Pat McCloskey, OFM celebrates his final Mass at St. Boniface
“You have been a Good Shepherd who with simplicity and also intensity—like a good Franciscan—has accompanied us in following Christ,” said St. Boniface Church Parochial Vicar Fr. Luca Roso, MCCJ, on Aug. 6, at the end of the 11 a.m. Mass, as he thanked Pat McCloskey for his decades of dedicated service to the faith community of St. Boniface Church.
Fr. Luca continued, “I want to thank you, Fr. Pat, from my heart, for your long and dedicated service to our community. May the Lord bless your next service, accompany your walk and always support you with his peace and grace. Thank you, Fr. Pat, and thousands of blessings.”
With much gratitude and love, the St. Boniface faith community bid farewell to Pat, who has celebrated Mass with the Northside parish off and on for almost 50 years, starting in the early 1970s by working in St. Boniface School as a deacon and then saying Mass occasionally during the 70s and 80s, said Business Manager Jenni Lindgren as she presented Pat with a gift from the parish.
Pat chats with his fellow friars after Mass. From left, Matt Ryan, Larry Dunham, Matthias Crehan and Pat.
“For the last 20 or so years, Fr. Pat has celebrated Mass regularly on Sundays and weekdays,” she told the congregation. “His dry sense of humor, knowledge of the saints, flower deliveries and words of wisdom have touched all of us in many ways. We will miss having you, Fr. Pat, as a part of our daily lives. Thank you again for everything. May God bless you!”
Following the Mass, the parish hosted a reception on the lawn outside the rectory where parishioners, friends, and local friars Larry Dunham, Gene Mayer, Matthias Crehan, Norbert Bertram, Robert Seay and Matt Ryan greeted Pat and said goodbye.