NATIONAL ae a. CATHOLIC. REGISTER ree) BEE) oc ‘The Luckiest Man in the Universe’ by JOSEPH PRONECHEN He was only a small child — as young as 4, perhaps — when the Real Presence ‘of Christin the Eucharist first made a deep impression on him. "To this day he remembers thinking, as he watched Father Jon Cantwell of St Michael's distribute Communion: “The priest must be the luckiest man in the uni verse to be able to hold God in his hands and give him to others.” One day, as his pastor was “putting Jesus back in the tabernacle,” he now recalls, “| asked God to give me the voca- tion to be a priest." It was to become a reg- ular prayer — one that God would honor. Today, 33-year-old Father Roger Landry is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass. serving at St. Francis Xavier Making sure overy- ‘one sees that they're Al called to be a sal (Proto coutesy of Fates Church in the town of Hyannis on Cape Coa The route to his 1999 ordination by Boxion Archbishop Sean O'Malley, who was then the bishop of Fall River, is impressive, Educated at Harvard, Landry hheld leadership positions in ‘pro-life groups in Washington, D.C., conducted medical research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and studied theology in ‘America and at the Angelicum, Gregorian ‘and Lateran Universities in Rome. He concentrated on mariage, family and sexual issues. Later he studied bioethies at the John Paul I Institute for the Study of Marriage and Family. Despite the extensive and intensive preparation for the priesthood, Father Landry insists that “the greatest seminary ever attended was my home in Lowel, Mass. My dad showed me that real love is capable of bearing any sacrifice for those you love. He translated very clearly for me Christ's commandment t6 love others as he has loved us. Father Landry explains how his father endured a grinding daily commute to work job that didn’t please him, Whether sick or healthy, and no matter the weather, off he'd go each day — “without ever com- plaining, humbly working to support those he loved.” His father’s example, e later realized, taught him that “a priest needs to be father of parish family and needs to love with the same sacrificial love with which my father loved me. The priesthood at its deepest level is giving up your whole life for those you ove.” ‘What's more, his earliest memory is of his mother praying the rosary. “One time as a young child, I surprised my mother ‘when she was full of teas,” he says. “T ‘was wortied and asked what was wrong She said, ‘I'm praying about Jesus’ receiv- continues on page 15Nanowat Carwouic REGISTER RSENS REET Father Roger Landry: ‘The Luckiest Man continuing page 16 story Father Landry with key pastoral confessor” ‘ever he asks you to do.” ing the crown of toms Kengraved_ insights he applies foday as Spiriual This dynamic young priest red- in my mind the living realty of director to men and worten in is Pope Joho Paul Il and prayer and the meaning of Jesus’ Courage, the organization of men Archbishop O'Malley wih inn Godly Matchmaker Suffering for us." and. women striving to live eaciag his approach to his priest- Anna Halpine, founder of World ‘haste and holy ives despite their hood. Both "ae witpesses of hope Youth Alliance, ‘has worked with fesings of altaction for people of tome.” he says, “and have inspired him on life issues in het work with Christian Soldier tes of for people of ‘he says, “and have inspired him on I hee the same se, ‘Besides his full parish schedule, Father Landry fequenly speaks on bioethical issues and on Pope John Paul TT's teachings on mariage Reto uy tobe a witnes of hope 0 he Father Landry preaches primari- Jy by example, according to parish Jones of his past and presen. "He fess the world needs more prayer, sa he scheduled moe beneditons foc more times 10 sit in front of “ess” says Beverly Tavares Father Lindey’s former parish, Espiito Santo Church in Fall River. “Tavares marvels over Father Landes etfs o raise funds for a youtegreup tip to World Youth Ibny 2000 Re In 20 enn wea ston, she reals, “in pouring rin 1 miles all the churches in Fall River... He's willing to do what the United Nations. “He always sks the question: "Will this make you a sain” And he tells you, do fot be afd to say Yes to God in realizing the answer to at ques- tion. He's making sure everyone sens theyre called to Bea sant” alpine also points out. that rater Roger is doing 41 of this through May, He isan extremely Marian pest He tought me the whole Ts Taus prayer ofthe Holy Father, I's something Tve said oT a of Father Land's greatest joys. of parish work “tobe able (© matchomake {Go with those be loved 30 much ‘What made such a devout young catholic choose miltanly seular Harvaré for his college? Te advice ofa parish seminarian who advised hm that as high school valedicior- Rete, he was asked to pine-hit an he should go where be would for George Weigel and present John ‘eit leam how to preach the Gospel Paul's theology of the Body at a 1b the contemporary eulure. While national meeung forthe Engaged athe Try League instuion, he co» Excounter movernet founded a magazine, Peninula,"to "The fis thing that sikes an: influence Harvard’s cultre with one about Father Landry isis acute ‘ens grounded inthe faith" Inceligence.” says Weigel. "He ‘One issue of the publication combines this wit a genuine pas looked at Romocexsaliyy ie atesct- tora cera. Lea that in Keskone ‘sdmajor media attention and helped where he was avery congenial eom- Spr production ofa PBS documen- _panion younger students and pop- (dry. The experience provided lar with them as a counselor and CULTURE OF LIFE cemnecr::c cries 1mm SCI Novenber2-8, 200315 in the Universe’ Ae for, to open people's minds and hears t0 the eatest love story very told and make them aware they ree central character ni "The ther i. preparing young people for mariage. He says he tive top them “enter into God's love for them so that they might fully love each ater and bring etch ter through tis wonderful sacra tent closet to Christ and closer 10 heaven. “He's a genuine scholar of the Holy Fathers thought, But he also lives the Holy Father's though says Peter McFadden, foondee of the Love and Responsibility Foundation in New York City. Last year he asked Father Laney to join {he group's leaders fora weekend in ‘he Catskill Mountains. He went the fut mil, aye MeFadde, "eager {o spend a whole week wih us very moming he'd lead not ‘only Mas, but also atwo- to three hour discussion, With afternoon came hike time, “just as the Holy Father would do asa young pres Everyone was fully prepared to be deferential ta priest MeFadden says. “But who signed up to clean dishes? Father Lay. He wruly sees Iimself a «servant Father Landry ‘exemplifies the gift of sel." ‘Ob, and one other thing. Father Landry Knows nine languages “zo I can understand better God's revelation and converse more effec: tively with those to whom the Lord wants that revelation preached, But" he adds witha grin, "speak all of them with @ New England Joseph Pronechen writes from Trumbull, Connecticut