Funeral Mass for Rev. Joseph F. O'Donnell Jr., C.S.C.

good afternoon and welcome to this funeral mass for father joseph o'donnell csc everything you need is in the blue worship aid i believe we are ready to begin please stand for the opening hymn [Music] eternal father strong to save whosoever has bound the restless wave who bids the mighty ocean deep it's appointed limits keep o hear us when we're raised [Music] [Music] wherever lord your loved ones will protect them by your god from every [Music] on the grace and peace of god our father and the lord jesus christ be with you r in the waters of baptism job died with christ and rose with him to new life may he now share with him eternal glory [Music] on the day of his baptism job put on christ on the day of his religious profession he was clothed with the grace to live the evangelical councils at the end of time may christ clothe him in glory and enfold him in his love [Music] [Music] and keep them [Music] in [Music] of love and power your children a shield endangers our from rock and tempest fire and fall protect them where so where they go and then shall rise with a voice as free god praise [Music] on behalf of the congregation of holy cross we welcome joe's sister and family members and all who here are present to celebrate the life of this faithful priest in his baptism joe received the mark of christ's cross at his profession of perpetual vows he received the image of christ crucified and was invited to follow in his footsteps may he come to share in the glory of his resurrection let us pray grant we pray o lord that the soul of joseph your servant a religious and priest whom you honored with sacred office while he lived in this world may exalt forever in the glorious home of heaven through our lord jesus christ your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit god forever and ever [Music] a reading from the book of wisdom souls of the righteous are in the hand of god and no torment shall touch them they seemed in the view of the foolish to be dead and their passing away was thought and affliction and they're going forth from us utter destruction but they are in peace for if to others indeed they seem punished yet is their hope full of immortality chastised a little they shall be greatly blessed because god tried them and found them worthy of himself as gold in the furnace he proved them and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself in the time of their judgment they shall shine and dart about as sparks through through stubble they shall judge nations and rule over peoples and the lord shall be their king forever those who trust in him shall understand truth and the faithful shall abide with him in love because grace and mercy are with his holy ones and his care is with the elect the word of the lord um [Music] the lord is my shabbat nothing shall i want he leads me by safe paths nothing shall i fear the lord [Music] the lord is shepherd there is nothing i shall want fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me reports [Music] near restful waters he leads me he revives my soul [Music] [Music] nothing shall i want he leads [Music] he guides me along the right path he is true to his name though i should walk in the valley of darkness no evil should i fear you are there with your crook and your staff [Music] with these you give me [Music] nothing shall i want [Music] you have prepared a table before me in the sight of my foes [Music] my head you have anointed with oil my cup is overflowing the lord is my shadow nothing shall i want he leads me by [Music] surely goodness and mercy shall follow me for the days of my life in the lord's own house shall i dwell forever [Music] [Music] nothing shall hallelujah [Music] [Music] oh i am the resurrection and the life says the lord whoever believes in me even if he dies we'll live forever [Music] oh the lord be with you a reading from the holy gospel according to john the next day there was with there was again with john the next day john was there again with two of his disciples and as he watched jesus walk by he said behold the lamb of god the two disciples heard what he said and followed jesus jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them what are you looking for they said to him rabbi which translated means teacher where are you staying he said to them come and you will see so they went and saw where he was staying and they stayed with him that day the gospel of the lord so mary ruth as as we bid joe farewell please know that you and your family are in our prayers as well we pray for you today the the gospel today highlights a conversation lord where are you staying come and you will see at a very young age that dialogue began joe o'donnell and the lord spoke to one another well in the eighth grade joe told his parents that he would like to be a priest one day a few years later while in college here joe responded to that invitation come and you will see when that dialogue began to take shape as a young holy cross priest joe began ministry in the mission band preaching parish's parish retreats throughout his life joe was a very good preacher but he was not noted for brevity there was so much to be said now once when he was visiting chicago he was visiting he would preach at the family's local parish and one day while at his sister's home he asked for some paper to write out his sunday sermon his astute young niece offered him a hint she handed him a piece of paper cut into a one inch square now within six years of his ordination that invitation come and see took a dramatic turn joe stepped onto the battlefield as a navy chaplain attending injured terrified mortally wounded marines and as he put it when recalling that formative experience in ministry he wrote welcome to war joe now after two long tours