Incoming director has big plans for Family Rosary

By KATE BLAIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Caring for his ailing mother for six years until her death taught Rev. Thomas Feeley, CSC, a valuable lesson.

As her condition worsened, he told The Evangelist, "the only things that interested her were faith and family. That's the deepest level in our life."

That lesson stands the Holy Cross priest in good stead as he begins his new position as national director for The Family Rosary, based in Albany. Founded in 1942 by Rev. Patrick Peyton, CSC, The Family Rosary/Family Theater Productions creates films on the Rosary and programs on prayer for families and young people, and sends millions of rosaries to the needy. Father Feeley's work will include conducting parish missions, speaking at Marian conferences and developing new programs.

New challenge

Father Feeley comes to Family Rosary with a background in teaching, having been a professor at Stonehill College in Massachusetts for 36 years. He is also the author of "Moral Integrity," an ethics book for college students, and the forthcoming "Friends in the Lord," a book on vocations for religious communities.

Father Feeley is excited about taking on a new challenge, saying: "My health is good, and I'm looking forward to it. I've done a lot of retreat work. This is a chance to devote myself more to the spiritual life."

He added that he would not miss correcting students' term papers "in the least! At the end of spring term, you're always so tired. Family Rosary is a very exciting organization; there's a lot going on here."

Rosary life

The director has a strong background in using the Rosary himself. Praying the Rosary "was a long family tradition at my house," he recalled. "We were all brought up on that. We would frequently take a walk and say the Rosary."

Even today, he prays it on his drive to and from work, as well as with co-workers.

"The Rosary is the best cure for road rage," he joked, noting that he's thought up a few slogans to that effect: "Fight Road Rage: A Soul at Prayer is a Soul at Peace" and "Have You Talked to Your Mother Today? Say the Rosary."

Lots to do

Having cared for his mother during her final illness has given the priest the impetus to plan new Family Rosary programs for the elderly and nursing home residents, and his teaching experience has spurred him to develop a program for young adults.

"There's so much work to be done -- but it's the kind of work I enjoy," he commented.

One of the director's primary duties will be to write reflections for Family Rosary's web page "so that people understand what our faith is about." However, he confessed, "I haven't learned how to use the computer yet, so that's one of my jobs this summer!"

Prayer programs

Several new programs are currently taking place at Family Rosary, from a crusade called "Rosaries for the World" to the establishment of worldwide pastoral institutes for families.

While Father Feeley will not be directing those efforts, he applauded them, saying: "It's like a drunk. A drunk gets to the point where he bottoms out. [Similarly,] society needs to turn somewhere. Young adults are looking very desperately for guidance. The Church has the answers."

Many of those answers can be found through the practice of "filtering" one's life through the Rosary, the director said. "I filter my own life through each mystery: What is this telling me?" The Annunciation, for example, teaches about "resignation to God's will. Mary puts her whole life into God's hands. It sheds light on how we ought to live to be truly happy."

Aside from his happiness in his work, Father Feeley told The Evangelist that he was glad to be living with Holy Cross brothers at St. Joseph's Spiritual Life Center in Valatie. Arriving there, he felt that "I'm home because we all share the same values. That's also a part of the Family Rosary crusade: We have the same faith, the same values, the same principles. It's wonderful!"

(The Family Rosary can be contacted at 4 Pine West Plaza, Albany, NY 12205-5520. Call 452-3082. Its web site is www.familyrosary.org.)

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