Two new priests bring maturity, zeal to Church

Michael Flannery was a college student headed toward a career in law when he decided to explore a higher court.

James McDevitt was a teacher for decades, until he realized he had more to learn -- in the seminary.

When Bishop Howard J. Hubbard ordained those two men as new priests for the Albany Diocese June 15, Catholics gained a wealth of youthful enthusiasm and tempered experience. Just before their ordination, The Evangelist spoke with the pair about their answers to God's call.

REV. JAMES MCDEVITT

Father McDevitt, 51, a Brooklyn native, moved to Lake George as a child with his family, including four brothers and two sisters. A graduate of St. Mary's Academy in Glens Falls, he completed two tours in Vietnam before returning to the Diocese to attend Adirondack Community College, Siena College in Loudonville, and SUNY and the College of St. Rose in Albany. He also did graduate work at Springfield College, earning an MBA in finance.

He then joined the Christian Brothers, working first at LaSalle School in Albany, then at LaSalle Institute in Troy and Christian Brothers Academy, both in Albany and Syracuse, as a middle and high school teacher, guidance counselor and principal.

Glimmer of calling

It seemed to him that the idea of a religious vocation was "never anything new"; but during his time in Vietnam, the dream became more focussed.

"I clearly saw the fragileness of human beings and human life," the priest explained. "Then, working at LaSalle Institute, I was very much attracted to the concept of education and service to youth."

An avid fisherman, cook and painter, Father McDevitt realized five years ago that he had to make a final decision on another goal: whether to pursue the priesthood. "If this is something you want to do, kick the dust from your sandals and move on," he told himself.

Making a decision

Once he decided in June to enter the seminary, he felt confident that things would fall into place to make that possible -- and they did. Although some said he would never be able to enter the seminary for the fall semester, within weeks he had completed the necessary work and meetings, and was accepted at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

"My satisfaction seemed to be centered around working with the people of the Diocese more than I had been," Father McDevitt remembered. He found Sacred Heart, a second-career seminary for those exploring vocations later in life, to be "a good fit."

Friends and family were barely surprised at the priest's career change. "God's been chasing you all your life, and He's finally caught you," Father McDevitt's mother remarked.

Training time

His time in the seminary and stints at St. Pius X parish in Loudonville, Christ the King in Guilderland and St. Francis de Sales, Troy, confirmed that he had chosen the right path.

However, he felt surprise at "the willingness of people to be accepting of you and welcome you into their communities. People opened their arms and made themselves very visible, very approachable -- willing to share their needs, their lives, their hurts."

As a second-career priest, Father McDevitt said that his previous life experiences are a bonus he brings to his new ministry. However, he added, such a drastic career change has proved both "very exciting" and "very scary."

Hopes for future

The new priest has high hopes for the future of the Church. "I'd like to see the Church be the prophetic voice that it was meant to be, at the forefront of people's issues, people's needs," he stated. "I'd like to see it as very fluid, very mobile. Churches are just buildings."

With his ordination day rapidly approaching, Father McDevitt admitted feeling a bit nervous about both the ceremony and his future ministry.

"It's very powerful when you realize you're the one that's bringing the blessing to these people," he told The Evangelist. "I say to myself, 'Am I worthy to do this?' That's something you work on your whole life."

In regard to his ordination, he worried, "What if I trip going up the stairs?" He quoted a family member who joked, "You've never been a bride before! There isn't a groom or bride who, a week before the ceremony, hasn't said, `Let's get this over with.'"

Faith alive

Father McDevitt found confidence in God and the people around him: "I see people's faith alive and shining within them, and it's an awesome experience. As I rely on the help of God, He'll be there for me."

The priest looks forward to whatever parish assignment Bishop Hubbard decided to give him and hopes to eventually continue his education at St. Bernard's Institute, the Diocese's graduate school of theology and ministry.

"Wherever the Diocese puts me, I'm going to enter enthusiastically and take whatever comes my way," Father McDevitt declared. "The needs of people are the same in every parish you go into."

REV. MICHAEL FLANNERY

Father Flannery is another "transplant" to the Albany Diocese, a native of Long Island who grew up in Granville, attending St. Mary's parish there with his parents and older brother.

At 26, Father Flannery calls himself a "zealous" person who enjoys tinkering with the guitar, working outdoors and eating out. As he spoke with The Evangelist, he was eagerly anticipating an end to his days as a seminarian and the beginning of those as a priest.

"Since I went to a college seminary, I've been in the program a long time -- eight years," the new priest explained. "I'm not nervous; I'm excited!"

Long-time call

Like Father McDevitt, Father Flannery cited an interest in the priesthood throughout his entire life, "since I can remember."

His parents were devout Catholics who served as role models for him; and as a student at St. Mary's Academy in Glens Falls, he found "great examples all around me. [The teachers] were there because they loved what they were doing."

However, it wasn't until his freshman year at Siena College that the future priest became serious about addressing his vocation. "Being at college, I didn't know what I was doing, and that made me unhappy," he recalled. "I was a liberal arts major, pretending I was going to be a lawyer."

Changing his life

Instead, Father Flannery found himself attending daily Mass and developing a great devotion to the Rosary. When he decided to change his career path to the priesthood, transfer to Wadhams Hall in Ogdensburg as a seminarian and finish his education at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., his friends and family took the news in stride.

"I think my parents had thought about it and not said anything," Father Flannery said. When his friends heard about his decision to answer God's call, "Some of them said, `Yeah, I can see that.'"

Immediately upon entering the seminary, he felt as if he had found his place in life. His confusion about his career choices disappeared, and "I developed a very strong spirituality. My relationship with Christ became more personal and more intimate, and my love for the Church was strengthened through my prayer life. I allowed my spirituality to permeate my whole life."

Zeal for God

As he continued his education, Father Flannery cited "my zeal increasing with the realization that God had called me specifically, and had a special place for me in His ministry."

Although he considers himself "quiet and shy," the priest discovered that he was a gifted homilist. "It surprised me how much I loved preaching, and how well I could do it," he said.

Working at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Delmar and two parishes in Washington "boosted my confidence. I was surprised that I could actually do ministry!"

Eventually, Father Flannery's enthusiasm overtook his concerns about his youth and lack of experience. "I'm pretty excited about the Church of today," he told The Evangelist. "It's great being on the edge of the new millennium. I'm looking forward to getting people as excited and in love with the Church as I am! It's a good time to be a priest."

Transformation

Father Flannery believes that the best way to motivate other Catholics to embrace their faith is "by your own zeal, by letting them see how faith has transformed our own lives -- and by letting them see your struggle and your growth."

Father Flannery looked toward his ordination day eager "to start as soon as possible. I'm still incredulous about the fact that I'll be saying Mass in a couple of days."

However, he felt no fear at that daunting task: "I love liturgy. I think I'll find hearing confessions more frightening!"

Future plans

As he awaits his first parish assignment, Father Flannery said that he hopes "to devote most of my energy toward the celebration of the sacraments: trying to make the liturgy beautiful, trying to bring Christ back to the celebration and especially preaching. And while I'm still young, I'd like to work with young people a little bit."

He also confessed a dream for the future: "I can't wait to be a pastor!"

(06-19-97) [[In-content Ad]]