As I have often said, I do not wish this blog spot to become a forum for polemics, disagreements, displeasure with the Church or myself, etc. There are plenty of other places that excel in that. But I am going to break my long-standing custom of not sharing the comments which readers make by posting below all the tributes which have been shared with me about Monsignor Scully who died on Wednesday and  for whom I will celebrate his funeral Mass next Wednesday at eleven a.m. at St. Theresa Church in Spring Hill. Since those of you who commented were not expecting to see your words in print, we shall not print the names and as additional comments arrive, we will add them to this electronic tribute.

+RNL

1. Monsignor will always be missed. My most vivid memory is one Sunday during mass he was giving out communion and someone did not consume the body. Being the sharp tack that he was, he noticed and went after the man. Monsignor always wore a cassock and as he ran after the man, he looked like Superman. He had to be in his 70′s then. It was at that moment I came to know the importance of receiving communion. Thank You Monsignor. You taught me so much.
2. I love you Msgr. Thank you. I am a better person because I was touched by your true holiness.
3. As a Benedictine sister, here at Holy Name Monastery, I have so many memories of Msgr. Scully because of the wonderful work he and our dear Sr. DeChantal Ducuing did as they worked together on projects for the Propogation of the Faith and the religious programs in the diocese, which are still evident today. All of our community will be praying for the repose of the soul of this priestly priest.
4. I among others owe so much to Msgr. Scully for his work at St. Catherine of Sienna. I remember Msgr. Scully in his early days at St. Catherine which were not great in number but powerful in effect. I am saddened by his passing but joyful over the timing of the Lord’s call. This Priest could never have asked for a more spiritual ending to his earthly ministry. While my memories of Msgr. Scully are distant they are not vague even if they are short. I believe the Diocese of St. Petersburg has been and is blessed to have so many special priests, and a very special Bishop.
5. There were many signs that told me I needed to join the Catholic church, the church in which I was baptized but not raised. And then there were several different people who told me I needed to get to St. Teresa’s Church in order to follow those signs before Msgr. Scully retired since he was the best and the only one from whom to learn about the Church and to do what I needed to do in order to become a full-fledged Catholic. I followed those suggestions and learned a tiny bit about how holy this beloved man, this wonderful priest, really was. His reverence for the faith was truly awe-inspiring and I will NEVER forget him. There have been several times I needed to talk to a priest but was told by more than one that they were simply too busy to spare me even 15 minutes of their time when I was really in need. I had helped them but when I needed them? But Msgr. Scully was not like that at all. It was his privilege to talk about the faith and to help in any way he could. He would talk about the huge numbers of people he was blessed to have been able to help in Africa each year and when he had to leave St. Teresa’s it was so important that he be allowed somehow to continue his work somewhere else – and he found that home with Fr. Bill. God bless you, Fr. Bill, and God bless you, Msgr. Scully. God truly scripted your passing into His hands for your end on this earth could not be more perfect. I will miss you and your Christmas cards each holiday season. Thank you, dear Msgr., for everything you’ve done and all you have given to so many people around the world. I have no doubt you are resting in great peace.
6. Our dear Msgr. John Scully, now, your job is over on this earth and as you enter gates of your Heavenly home, you will be greeted by the sounds of the trumpets and with your mother and father standing by the door. May you rest in peace.
7. I met Father when he was assigned to St. Therese Parish in Everett, Massachusetts. I was in high school at the time and chose him as my confessor. Our friendship started there and continues until now. He was always there, ready to listen and ready to guide. I had the good fortune to work with him in Spring Hill for a year. It seemed that in trying times in the family Father was always there for us, consoling and guiding. I was with him when he made the arrangements to be brought back to Boston for burial. Fr. Ray Lettre called me on Friday to tell me of Father’s death. I am grateful that he will have a showing, Mass, and burial here in Boston. Mass was difficult for me this morning but I felt that Father was with me and I firmly believe that he will continue to listen to me, hear my petitions and continue to guide from heaven. Can’t you just hear the Lord saying–”Welcome, good and faithful servant.”. I have indeed been blest to have such a wonderful and faith-filled friend.
8. So sad to hear the news of this Godly mans death. You are so right he would have picked this way to pass had he been giving that choice. Every Christmas we would get a letter from him and it was amazing how much he did at his age. He was Pastor at St. Patricks, Tampa, Fl. when all my children were born and he baptized two of them. May he rest in Peace.
9. A gentle leader; a marvelous role model.
10. Msgr. Scully will truly be missed at St. Stephen. Msgr. was always on the go. The beginning of 2009 I received a phone call from Msgr. asking if I could help him start a Legion of Mary at St. Stephen. He was so happy that he want to go to visit all the New Comers or what else Fr. Bill wanted him to do. He really did an excellent job in the Legion. I could see how happy he was when he came to the meetings to talked to us about Jesus and Mary. He will be truly missed. Rest in Peace my friend for a job well done…..
11. The saddened news of the loss of Msgr. John Scully came as a surprise. As a member of our family he was a man who you always thought would be around forever. As a child he taught myself and my siblings the Hail Mary in Swahili when he returned from Africa on his Missionary work there. He always stayed at our [aunt]’s whenever he returned back to Boston to visit the family. He always made himself available to the family to celebrate Mass with us as a family. When my grandmother passed away he celebrated a special Mass for us. His homily still is fresh in my mind. I’m sorry I can’t attend a Mass for him this week in Florida or in Massachusetts. I’m studying at Catholic University in Washington but know my prayers there will be heard.
12. The Church has lost without any doubt the finest priest bar [none] in Florida.  A Boston native dear Msgr. Scully was so deeply spiritual. He cared for others more than anyone I have ever known.  He was a model priest.  He was [saintly] more than anyone I ever met…  I was converted to by Msgr. to the Catholic faith in Tampa.  He was so caring and understanding.  I remember the late Bishop Lawrence Riley of Boston always kept in touch with this saint as he called him.  So much can be said [of] dear Msgr. Scully… Rest in Peace Msgr. No doubt at all the Lord will say “Welcome home good and faithful servant’. Amen, I know I can [now] pray to him for any help I need.
13. Msgr. John Scully is the priest who catechized me and received me into the Roman Catholic Church nearly 16 years ago when I was 52 years of age. He was fond of quoting St. Theresa who said words to the effect that she could do more good in heaven than here on earth. Msgr. Scully was also fond of saying that he regretted that he only had one life here on earth to serve God. I would beg to differ with him. Msgr. Scully has a new life now, and can join St. Theresa in doing even more good here on earth. Those of us who knew him personally will find great comfort in knowing we have such a friend in Heaven. To Msgr. John Scully “a priest forever”.
14. Fr. you have [imparted] the gift of God that you have to so many people, we [appreciate] your life and we will forever be [grateful to] God for a life well spent. Sleep in the Lord servant of God. Rest in peace dear Msgr. John.
15. A truly spiritual man in all ways. Rest now.
16. Such a marvelous tribute. I have been blessed to have met many of our great priests and he has made an indelible mark on my heart. What a fine example of the priesthood. Thank you for your kind and loving words.

Tags: Comments and Questions, Mass, Monsignor John Scully, Rest in Peace, St. Theresa-Spring Hill

This entry was posted on Monday, October 25th, 2010 at 8:24 am and is filed under English. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.