The miracle of priesthood

Father Michael Woods celebrates 60th anniversary as a priest

By Dan McWilliams

If Father Michael Woods is around, there is sure to be a great measure of laughter and song—and of the love he has for the Church and the love the people he serves have for him.

All of that was present in full on June 19 as Father Woods celebrated his 60th anniversary in the priesthood in a Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade, where has served as pastor since 2018.

Bishop Mark Beckman presided at a liturgy whose concelebrants also included Father John Matejek and Father Daniel Cooper of the host parish, Father Peter Iorio, and Father Michael Nolan. More than 15 additional priests from around the diocese attended as well as women religious and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, who provided an honor guard.

Also present was Father Glenn Meaux of the Kobonal Haiti Mission that St. Francis of Assisi Parish has long supported, and he made a special presentation to Father Woods at the end of Mass.

“There is nothing more important in a priest: that he reveal the heart of Jesus, and Father Mike, you reveal the heart of Jesus in your priesthood. We are so grateful to the Lord for you and your yes to the Lord,” Bishop Beckman said.

Deacon Gary Brinkworth was deacon of the Word, and Deacon Paul Benfanti was deacon of the altar. Deacon Hicks Armor served as master of ceremonies. The St. Francis of Assisi choir, directed by Eric Wheeler, was in full voice.

A reception at the Fairfield Glade Center followed the Mass.

Father Woods, a native of Carlingford in Ireland who was ordained for the Archdiocese of Atlanta before coming to the Diocese of Knoxville in 1994, has been pastor of three thriving parishes during his time serving East Tennessee Catholics. Faithful from his current community as well as those from his former parishes of All Saints in Knoxville and St. Mary in Oak Ridge also helped fill the Fairfield Glade church for the anniversary Mass.

‘We are the body of Christ’

“This priesthood—it is a miracle, but as we heard in the second reading at today’s Mass: there are many gifts. Sure, I stand in front of you as an example of one of those, but we are the body of Christ,” Father Woods said. “We are not a whole lot of little Jesuses running around trying to get to heaven. We are one body, and when Jesus asks us to love one another, it wasn’t because that’s a very good thing to do and it will bring many benefits—it does and it will—but the reason He tells us to do that is because He loves His body. We are His body. There is nobody excluded from that.”

Father Nolan delivered the homily partly in a song with lyrics adapted for the honoree, and Father Woods—who turned 84 on June 23—returned the favor with a tune of his own when he spoke at the end of Mass.

Father Woods was ordained a priest on June 19, 1966, at All Hallows College in Dublin by Bishop Patrick J. Dunne. He served as an associate pastor of parishes in Atlanta and Decatur, Ga., and later pastor of parishes in the Georgia cities of Dalton, Athens, Hapeville, and Atlanta as well.

At the invitation of the Diocese of Knoxville’s founding Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, Father Woods came to St. Mary in Oak Ridge in 1994, where he served as associate pastor for two years and as pastor until 2006. He then led All Saints as pastor for the next 12 years.

Bishop Beckman welcomed the gathering to the 60th-anniversary Mass by referring to the host parish’s patron.

“Today we gather with great joy in our hearts in this Church of St. Francis as we celebrate 800 years of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi and the 60 years for Father Michael, your pastor, as a priest of Jesus Christ. For these reasons and for so many more, we are grateful to the Lord God. It is a day of joy,” he said.

Father Nolan opened his homily by greeting the bishop and other clergy, parishioners, and those watching via livestream—including Father Woods’ family in Ireland and England—as well as Father Woods’ sister Madeleine Hayes, who proclaimed the first reading, and her husband, Sean.

At that point, Father Nolan directed his next remark to the jubilarian.

Dueling verses

“Father Woods, you’ll have an opportunity for rebuttal, but, remember, you asked for this,” Father Nolan jokingly warned.

Father Nolan then sang the next part of his homily to the tune of “Galway Bay”:

“Father Michael came across the sea from Ireland, from Carlingford to Atlanta, G-A. For 60 years he’s served us through his priesthood, to thank God for him, we gather here today.

“He learned his prayers through the example of his parents, the third of six born to Peter and Hilda Woods. It was clear to all who were blessed to know and love them that they were more than willing to embrace God’s chosen way.

“Though ‘The Troubles’ raged throughout his boyhood homeland, he learned respect not conflict as the way. His village of 300 knew and loved each other and reached through invisible barriers to lend a hand.

“From his early years he had strong priests to guide him. His uncle, Father Ambrose, one of many names of mentors, teachers, pastors, friends, and brothers who helped him find his footing if need came.

“Parishioners have been his greatest teachers, boosting confidence, offering love, a sense he belonged. Together they built the Church beyond the walls. He thanks God for you daily in his prayers.

