St Marys High School - Blue Mantle Yearbook (Milford, MA)

Page 10 text:

Statues of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Our Lady of Fatima, gifts of Father F oran to Saint Mary's, on the occasion of the centennial of the Church during October, 1948. Statues of Mother Cabrini and the Sacred Heart which enhance the beauty of the lower chapel, another centennial gift of Father Foran. -1zm..,1. Reverend William J. Foran was horn in Worcester on October 21, 1874, the son of Lawrence and Mary Foran. He attended Classical High School and was graduated from Holy Cross College in 1896. Bishop Beaven then chose Father Foran to pursue his studies at the North American College in Rome, Italy. There he received Holy Orders on I une 1, 1901, by the hand of Cardinal Respighi, Cardinal Vicar of Rome. This solemn ceremony took place in St. John Lateran Basilica, the mother church of the world. - Upon returning to America, Father Foran received his first assignment as an assistant at Holy Name Church, New York City. Following this, he was recalled to the Springfield Diocese where he served as a curate at St. Bernard's, F itchburgg St. Patrick's, Monson, St. Ann's, Lennox, Immaculate Conception, Worcester, and Holy Trinity, Greenfield. Father Foran received his hrst pastorate at St. Patrick's Church, West Stockbridge. From there he went to he the founder and pastor of the Little Flower Church, Pittsfield. He then was sent to Sacred Heart Church, Gardner and St. Louis Church in Webster. When Father Foran left these parishes, he left them in a state of complete repair and embellished the churches with ecclesiastical designs of unique beauty. Following his Webster pastorate, he came to the Church of his patroness, St. Mary of the Assumption, Milford, in July, 1942.

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XEBLDEN J Wflff tBYSl'l95l Fifty years ago, on a glorious morning in early june, the Eternal City of Rome witnessed the ordination of Nvilliam Joseph Foran. This sacrament marked him as one of Cours anointed and set him apart from his fellowmcn forever, for to the priest alone is granted the power of celebrating and con- secrating the Body of Christ, thc Parris Angelorumf' Such being thc exalted dignity of thc priesthood, how great its obligations must bel Pere Lacordaire says, To livc in the midst of the world without wishing its pleasures, to be a member of each family, yet belonging to none, to share all sufferings, to penetrate all sceretsg to heal all wounds, to go from men to God and offer Him their prayers, to return from God to men to bring pardon and hope, to have a heart of fire for charity and a heart of bronze for chastity, to teach and to pardon, console and bless always, my God, what a life! And it is yours, O Priest of Jesus Christ! Therefore, on the occasion of thc Golden Jubilee of our dearly beloved pastor's ordination to the holy priesthood, we, the class of Nineteen Hundred Fifty-One, gratefully, respectfully, and lovingly, dedicate this volume of the Blue Mantle to the Very Reverend lVilliam J. F oran, V.F. who, by his eloquence, erudilion and scholarly manners, has merited the respect, loyalty, and devotion of us all. In truth, no volume is necessary to enshrine in our hearts forever, this priestly priest. Father Foran as he looked on the day of his ordination, June 1, 1901, in the Basilica of St. John Lalemn at Rome Father: Foran, our Colden Jubilarian, as he is today taking in stride his daily chore of checking his accounts, an unending task in such a large parish as Saint Mary's V Will?-gl' lf' 4g n1.,.

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qenmadrllq can ' ' , aa. Walkin At this sanlc time, our Pastor not only had the interior of the grammar school redecorated and a fluorescent lighting system installed, but renovated the convent from top to bottom. This is undeniable proof of his interest in our ma- terial as well as spiritual welfare. We know that we can always look to him for courage and guidance. His scholarly nature has emphasized for us many times the Latin motto Esto Virf' May we, his spiritual children never fail to remember and to practice this brief but telling command. It is thus that in our lives, we may carry to eternity, the satisfaction of knowing that we have done our best to fulfill this precept of our beloved Father Foran. A. Callahan, E. Esposito, F. Carline and John Murphy lead the Grammar and High School in honoring the Sis- ters of St. Joseph on the occasion of their 300th Anniversary, October 15th. K. Moynihan and I. Comba, Senior co-eds, drop in for a visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Love during the Christ- mas holidays, Father Foran's gift to St. Mary's.