Living on God's doorstep

By Maria Clark

On a recent day, freezing cold air rustled the bare tree branches that surround the John Cardinal O’Connor Clergy Residence for retired Catholic priests. Set on a hill overlooking the Hudson River, the majestic stone manor, at 5655 Arlington Ave., is home to 28 men who have come here to spend their final years reflecting on their long lives spent in the service of others.

The rays from the chilly winter sun catch the stained glass windows of the chapel of Our Lady, Queen of Priests. Built in 1902 for an order of cloistered nuns called the Sisters of the Visitation, it is the oldest section of the building.

When economic conditions led to the closing of some monasteries during the 1980s, the sisters were transferred to other locations. From 1980 to 2001, the residence was used as the St. John Neumann pre-seminary program for students planning to attend St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers.

The archdiocese renovated the student residence into a home for retired priests in 2003.

“All these priests were ‘war babies,’ as they sometimes called themselves. Some had entered the seminary as World War II was brewing in Europe, with winds circling around the States. Many of them had spent their seminary years in the midst of the war, and after ordination, all spent their early years of ministry in parishes and schools and other assignments that were dominated by a culture recovering from war,” Msgr. John Doherty wrote in his book A House on Arlington. He wrote it during his stay at the residence. Msgr. Doherty passed away on Jan.1.

Days are spent in each others’ company as they talk and reflect on paths taken or bypassed; Father Vincent Lancellotti, 84, worked as a court reporter for 15 years and taught stenography before he was ordained in 1968, Father Alfred Croke, 81, served during the Korean War before he became an army chaplain.

As they sit down for lunch, they talk about Father Robert Duane, 82, whose long-time hobby was to predict the weather, or about Msgr. Harry Byrne, 89, and his blog.

His latest blog post celebrated the renewal of the wedding vows of two dear friends of his who have been married for 70 years.

“I had cautioned Ralph and Rose when they made the request. Your family and probably most of your friends are Jewish. What will they think? A chap with a Roman collar conducting the ceremony? ‘Not to worry,’ Ralph replied. ‘That’s the way Rose and I want it — by you, a friend of over fifty years,’” Msgr. Byrne wrote in his latest blog post, titled “Friends Extraordinaire!”

Yet, as they settle into the final phase in their lives, many of the men who live here still dedicate their time visiting local parishes to celebrate Mass or listen to confessions.

“In a way, this is what I always wanted to do, to provide spiritual services without having to worry about the administrative side. I was ordained to provide ministry not administration,” said Bishop Robert Brucato, 79, who spent 22 years as a senior chaplain in the Air Force. He served at 12 military installations around the world, and went on to St. Gabriel’s Parish, among other locations, before retiring in 2007.

Bishop Brucato, who is originally from the East Bronx, was ordained when he was 25 years old. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese in 1997. The retirement age in the diocese is normally 75, unless a priest is no longer physically capable of work.

Father Christopher Daly, 75, moved to the residence when it first opened. His vision had begun to deteriorate. He was unable to read Mass or drive, and by the time he moved to the home on the hill, he could see only shadows.

He has memorized the winding halls of the home and can make his way unaided around the residence.

“This has been a wonderful home from the Lord, to the Church and successively, to me,” said Father Daly. “I like it here, away from all the noise. It’s so peaceful.”