“Father Woods has never suffered burnout because God is there every day in brand-new ways. His love for the Mass and holy Scriptures shows him quite clearly our love for God and God’s immense love for each of us.

“So, Father Woods for all the ways God’s formed you, we’re grateful He has caused our paths to cross. May you be blessed with the graces you desire, and may God grant you many joyful years.”

When he concluded his song, Father Nolan referred to the readings at Mass from Isaiah 61 (“the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me”) and 1 Corinthians 12 (“there are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit”).

“The holy Scriptures Father Woods chose for his anniversary Mass speak plainly of abundant gifts: gifts discovered, gifts received, gifts developed, gifts willingly shared, all from our loving and merciful God,” Father Nolan said.

The Gospel reading proclaimed by Deacon Brinkworth came from John 21.

“Simon, son of John, do you love me, do you love me, do you love me?” Father Nolan quoted. “Jesus ultimately asks each of us, and when we’re ready to answer affirmatively, we’re invited, equipped, and instructed to tend His flock, to feed His sheep with all the diverse gifts we have been blessed with. Indeed, many gifts but the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God—many parts, one body, needing each other.

“Father Woods, thank you for answering God’s call and by example helping us to embrace ours: to bind up the brokenhearted, to bring liberty to captives, release to prisoners by the power and reality of forgiveness and His great love. Father Woods, you are indeed a gift generously given. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you, and we are glad indeed.”

As he ended the homily, Father Nolan led a long ovation for Father Woods, one of many times the faithful would applaud the anniversary priest during the Mass.

Father Woods later said he chose Father Nolan for the homily “because every time he would see me, he would say, ‘I’m so glad you came to our diocese. We really appreciate you.’ I was always touched by that, and that was why I asked him. He was always so genuine.”

The intercessions at Mass included a prayer that the “Lord continue to pour out His grace upon” Father Woods, “granting him health of mind and body and a renewed joy in his sacred vocation.” The prayers also offered thanks “for the parents, aunts, uncles, and elders who guided and formed” Father Woods and “first planted the seeds of faith and nurtured his vocation through their love, discipline, and example.” Another intercession prayed “for all those he has served over these 60 years: for the families he has baptized, the penitents he has absolved, the couples he has joined in marriage, and the many lives touched by his preaching and presence.”

When Bishop Beckman asked Father Woods to speak at the end of Mass, a tremendous ovation followed.

“I knew I should have taken up a collection,” Father Woods immediately quipped.

The host pastor said “there are people here today who have never been in a Catholic church before, but they’re here because of my anniversary. I want to tell you and assure you that I prayed for you that the ceiling wouldn’t fall in. You honor us by doing that.”

‘Thank you for 60 years’

Father Woods paused a bit before continuing, “Just … thank you, thank you for 60 years of serving with you.”

The honoree once spoke to a group of children who asked “how old are you, and I told them,” he said. “They said, ‘Wow.’ One of them piped up and said, ‘Did you fight in the Civil War?’”

Father Woods then said, “I did write a few little things down,” first stating that he thanked Bishop Beckman for his presence.

“Thank you, Bishop Mark. I wanted you to be here, and I thank you for coming … I wanted to invite you because I wanted to start this anniversary the way I began: with Bishop Dunne in All Hallows College-Dublin with 29 other guys, many of whom I haven’t seen since because they have been all over the world. You being here puts into sharp focus not just my anniversary but that we are Church and that it goes back that far. You honor me greatly by reminding me of that, and I am very grateful.”

The St. Francis of Assisi pastor then turned toward Father Nolan.

“Father Michael, you told me I could have a rebuttal, and I don’t think I’m able to do that, but in the in-between of receiving Communion and till this moment, I’m going to try,” Father Woods said.

He then sang to Father Nolan words to the tune of “Londonderry Air” (“Danny Boy”): “O Mikey boy, my heart, my heart was beating when in your song, you followed all my journeys. O Church, me girl, O Church, me girl, I love you so. That’s the best I could come up with,” Father Woods finished before another round of applause.

Father Woods thanked his sister for attending. For her “to be able to walk up here and proclaim the Scriptures is such a joy to me, and I’m grateful to you for all the support and care. I know my brothers and sisters, John and Rita, Kevin and Jackie, Paul and Marie, Gabrielle and John, and all their families are watching. You have no idea how much I love you,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

“One month after I was ordained 60 years ago, I left my home and my family and my brothers and my sisters to be a missionary. Jesus promised that if we do that—give up family, brothers, sisters, homes—that we will have a hundred times more brothers, sisters, family, homes than we could ever imagine. I just want you to know in my case and I know in yours, you have received that and God has fulfilled His promise, and I would like you to put your hands together for the fulfillment of that promise.”

