Fr. Damian Kehr, O.F.M was appointed pastor of St. Francis in 1914. He had been guardian of the friary for a year when he succeeded Fr. Eusebius Schlingmann, O.F.M. as pastor. Many alterations had to be made on the church property. The sidewalks had to be widened and the iron fences moved back. Water from an underground brook suddenly appeared in the cellar and pumps had to be installed to carry the water into the sewers.

Fr. Damian installed one of the largest and finest organs in the country for St. Francis Church. The contract for the new organ was signed with Reuben Midmer & Son of Merrick, NY in September of 1915. The installation alone required six weeks, as the organ occupied most of the choir loft and a large part in the tower space. At the time of the installation it is recorded: “This organ is a first class instrument and the sixty-four gilded and exquisitely decorated front pipes give it a fine appearance. For power, sweetness and variety of tone, this organ can hardly be surpassed by any other.” The magnificent instrument with over 3,000 metal and wooden pipes was first played at Mass on Easter Sunday, 1916. For over seventy years, Fr. Damian’s courageous acquisition provided joy and beauty for the daily liturgies and devotions at St. Francis.

During Fr. Damian’s pastorate, each year the number of younger families decreased as the businesses continued to expand in the neighborhood. Sunday after Sunday, the pastor witnessed more and more vacant family pews as family after family moved elsewhere. At the same time, the number of transient devotees continued to grow, and the friars began to experience new and vibrant forms of ministry on West 31st Street. In the spring of 1919, Fr. Damian began formulating plans for the celebration of the parish’s 75th Diamond Jubilee. The celebration was organized for October 1919, but was postponed until the following year. Meanwhile, the Provincial Chapter of 1919 transferred Fr. Damian to St. Anthony Friary in Butler, NJ. A former Minister Provincial, Fr. Anselm Kennedy, O.F.M., the first American-born friar, was appointed Pastor of St. Francis Church.

This series of articles on the history of our parish is adapted from the writings of Fr. Flavian Walsh, O.F.M., Pastor from 1985-87.

The Lord speaks to us in a variety of ways at work, through others and at every moment. Yet we simply cannot do without the silence of prolonged prayer, which enables us better to perceive God’s language, to interpret the real meaning of the inspirations we believe we have received, to calm our anxieties and to see the whole of our existence afresh in his own light. In this way we allow the birth of a new synthesis that springs from a life inspired by the Spirit.

Nonetheless, it is possible that even in prayer itself we could refuse to let ourselves be confronted by the freedom of the Spirit, who acts as he wills. We must remember that prayerful discernment must be born of a readiness to listen to the Lord and to others and to reality itself which always challenges us in new ways.

Only if we are prepared to listen do we have the freedom to set aside our own partial or insufficient ideas, our usual habits and ways of seeing things. In this way we become truly open
to accepting a call that can shatter our security but lead us to a better life.

What is important in your life? Luke’s Gospel says: “Thus will it be for all who store up treasures for themselves, but are not rich in what matters to God.”This verse concludes today’s Gospel. Earlier in the readings we heard “Vanity of vanities…all things are vanity.” And “seek those things that are above.” The goal of following this wisdom is to make ourselves a new person in Christ. To allow Christ’s thoughts, His attitude, His ways of dealing with challenges in life to shape ours. Many traditional values in today’s society have almost disappeared and been replaced by selfish, self-seeking, im- mature, cruel rhetoric. Today’s readings are a call to live out what “matters to God.” When we “put on” Christ, we indeed become that “new creation.”

There is still more to happen as part of the 175th Anniversary of our church. There will be events in September and October and they will be made public as soon as the final plans are put to- gether. The raffle continues and you may purchase raffle tickets at the reception desk. Prizes are $1,000, $500 and $250. Many thanks to all who participated in the Commemorative Journal that is now at the printer. Those who participated will receive a free copy and copies are available for advance purchase. I have seen a preview of the book and it will be beautiful.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.