on the battlefield in the 60s throughout his life joe continued to minister to the wounded warriors and the grieving families he had met during that painful chapter in their lives for decades his was a voice of undying hope and encouragement for those families indeed that intense suffering and wartime experience continued to shape both his personal spiritual journey and his pastoral ministry for the rest of his life joe saw where the lord stayed and he stayed with him step by step as a minister in various hospital settings as a chaplain to state police as a team member at the world trade center following 911 and even as an administrator in the navy and in the community joe heard the invitation come and you will see and over and over again he echoed that painful refrain welcome to war joe from the challenges of ministry over the course of the years to the physical trials he encountered most recently as gold in the furnace he was tried put to the test and proven but while uh suffering may characterize a good portion of their effort together joe and jesus were in tune in step with one another throughout throughout joe and jesus they were friends they they are friends a friendship engaged in and uh an ongoing dialogue an unending dialogue a friendship that is rooted in a passion for purpose and results that serve god's people a friendship rooted in an intellectual quest seeking and speaking the truth a truth that longs for the promise of peace while revealing the real challenges of god's merciful love a friendship rooted in love love of good food and good company a holy communion that feeds the soul and bears hope [Music] do this in memory of me he was told now recently joe quipped getting old ain't for sissies and he also painfully pondered why am i still here then just moments later a woman stopped by she needed to talk and she wanted to go to confession joe listened he did his duty and suddenly he became deeply gratefully aware of why he was still here come and you will see in navy tradition during life's transitions sailors are often honored in a special ceremony for having maintained the watch one's history is recalled the shipmate's story is retold while we were asleep he stood the watch when the storm clouds were brewing on the horizon he stood the watch when others needed an open ear a helping hand he stood the watch and then at the end of the list the ceremony concludes shipmate we are here to say that the watch is now relieved relieved by those you guided trained and helped along the way joe you may stand relieved we have the watch fair winds following seas at a very young age the dialogue began between joseph o'donnell and the lord lord where are you staying come and you will see from that early dialogue a long-standing friendship developed god blessed them sent them tried them and found them worthy for their communion their hope is full of immortality may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of god rest in peace [Music] god the almighty father raised christ his son from death with confidence we pray in his name r [Music] pope francis for our bishop kevin and for all those entrusted with leadership position physicians in the church especially in the congregation of holy cross let us pray to the lord for all of our elected and appointed government officials may they serve with integrity seeking the common good let us pray to the lord [Music] for all who serve and protect us especially our men and women in the armed forces an appreciation for their service and may they be kept safe from all harm let us [Music] for our brother joseph who devoted 27 of his 61 years as a priest and religious to serving as a chaplain in the united states navy may he rest in peace and come to share in the eternal banquet feast in heaven let us pray to the lord for the family members and friends of our brother joseph as well as all those serving in the united in the united states navy in this time of loss and grief may they be strengthened by our celebration of the paschal mystery and by the promise of eternal life let us pray to the lord [Music] in company with the holy mother of god and all the saints without ceasing let us pray to the lord hear our prayer god our shelter and our strength hear the prayers we offer for our departed brother joseph cleanse him of his sins and grant him the fullness of redemption we ask this through christ our lord [Music] [Music] the [Music] the lord [Music] our god who was the word of god [Music] undead [Music] is [Music] his pathway leads out [Music] right [Music] glorious [Music] let our faith [Music] [Music] pray my brothers and sisters that these are gifts may be acceptable to god our loving father grant we pray almighty god that through these holy mysteries joe your servant and priest may behold with clarity forever what he faithfully ministered here through christ our lord the lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the lord our god it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god through christ our lord for he is the salvation of the world the life of the human race the resurrection of the dead through him the host of angels adores your majesty and rejoices in your presence forever may our voices we pray join with theirs in one chorus of exalted praise as we acclaim holy holy lord [Music] your glory [Music] in the name of the [Music] you are indeed holy o lord and all you have created rightly gives you praise for through your son our lord jesus christ by the power and working of the holy spirit you give life to all things and make them holy and you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name therefore o lord we humbly implore you by the same spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration that they may become the body and blood of your son our lord jesus