Priest
takes his cue from patron saint,
St. Joseph the Worker
By Sister Kathleen Leary, S.S.J.
Special to the CS&T
Preparations and celebrations for the Bicentennial of the Archdiocese
are now history for most people. However, for Father Joseph C. McLoone,
the bicentennial chairman, this is a time of prayerful reflection.
“I feel relieved that the bicentennial celebrations are over, but
am aware that these last two years were not only an occasion to look back
but an opportunity to recommit ourselves to service in the Church through
Christ Jesus,” he said.
“Our 200 years of history invite all of us in the Church today to
continue building up the Body of Christ by our personal relationships
with Him. This past year was a graced way for me to see how vital and
alive the Church was, is, and, with God’s grace, will be in the
future,” he said.
Along with preparations for the closing Mass, other monthly events also
kept him busy — the special service program, for example, where
every parish, school and institution joined in some act or program of
service, and the actual bicentennial anniversary on April 8, when more
than 200 of the faithful gathered for a prayer service on the steps of
the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul to enjoy cake and sing “Happy
Birthday.”
Having been named for the saint whose feast day is this week — St.
Joseph the Worker — Father Joe, as he is affectionately known to
many, has always had deep devotion to his patron saint. “Like St.
Joseph, I pray daily to know God’s will and not to question the
path on which He leads me,” he said.
Father McLoone was in evidence at each bicentennial event, whether it
was marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade or celebrating the
liturgy with 3,500 in attendance for the Amazing Race for Grace.
“Working with Father McLoone on ‘Prayer on the Parkway’
and the bicentennial celebrations was such a pleasure,” said Tricia
Manion Cellucci, the former director of the Office for Youth and Young
Adults. “He was so upbeat and enthusiastic. On a personal level,
he has been a strong witness of the priesthood for my husband and me.
He is truly an amazing grace in the lives of so many people.”
Many of the people Father McLoone has met and served in each parish where
he has been assigned — St. Anne, St. Martin of Tours, the Cathedral
Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, and St. Therese, where he was pastor from
2001 until his current assignment as pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Parish
in Chester — were called on to help in each of the events of the
past year.
Born and raised in Olney and a graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School,
Father McLoone is the son of Theresa and the late Patrick McLoone. He
has one brother and sister-in-law, Patrick and Tracy McLoone; two sisters
and brothers-in-law, Mary and Rich Hoffman, and Kate and Richard Burns,
and eight nieces and nephews, all of whom are proud of him.
“This May, I will be ordained 20 years, and I have prayed each day
to be a joyful, holy and happy priest, serving God’s people with
heart and energy,” he said. “I try to be a gentle presence
in the lives of all I meet, whether in the parish, hospitals or nursing
homes — and of course, to my own family.
“My family continues to be such a great support to me. Their prayers
and example have made me the priest I am today,” he said.
Father McLoone believes the visit of the Holy Father was a great way for
all to conclude the bicentennial year.
“We were blessed to celebrate our closing Mass at Villanova and
give thanks to God for 200 years of the Church of Philadelphia one week,
and the next week, at Yankee Stadium, to celebrate with New York, Boston
and Louisville on their 200th anniversaries.”
Sister Kathleen Leary, S.S.J., is archdiocesan coordinator for vocations
to consecrated life and a former staff member of The Catholic Standard
& Times.