was just below his, and before dawn each morning, they knew by the thumping of his cane that he was up and about. One morning, at breakfast, the Pope asked wh ether the noise was disturbing them. No, they answered, they were getting up for Mass anyway. "But Wujek", they asked, calling him by his nickname, "why do you get up at that hour of the morning?" Because, he said, "I like to watch the sunrise."

Every morning at St. Cecilia’s rectory, Father Brendan is up before sunrise, praying in his favorite chair in his room, looking out his window that faces east. And as the sun begins to rise Brendan’s voice can be heard praying, sometimes in English, sometimes in the other many languages he knows - as well as those he doesn’t know, faithfully praying the Church’s liturgy of the hours and raising his heart and mind in joyful prayer as he greets the Son, the Son of God. He prays then, and throughout the day in private and in public. And we all know from the endless silence that follows after he says, "Let us pray." That he prays without ceasing.

Father Brendan, we are so grateful to you for your priestly ministry to all of us here. And we thank God, for your mother Rita and your dear departed father Brendan, who shared their faith in Jesus Christ with you right from the very day you were born into their loving family on November 27, 1943 and baptized in the Lord at St. Margaret’s parish in Morristown on December 19, 1943.

The People of God of Sacred Heart and St. Cecilia Parish are so proud to be with you today. We thank you for answering God’s call and saying Yes to Jesus. We are holding this joint celebration at St. Cecilia’s because the intimate space in the exquisitely beautiful Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish could not hold all of us today. In fact, this beautiful Church of St. Cecilia, is barely adequate to hold all of us here today for this celebration and impossible to hold all the people who would like to be here. We are all here because you have touched our lives and mean so very much to us. The truth is, if it were possible to gather together in one place, all the people who have loved you as their priest throughout your 35 years, even the magnificent Basilica of St. Peter’s in Rome would not be sufficient. No. There is no Church large enough for that.

And while the Church visible, here on earth is gathered at the altar, we know too that the Church in heaven, the communion of saints, is gathered as well today. We are united with them in this Holy Mass. There, around the throne of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Spirit are gathered Mary, our Blessed Mother, St. Joseph her husband, Protector of the Christ Child, and Guardian of the Church, St. Brendan the Navigator, the whole company of heaven including so many you have known and loved, our own family members and especially all the Morrisons and Murrays, most especially your dear father, Brendan. And they join with us beaming with love, rejoicing in your priesthood.

And from the Heavens their voices join with Our Heavenly Father and say, "You are my beloved Son. With you I am well pleased."

God Bless you Father Brendan. Ad multos gloriousque annos!