christ at whose command we celebrate these mysteries for on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread and giving you thanks he said the blessing broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you [Music] in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and giving you thanks he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me [Music] the mystery of faith when we eat this bread and drink this we proclaim your death o lord [Music] until you come again therefore o lord as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of your son his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven and as we look forward to his second coming we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice look we pray upon the oblation of your church in recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you willed to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your son and filled with his holy spirit may become one body one spirit in christ may he make of us an eternal offering to you so that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect especially with the most blessed virgin mary mother of god with blessed joseph her spouse with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs and with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help may this sacrifice of our reconciliation we pray o lord advance the peace and salvation of all the world be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth with your servant francis our pope and kevin our bishop the order of bishops and all the clergy and the entire people you have gained for your own listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you in your compassion o merciful father gather to yourself all of your children scattered throughout the world remember your servant joseph whom you have called from this world to yourself grant that he who was united with your son in a death like his may also be one with him in his resurrection when from the earth he will raise up in the flesh those who have died and transform our lonely body after the pattern of his own glorious body to our departed brothers and sisters too and to all who were pleased to serve you at their passing from this life give kind admittance to your kingdom there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory when you will wipe away every tear from our eyes for seeing you our god as you are we shall be like you for all the ages and praise you without end through christ our lord through whom you bestow on the world all that is good through him with him and in him o god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever and ever [Music] at the savior's command and formed by divine teaching we dare to say our father hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ lord jesus christ who said to your apostles peace i leave you my peace i give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously grant your peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign for ever and ever the peace of the lord be with you always [Music] let us offer one another a sign of peace [Music] take away the sins of the world have mercy on us [Music] have mercy on us [Music] grand us peace behold the lamb of god behold the one who takes away the sin of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb [Music] the body you would dwell in the shelter of the lord who abide in his shadow for life said with the lord my refuge my rock in whom i trust and he will raise you up on eagle's wings bear you on the breath of dawn make you to shine like the sun and hold [Music] the snare of the fowler will never capture you and famine will bring you no fear [Music] under his wings your refuge his faithfulness your shield and he will raise you [Music] up make your to shine like the sun and hold ugh uh [Music] let us pray having received the sacrament of salvation we implore your kindness oh god for joseph your servant and priest that as you made him a steward of your mysteries on earth so may bring him so now bring him to be nourished by your truth and reality is unveiled in heaven through christ our lord [Music] with faith in jesus christ let us take leave of our brother joseph his religious life on this earth was a sign of the kingdom which is to come may our farewell express our love for him may it ease our sadness and strengthen our hope one day in that kingdom we shall joyfully greet him again when the love of christ which conquers all things destroys even death itself [Music] when the king shall come again [Music] splendor shall announce his reign life and joy and healing [Music] hope no more frustrated this is god's redemption [Music] longingly awaited [Music] their god's highway shall be seen when a roaring lion nothing evil or unclean walks long [Music] all your praises voices see your lord with glory crown his rejoicing [Music] into your hands father of mercies we commend our brother joe in the certain hope that together with all who have died in christ he will rise with him on the last day we give you thanks for the blessings which you have bestowed upon our brother in this life they are signs to us of your goodness and of our fellowship with the saints in christ merciful lord turn toward us and listen to our prayers open the gates of paradise to your servant and help us who remain to comfort one another with assurances of faith until we meet in christ and are with you and our brother forever we ask this through christ our lord in peace let us take our brother joseph to his place of rest [Music] me [Music] is [Music] so [Music] perry [Music] obey us request [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Holy Cross, U.S. Province

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Id: Cf2wxGH-288

Length: 53min 53sec (3233 seconds)

Published: Mon Dec 13 2021