Thank You, Fr. McFarland

  When I came to Holy Cross in the fall of 2007, I imagined the role of a college president to be one of prestige and great responsibility. The president of a college is tasked with overseeing a number of departments, reporting to the board, and general administration. This is, of course, in addition to the numerous fundraisers and meetings with alumni across the country and across the globe. All of these roles and responsibilities involve a significant investment of time and effort. All things considered, it would be understandable if a college president was too busy to regularly be in his or her office, let alone be seen around campus.

   Fr. Michael C. McFarland transcended the traditional roles and responsibilities of a college president. I was surprised to see Fr. McFarland helping to move students into their residence halls on freshman move-in day. I was even more surprised to find Fr. McFarland presiding over an intimate liturgy at the ten o'clock daily Mass. Not only did he shake hands with each of us after Mass, he took the time to introduce himself to us and ask us how our week was going. Never forgetting the mission of Holy Cross, Fr. McFarland coupled his strong administrative skills with a personal regard for his students. Whether it was running around Mount Saint James in the frosty, early morning hours or addressing students at an SGA General Assembly, Fr. McFarland took his job seriously, but always with a kind smile.

   I interacted with Fr. McFarland occasionally through my work with liturgical ministries my first three years on the Hill, but had the privilege of working with him extensively my senior year and the preceding summer as the liturgy intern. His commitment to liturgy, not only presiding at the large, school-wide liturgies, such as the Mass of the Holy Spirit and Baccalaureate Mass, but presiding at weekly and daily Masses, and his commitment to serving our brothers and sisters in the community left a lasting impact on myself and countless students.

   Fr. McFarland presided over Holy Cross as the Second Vatican Council recommended in Lumen Gentium, the Church's mission is strengthened by its members—including the laity—"for the life of the world." I do not know if many students at other colleges and universities can tell their friends about the president going with them to clean up trash in the local neighborhood or encouraging their ongoing faith formation and vocational discernment. Not only did Fr. McFarland "live the mission," he provided for us an example to "go out and set the world on fire."

Brian Lewin, who graduated from Holy Cross in May 2011, is

currently a graduate student at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry in Newton, Mass