Thursday, October 26, 2017

Father McGovern

I don't ever remember a time in my life until he died that Father McGovern was a part of our family events be they births, marriages, or funerals. He was Judy's godfather. 

I will never forget the day that Judy and I went to say good-bye to him when he was in his last days.   And I remember the beautiful funeral that was held for him when he passed.    He was part of our family and a very dear man!



FAMILY MESSENGER

Jubilee Issue                                                                          May 30, 1970

Rev. Michael A. McGovern
Silver Jubilee
1945
1970

In Happy Rememberance
of my  
Ordination to the Priesthood
at
The Cathedral Caban
and of my 
First Holy Mass
Celebrated in
Glangeblin Parish Church
June 17th and 18th 1945
Michael McGovern

To Father McGovern, the ordination Card Shown at the right (above here) may have signified the end many years of seminary training in Ireland.   To thousands of Arizona Catholics, however, the ordination of this one priest was to mean the beginning of numerous new churches, schools, and parish facilities. St. Jerome's is proud to celebrate with our founding pastor on his twenty-fifth anniversary as a priest.

Father McGovern's home in Glangevilin, Cavan

The Phoenix Bird has appropriately been chosen as the emblem for Father McGovern's Silver Jubilee.  The legendary bird represents new life.  THe wheat is used to symbolize the priesthood while the shamrock depicts his native homeland.


Born to James and Rose McGovern in Glangevlin Co, Cavan, the seventh member of a family of ten boys and two girls,  Michael Anthony grew up on his parent's farm--close to the earth and its Maker.


After seven years in the local grade school, he spent five years of high school at St. Patrick's, Cavan, where he learned his skill at Gaelic football and was introduced to Shakespeare. After five additional years in St. Patrick's Seminary, Carlow, he was ordained on June 17, 1945, int eh Cathedral of Sts. Patrick & Felim, Cavan.

 A first blessing for Mother.....

It is many miles from the gently rolling hills of West Cavan, Ireland, to the rugged desert ranges of Arizona, but the pioneering spirit which has characterized Fr. McGovern throughout his life prompted a consideration to relocate to Arizona.

The late Daniel Gercke, former Bishop of Tucson,  had appealed for help in his diocese. Father McGovern was intrigued with the challenge of life in Arizona and after due deliberation he accepted Bishop Gercke's invitation to become part of the Diocese of Tucson.

He traveled from Ireland to Tucson and he was met and welcomed by Bishop Gercke in May, 1946.

His first taste of desert living was received during his initial assignment as assistant to Fr. James McFadden in Casa Grande.  In those days before air conditioning and the relaxed Eucharistic fact, serving Casa Grande and its two missions, Coolidge and Eloy, demanded real dedication.  

In 1948, Father McGovern was transferred to Nogales to assist Fr. Rouselle.  It was in this friendly border town he acquired a knowledge of Spanish.  Three years later he moved to Douglas to become the pastor of the newly formed parish of St. Luke's. There with the aid of 400 families he transformed an old army barracks, which had served as a temporary church into the present church and hall.   Always a lover of sports, it was at this time that he learned to play and enjoy golf.

After 8 years in Douglas, Fr. McGovern became pastor of St. Patrick's in Bisbee, a parish of some 500 families.   With their assistance he constructed a new rectory and convent.

In 1962, Francis J. Green became Bishop of Tucson. Foreseeing the needs of the rapidly growing northwest section of Phoenix, he established two new parishes, one under the patronage of St. Louis, King of France and the other that of St. Jerome.   Father McGovern was named pastor of the new Church of St. Jerome.

In June, 1962, St. Jerome's existed in name only. Through the wisdom, dedication and foresight of Fr. McGovern it has become what we know today, a vibrant parish ever expanding and ever progressing.   It is hard for anyone except a charter parish member to visualize Fr. McGovern's challenge as he took up temporary residence at Most Holy Trinity eight years ago.

At that time 35th Avenue was a dirt road north of Dunlap and the present parish grounds were part of an expanse of farmland stretching from Dunlap to Cholla Avenues.   His first step then was the purchase of this property.  Next he left for Ireland in search of nuns to staff the future school.

On returning, Cholla school cafetorium was procured for Sunday Masses and Saturday confessions.  Renting the school facility involved getting signatures from taxpayers in the area, which required the help of many parishioners. Many also had to help in making the kneelers and setting up the hall each week.   The enthusiasm of his parishioners in those days has always been an inspiration to Fr. McGovern.

The first mass at Cholla was on August, 1962.  At this time baptisms and daily masses took place at the temporary rectory, 3208 W. Bloomfield.

Through detailed consultation with an architect, plans for the present church and adjoining hall were then drawn up and approved. Ground was broken for the new church on February 17, 1963.


With a sign of relief and satisfaction of accomplishment, all joined in the celebration of mass in the new church for the first time on August 4, 1963. By December, 1963 the present rectory was ready for occupancy and Fr. McGovern moved in with his assistant, Fr. Clement Hut.

Bishop Green of Tucson dedicated the new church on April 15, 1964.  Meantime, things were beginning to happen in Rome which were to have world-wide repercussions. The Renewal of the Church had begun with changes designed to renew the liturgy.  Implementing and keeping abreast of them was a constant challenge.  Our pastor was equal to the challenge and has continued to lead our parish since that time in the spirit of Vatican II.

The next step in the building program was the construction of a school.  The first half was completed and classes for kindergarten through 3rd grade were begun in September, 1965 with the help of the Loretto Sisters who commuted daily from Sts. Simon and Jude.

With the completion of the second half of the school in November, 1967, another milestone was reached.

Then the typical awareness of the needs of a parish today, Fr. McGovern in December, 1967 invited a representative group of people to form an Interim Parish Council.  When their preparatory work was completed they gave way to the present elected Council.

The next milestone for Fr. McGovern was the arrival of our present Dominican Sisters from Maine to work in our school and the parish in general.  Their convent was completed in the spring of 1969.

Fr. McGovern's vision has always reached beyond parochial boundaries as is shown by the various ways in which st. Jerome's has participated in the life of the greater local community in which it has located.  An outstanding example of Christian service to the community is the use of the Church Hall for the Deer Valley Day Care Center.

And so the story goes on. For Father McGovern's leadership continues to inspires us we continue to struggle to meet the needs of an every growing parish.

There are many other things which we are grateful to Fr. McGovern and we hope that these few days of celebration will convey something of that gratitude.  We wish him many more years of God's blessings in the service of His people.

A time to be proud


A time to reflect




   

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