Father Woods then addressed “my brother priests.”

“You have no idea how important you are to me. You’re an encouragement to me. You really are a mess. You are! But that’s God’s fault. He chose you; you did not choose Him,” he said. “The amazing miracle is that God chooses us. I remember one time complaining to one of my brothers in Ireland about living with priests and complaining particularly about one—it wasn’t this diocese, of course—and his comment to me was, ‘Yes, I remember what a joy you were to live with.’”

The jubilarian then showed the gathering one of the “tools” of his priesthood “that is so important to me.”

“It’s my chalice,” he said. “This chalice 60 years ago sat on the dresser in my home in Carlingford waiting for me to come home. I had just celebrated my first Mass with my bishop. … It’s very simple. It tells my story. I was ordained at the time of Vatican II. Our class was encouraged to design our own chalice, and I designed it and I wanted it to be unbelievably simple. There are no ornamentations in it, but there is a Celtic cross hammered into it.

“Underneath—and I wrestled with myself because it was given to me by my mother and my father. Underneath, it says, ‘To Michael on the occasion of his ordination.’ And this is what I wrestled with: it says, ‘from Mommy and Daddy,’ and it’s very childlike. And I remembered that Jesus told us to call His Father not Father but Abba—‘daddy.’”

The secret of his priesthood, Father Woods said, “is that I had to learn how to be a priest. I wasn’t born one. Michael, with your song and the images, it just was amazing because it’s into this that we particularly as Catholics pour in our whole lives: the good, the bad, the ugly. And I learned because I tried to bring the good all the time, to be perfect, and learned that I’m not, and we must learn that we’re not either, and that what we offer up is who we are, warts and all, graces and all, because they are from God.”

Father Woods mentioned the three parishes he has served in the Diocese of Knoxville, “but I love my former Diocese of Atlanta that gave me the opportunity to come and serve when I was so young and had much to learn and stumbled and fell.”

Bishop O’Connell visited Father Woods in Indiana and invited him to serve at St. Mary in Oak Ridge.

“He spoke to me probably for three or four hours and invited me to come to Oak Ridge,” Father Woods recalled. “I said to him, ‘on one condition.’ He says, ‘You’re giving me conditions?’ I said ‘yes, on one condition—that you tell the priests before I come who I am, and leave it up to them whether they will say yes,’ and you did. I want to say thank you for that. It has been such a blessing.”

Before Mass concluded, Grand Knight Mike Spitler of the parish Knights of Columbus council presented Father Woods with a stole bearing the likeness of Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney, founder of the Knights. Bishop Beckman blessed the stole.

Father Meaux and St. Francis of Assisi Parish controller Monica Hackett then took the microphone. Ms. Hackett said she was recently approached about an anniversary gift for Father Woods and joked “that’s not in the budget.”

She added that “we wanted to give you something that was meaningful and would last a long time. It just seemed like a watch wouldn’t do it.” Father Meaux founded the Kobonal ministry in 1993, and the parish’s support of it inspired the 60-year jubilee gift, Ms. Hackett said.

“Parishioners and friends and family members have raised money to build a house in your honor in Kobonal,” she told Father Woods to a round of applause. “We have also commissioned a bronze plaque that will be put on the house.”

Father Meaux then read the words that will be on the plaque.

“This home is in honor of Father Michael A. Woods for 60 years of faithful service to the people of God,” he said. “The one thing Father Michael taught me was ‘Jesus, I trust in you,’ and so Monica asked what do you want on that sign, and I said, ‘Jesus, I trust in you’ in Creole,” Father Meaux added before saying those words in Creole.

The generosity of donors resulted in plenty of funds for the house, Ms. Hackett said.

“It is our hope that the family who lives in that house, when they walk in the door and touch that plaque with your name on it, they’re going to realize how much God loves them because of how much you love us,” she said.

Madeleine Woods Hayes traveled to Fairfield Glade from Indiana and said it was “such an honor to be here” at her brother’s celebration. Father Woods during the Eucharistic Prayer mentioned “all of my family, my mother’s family and my father’s family. It was very moving,” Mrs. Hayes said.

All of the Woods siblings are still alive.

“There are six of us. I’m the eldest, believe it or not, and believe it or not we’re all still living. Isn’t that amazing?” Mrs. Hayes said.

Father Woods was the third child in the family in Carlingford.

“He was rather shy, and he will tell you that himself,” Mrs. Hayes said. “It’s hard to believe because he’s so outgoing now. He mentioned as a priest developing your gifts, and I think that’s one of the things that has sort of transformed him over the years.”

Before Bishop Beckman gave the final blessing during the liturgy, Father Woods had one final remark.

“Let’s now go live the Mass,” he said.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.