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While a college student in the 1930's, he visited Europe. What struck him most were the ancient cathedrals. So many people had stopped attending Mass; the churches seemed only a place for baptisms. As he prepared to enter the priesthood, this led Fr. Egan to question if he wanted to be part of what seemed like an ancient world. Times were changing but the church was not.
Fr. Egan entered the priesthood of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1941. Throughout his years, he was a pacifist. During WWII, he refused to participate in the collecting of war bonds for the church. Fr. Egan participated in a civil rights march in Selma, Alabama. This was one of many efforts he made to promote civil rights. He also practiced and encouraged social justice, women’s rights and feminism, and peaceful alternatives to war.
Fr. Egan also spent two summers working with the poor in the ghettos of New York City. It was one of the many experiences that impressed upon him the importance of actively administering to the needs of the people. His mission of social justice gathered impetus. This experience also bolstered his determination to bring the church to the people in a new and forward thinking way.
When he came to St. Joan of Arc in October 1967, Vatican II changes were in place. English took the place of Latin. Altars were turned to face the congregation and the parishioners were encouraged to participate. For Fr. Egan, this was only the beginning. On a Sunday morning in September 1969, SJA held its first Mass in the gymnasium.
He wrote an article about it for the National Catholic Reporter in October 1994. In the article, he stated, “If a song was singable and said something about loving God and persons, it was our kind of hymn." Music became a strong focal point that also drew many new people to attend the church. Selections today remain a combination of hymns, folk songs and songs from various cultures throughout the world.
| Vatican II states, "To promote active participation, the people should be encouraged to take part by means of acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes. And at the proper times all should observe a reverent silence." |
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The construction of Highway 35W reduced the parish boundary size. In response to this, Fr. Egan sent invitations to those outside of the parish boundaries. Membership expanded to new and unimagined volumes of people. It now includes over 4,000 families – roughly 10,000 individuals. Of these, the majority of members live beyond the parish boundaries. Many travel several miles to attend Sunday Mass and other events.
Over the years since Fr. Egan’s appearance at St. Joan of Arc, new ministries, community groups, social and cultural activities developed. As new needs are identified, the church responds. When news of Fr. Egan’s death reached the Parish Center, this reporter was leaving a meeting about the Mental Illness Ministry with Parishioner Gene Sylvestre. Some time after the announcement, Sylvestre said, "A friend told me that when Harvey learned about the Mental Illness Ministry, he said, 'It's about time!' He always was a leader."
In researching this article, the saddest thing appeared in letters and blogs written on the web. Fr. Egan’s funeral served as the background for some people to write complaints about St. Joan of Arc, the conduction of Fr. Egan’s funeral and the many changes that had taken place. Juxtaposed to this man and his legacy, it seems counter to everything Fr. Egan believed, advocated, and practiced.
| Vatican II states, "Even in the liturgy, the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples. Anything in these peoples' way of life which is not indissolubly bound up with superstition and error she studies with sympathy and, if possible, preserves intact. Sometimes in fact she admits such things into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit." |
In closing, what follows is an invitation for you to contribute to the legacy being created for Fr. Harvey Egan:
An Invitation to You Father Harvey Egan spent a lifetime reaching out and touching people of all ages and all walks of life. In doing so, he created a legacy that cannot be chronicled by one or a few individuals. This is your invitation to contribute to the current project - documenting the legacy of Father Harvey Egan.
All contributions are appreciated: thoughts, gratitude, fond memories, special moments, essays, and more. Contributions can be handwritten or typed, as well as submitted electronically below. For those who did not know him, consider the following: |