Meet Father Seán Connolly: New priest of St. Margaret of Cortona-St. Gabriel Parish in Riverdale
Sunlight poured through the colorful stained glass as Father Seán Connolly made his way down the aisle. Dressed in his classical black pastoral vestment, he chatted with The Press about St. Margaret of Cortona - St. Gabriel Parish at 6000 Riverdale Avenue, and his new appointment as its priest.
Officially ordained in 2015, Connolly had been leading Sunday services at Most Holy Redeemer-Nativity Catholic Church in the East Village for nine years before moving to Riverdale in August. Over the summer, he was asked by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a senior clergy member appointed by the pope over the state of New York, to replace Father Brian McCarthy, who left the Riverdale community after 16 years of service. Having attended Fordham Preparatory School and countless hours running in Van Cortlandt Park, Connolly believed he would be a good fit for the community.
“It’s a great honor to be here. It’s a largely active community,” Connolly said.
He shared that his objective for the parish is to ensure that the Catholic community of Riverdale are one spiritual family. For him, that unification involves tending to the youth, the sick, those unable to leave their homes and visiting the nursing homes in the community.
Connolly’s desire to devote his life to the church started with his parents. His mother and father were incredibly loving and helped him to form a deep love and faith for God. As he continued through high school and college, his faith and curiosity grew.
His particular inspiration came from studying the lives of the saints, explaining that their heroic acts captured his imagination and wonder.
“I wanted to be like them who do glorious things for God so that inspired me to want to dedicate and make a total gift of my life for the service of the church,” Connolly said.
In order to graduate from Fordham Prep in 2006, all students were required to study a classical language, Connolly chose Latin, and his studies further pushed his fascination for the Greco-Roman culture and its archaeology. He went on to continue his studies in Latin at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. and earned his bachelor’s degree in archaeology in 2010.
“Studying the classical Greco-Roman world really gives insight into who we are as a people,” Connolly said. “Into the origins and foundation into which Western civilization was built.”
His undergraduate research took him as far as living in Rome and tagging along for archaeological digs around the world, but in the end, he knew he wanted nothing more than to give everything to God.
After graduating from Holy Cross, Connolly enrolled in St. Joseph’s Seminary School in Yonkers and studied there for five years before being ordained.
Currently, his parish operates with three priests, all of whom are under the age of 40, sharing the duties of covering the two churches of St. Margaret of Cortona and St. Gabriel’s. Connolly remarks that despite their young age they all share a zeal for the mission of spreading the good news of God.
When new principal Richard Kruczek started this fall at St. Margaret of Cortona-St. Gabriel School, he included the parish in the school and since the beginning of the school year, Connolly has led morning prayer, greeted parents and students during drop off and pick up and, as well as attended sports games and other community events.
For him, being inside the school offers a reminder to the students that God is close and “the life of the church has a place in aspects of all society,” Connolly said.
Serving the youth is one of the highest priorities for Connolly, he said between the school and the religious education program offered to students outside of the parochial school, they educate over 400 young people. The education they offer the children also goes beyond just biblical teachings to include serving within the church, attending retreats and holding community service events.
“The school is something that we’re very proud of,” Connolly said.
Having been a religious institution locally for the last 100 years, St. Margaret of Cortona - St. Gabriel aims to include the community beyond just their congregants.
In early October, Connolly said they hosted the 50th precinct to use their parking lot for an auto theft prevention event where they offered free catalytic converter etching and steering wheel locks.
Father Connolly’s favorite scripture is Hebrews 10:24 which reads, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
“That's the Christian life, to love and to do good,” Connolly said.
Father Connolly was made official with his installation mass on All Saints Day, Friday, Nov. 1.
