|
Father James
McCune will celebrate his golden anniversary of ordination
By Edward R. Piana
Special to the Citizen
It is the
rare individual indeed who can say with sincerity that he would
not change a thing in life. Father James McCune falls into that
exclusive group with the observation that, “I would not want to
change a thing in my life.”
 Eleven
years have passed rapidly since Father McCune completed his
assignment at St. John the Evangelist Church in Canton. He
devoted 17 years as pastor of the parish, which he proudly and
often proclaimed to be “the jewel of the South Shore.” In that
period of time, Father Jim left his lasting imprint on the
parish and its members. Now, on the 50th anniversary
of his ordination as a Roman Catholic priest, it is appropriate
to reflect on the significant events in Father McCune’s life and
career.
He was born
in New York City to his parents, Herman “Mac” McCune and Stella
Sweeney McCune.
The family
relocated to Roslindale in 1934, where the elder McCune was
employed by the US Civil Service Commission. Father Jim
describes his aunts and uncles on both sides of the family as
entrepreneurs in their own retail businesses. As an only child
removed from the family base in New York, Jim McCune found
companionship with school chums — first at public grammar school
and then at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Jamaica Plain.
In 1946, he
entered the freshmen class at Boston College High School, which
at the time was located at the original site in the South End.
Sitting next to him in class was Bill Sullivan, now Dr. William
Sullivan of Bretton Drive in Canton, who later became one of his
parishioners at St. John’s Church. During his four years at BC
High, Jim McCune was an accomplished member of the orchestra. He
earned scholastic recognition and was inducted in both the
junior and senior honor society, which is called Hoi Aristoi,
the Attic Greek term for “the best.”
It was
during his junior and senior years of high school that he began
to give serious thought about entering the priesthood. Father
John E. Foley at Holy Name Parish gave him guidance and
encouragement in his search for a vocation. Today, Father
McCune recalls that his parents always remained neutral on the
matter so that the decision was strictly one of his own choice.
After
graduating from Boston College High School, he entered St.
John’s Seminary for four years of college, followed by four more
years as a seminarian.
On a clear,
cold and bright day — February 3, 1958, Archbishop of Boston
Richard J. Cushing ordained 60 new members into the priesthood.
Jim McCune then became Reverend Father James McCune. He arrived
at St. Paul’s in Wellesley for his first assignment as a curate.
There he remained from 1958 to 1965.
His next
post was at Blessed Sacrament in Jamaica Plain until 1972. A
startling and completely unexpected phone call from Cardinal
Medeiros placed Father McCune in the very different role of
secretary to the Archbishop of Boston for the next ten years.
During that
period in his capacity as the secretary to Cardinal Medeiros, he
traveled extensively to such places as the Azores, Portugal,
Ireland, Italy and Brownsville, Texas. However, one of the most
memorable moments occurred during the visit of Pope John Paul II
to Boston in 1979. On that rainy day on Boston Common, Father
McCune stood out as the attendant who held the umbrella over the
Pontiff’s head!
In February
1983, St. John’s in Canton had the very good fortune to welcome
Father McCune as its new pastor, a role he retained until May
2000.
Since his
departure from St. John’s, Father McCune has served as the
Director of the Office of Senior Priests for the Diocese of
Boston. His responsibilities require daily travel in attending
to the needs of senior clergy.
Along the
way, he has maintained a keen personal interest in two sports.
Father McCune is a longtime, committed fan at BC hockey games.
Golf is his other major sports interest. For many years he was
part of an extended group of clergy who maintained a special
membership at Wampatuck Country Club. The number of rounds may
have declined more recently, but his love of the game remains
intact. (Like most golfers, he does not divulge his handicap too
freely).
Dr. Bill
Sullivan, his former BC High classmate and a fellow hockey fan
at BC games, describes Father McCune as a man with an engaging
sense of humor and one who is quietly but supremely dedicated to
his chosen profession.
Patty Doyle,
who heads the Chernobyl Children Project and is actively
engaged in parish affairs, states that he is a superb
administrator who put St. John’s on a sound financial basis. “He
is the most priestly person I have ever known,” she said.
Virginia Hagerty is pleasantly reminded each morning of Father
McCune on the walk from her car to the church for daily Mass
when she observes the stately tree placed in the former convent
yard.
The tree was
donated and planted in 1997 by the faculty, staff, students and
families of St. John’s School as an enduring tribute to Father
James McCune.
Donald
Podgurski remains a close friend. He enjoyed many night games
with Father McCune in the Red Sox executive box at Fenway Park
as guests of the late Haywood Sullivan, who took a special
liking to Father McCune. Donald recalls how Father McCune gave
the benediction for many years at the Annual Public Safety Night
sponsored by the Norwood Elks. Donald identifies Father McCune’s
special allure when he notes how many families in Canton
continue to ask for his celebration of baptisms, burials and
weddings.
Sister
Catherine M. Gilmore, CSJ, former Principal of St. John’s
School, interacted with Fr. McCune for many years in managing
the school, its staff and its educational excellence. She
recognized his quiet yet effective cooperative approach to every
facet of the school’s operation. In Sister Catherine’s view,
Father McCune stands out as the example of the perfect priest.
“For 16 years, I had the privilege of working with one of the
finest, most respected, gentle and kindest priests in the
archdiocese,” she said. “Father McCune was interested in each
and everyone at St. John the Evangelist School — the children,
their parents and the teachers. He was there for all of us. It
is an honor and great privilege for us that Father McCune has
chosen St. John’s as the site for the celebration of the Golden
Anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.”
Father Tom
Maguire, the pastor of St. Helen’s Church in Norwell, who served
with Father McCune at St. John the Evangelist Church, added his
words of pure praise when he said: “Father McCune is an
outstanding pastoral priest who knows his parishioners by name,
their needs and their backgrounds. He is a patient and
understanding pastor who is both dedicated and conscientious. No
one can ever refuse his requests for assistance and nothing ever
seems to bother him. I am pleased to have served with him in
three different parishes.”
On May 18,
2008 Father McCune’s former parishioners, fellow priests,
religious and friends will gather at Saint John the Evangelist
Church for the 11:30 Mass. They will celebrate his half century
of devotion to his faith and the quiet example he has set for
all who have been associated with him. And in so doing, all
will reaffirm that Father James McCune truly need not change a
thing in his life.
May 15, 2008
Return
to Past Articles Page
|
