Daylight illuminated the stained glass windows in St. Bonaventure Church in Paterson at 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. The colorful glass panes depict scenes of the history and life of Franciscan Friars, wearing their familiar brown robes.
Those windows were already starting to remind St. Bonaven-ture’s churchgoers of the loving service and lasting influence of the friars, as they bid a tearful farewell to them that day after 148 years at the parish. The Fran-ciscans celebrated their final liturgy — a Mass of Thanksgiving — at St. Bonaventure’s, also known as “St. Bon’s,” on July 28.
The Franciscans of the Pro-vince of Our Lady of Guadalupe turns over the administration of St. Bonaventure’s to the Pater-son Diocese today, Aug. 1. Father Alex Nevitt, former parochial vicar of Notre Dame of Mount Car-mel Parish in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Town-ship, was appointed the parish’s administrator.
Ruth Patterson has been a St. Bonaventure’s parishioner for all her 76 years. She received her sacraments there; attended the former high school taught by the Franciscan Sisters; and married there.
“I loved the Franciscans. They kept it simple. They were kind and welcoming,” Patterson said. “I’m sad they’re leaving, but this is still my church.”
Father Kevin Mullen, former provincial who grew up in St. Bonaventure’s, celebrated the Mass, concelebrated by several friars, including Father Daniel Grigassy, St. Bonaventure’s last Franciscan pastor.
“Today, we celebrate not only the friars, but also the people of the parish: the sisters, staff, and parishioners,” Father Mullen said. “We are at a moment of transition — not at the end or beginning. Consider the ways the order touched the parish. [The friars] live the Gospels among the people. The parish will still be vibrant. Love is inclusive. All can come in.”
The Franciscans left St. Bonaventure’s amid staffing shortfalls, after sharing the joys and sorrows of generations of parishioners, including increasing numbers of Spanish-speaking faithful. In the diocese, the friars continue to administer St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes and St. Anthony Parish in Butler, where the province runs its friary.
St. Bonaventure’s, the diocese’s second-oldest parish, started when friars came to Paterson from Germany in 1876. They were given an abandoned Carmelite monastery built the previous year. It was raised to parish status in 1877. The church was completed in 1880.
St. Bonaventure’s was the friars’ founding house. The monastery housed the novices for many years. Thousands of friars walked those grounds over the years until the novitiate moved to Lafayette. Then the monastery served as a retreat house for a while before it was razed in 1983.
The parish is located in the Stoney Road area of Paterson which produced many vocations to the priesthood and religious life, mostly Franciscan. From St. Bonaventure’s, the friars founded many parishes in and around the diocese, many no longer Franciscan-run.
Current and former religious, staff and parishioners filled St. Bonaventure’s for the Mass which was livestreamed. Religious sisters of other orders also attended, joined by Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious.
Father Grigassy, pastor for 14 years, addressed churchgoers at the end of Mass. He will serve the Holy Name College Friary in Silver Spring, Md.
“The Christian faith is about our future — where we’re headed when Christ will come in glory. His dying and rising will lift up and transform our dyings and risings,” Father Grigassy said. He told parishioners, “As we pray at every Mass, we friars will pray every day that you are free and that you are safe in the peace of Christ.”
Father Grigassy told The Beacon he loved St. Bonaventure’s faithful because “they are real people with real lives — salt of the earth people who appreciate a community of faith.”
In a letter to St. Bonaventure’s, Father Nevitt expressed enthusiasm about becoming their administrator.
The priest assured parishioners, “We are still on the same journey that began 148 years ago [with the Franciscans], a journey that truly began almost 2,000 years ago when those first Apostles started to follow Jesus.”
“We will cry together, we will laugh together, we will pray together, and we will evangelize together. Our journey is uncertain, but one thing is clear: we are a united community, walking towards heaven and living in the love of Christ,” Father Nevitt said.
Three friars appeared on episode 61 of Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney’s Beyond The Beacon podcast to talk about ways they pass on the faith and the transfer of St. Bonaventure’s.
BEACON PHOTOS | RICH GIGLI & JENNIFER MAHON
