The Poverello Society of Holy Family Catholic Church is a Franciscan lay group of men and women who try to live the Gospel in everyday life.
Father John O'Hara (10/29/1943 -10/30/2007)
Father
John Michael O'Hara, parochial vicar of Holy Family Catholic Church in
Jacksonville, died suddenly, Tuesday, Oct. 30. He was 64. The son of the
late Edward O'Hara and Isabel McGowan, Father O'Hara was born on Oct.
29, 1943 in Norristown, Pa. He was one of five children. He graduated
from Bishop Kendrick High School in Norristown, Pa. in 1961 and later
attended St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami for two years and
St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Fla. where he
completed his seminary studies. He was ordained to the priesthood for
the Archdiocese of Miami on May 15, 1976 by the late Colman F. Carroll,
archbishop of Miami. Father O'Hara served in the United States Army and
more recently as a chaplain for the United States Air Force. His family
said he knew early in life he wanted to become a Catholic priest and he
followed his dream. His siblings recall Father John pretending to be a
priest as a child, often celebrating his own Mass at home. His family
is ever proud of Father John and all that he has accomplished. Father
John served in many parishes, including: Our Lady of the Holy Rosary,
Ft. Pierce, Fla. (1976-1978), St. Brendan, Miami (1978-1980), Chaplain
for the U.S. Air Force (1980-1986), St. Timothy, Miami (1986-1988), St.
Mark, Ft. Lauderdale (1988-1990) and St. Bridget, Minneapolis, Minn. (2000-2001).
Father John has served at Holy Family Catholic Church in Jacksonville
since March 2001. While the family is shocked and saddened by Father John's
sudden death, “we take solace in the knowledge that Father John
is where he has always aspired to be - with God, our Father. Father John
will live forever in our hearts,” reflects his family. Father John's
true family extended well beyond that of his genetic relations in that
he welcomed all to the church and into the Catholic family. He is survived
by his mother Isabel of Jupiter, Fla., his sisters Mary Jane Walters of
West Ches ter, Pa., Kathleen O'Hara of Springfield, Va., his brothers
Edward of Palm Beach, Fla., Dennis of Collegeville, Pa., many nieces and
nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.
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Father
John - Poverello's spiritual director, teacher, and dear friend has joined
our Lord. Over the years, he has taught me how to love my neighbor, drawn
me closer to Christ and the Father, and taught me how to live the Gospel
in my everyday life. He has set me on a lifelong journey to grow closer
to God and to serve God in all of my interactions with others. The ways
Father John has enriched my life are too numerous to list. I am eternally
grateful that I am able to say he was a friend of mine.
He brought Poverello together and it is ours to carry on and continue the mission he began. We are a family and are sad that a family member is gone. Because of our faith, we are jubilant that he is with the Lord. Our hope is that we will all be together some day.
Gary Weirich
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A
true Franciscan ... follower of St. Francis ... a lover of Jesus ... a
true Catholic Christian.
A wonderful, non-judgemental human spirit ... a breath of fresh air as
a priest and a man ...
he will be truly missed ...
I've known Father John for a little over a year and I can't tell you how much I've grown to love and trust and admire this wonderful priest ... I really am missing him ... and not seeing him on Tuesdays sitting up in the corner where he usually sits is going to be tough!
Frank Nigrelli
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He
was certainly a man of God who inspired and motivated so many people.
His powerful homilies kept us in alignment; his words forced me into self-check-regularly!
His insight and knowledge kept me hungry for more of the church, God,
and the word. I will never forget the way he would approach the altar,
with resounding reverence and conviction; he made you listen. He made
you feel uncomfortable; approaching comfort as a means of regression in
faith. He made you strive towards developing an intimate relationship
with Christ, in order to due His work, here, now. He was a pinnacle of
faith, for me. I found my way back to the church about a year and a half
ago. Holy Family was the location; but, I can not imagine what it would
have been without Father John.
I can see him so clearly: red- faced; furrowed brow; generating a flow of poignant God-filled words; open arms towards Christ on the altar. Father John will always be on the forefront of my mind when I reflect and reminisce upon Holy Family. I am so grateful I had the opportunity to experience his devotion; his passion; his life. He was a uniquely special man; he will be missed greatly.
Many prayers and blessings
in Christ, always,
Erika Meyer
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When
thinking about something Farther said that stuck with me it is too hard
– the list is too long. Everything he said was truth. Every time
I listen to him, he provided clarity to a question I struggled with. I
am sad because I am selfish – there was so much more I wanted to
learn from him. But I am happy for him, knowing he is in a better place.
Richard McCoy
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I
really enjoyed his sermons, because they made me listen and think what
was, what is, and what will be, in other words, "Keep it straight,
Baby!", "Do the right thing!", I can hear him saying. He
seemed like a straight-forward and good man who spent his adulthood serving
our God. I think God must have figured that Fr. John did his job well,
so he took him early to be eternally happy with Him.
Elaine McMurray
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Some
of his "sayings" : "You don't own the air that your breathe."
"Just do the gospel--none of the other stuff is as important."
"Love me, love my dog." "Grace abounds."
Maureen Camphire
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The
first Mass I attended at Holy Family Fr. John had and I felt I had found
my parish. Myself and MANY of my friends felt Fr. John knew what was on
our minds in his homily's. What a Blessing he was in my life.
Kathy Vogler
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Father
John helped me see it is not all about me but about God and others. He
frequently reminded me of who our Creator is, why He creates, and what
we need to do to do the journey. He helped at times when I felt like I
should be better than I am by saying just do your best. God will do the
rest. What is the worst that can happen. Christ has already conquered
death. I will always remember Father as a wonderful priest. His homilies,
week after week, spoke to each person in the church as if that person
was the only person. He gave his mortal life to us but he will spend his
eternal life with God.
Cathy Weirich
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When
I first saw Fr.John I said to myself wow he looks like my dad when my
dad was younger. It was such a nice feeling of comfort. Even when his
face turned red and the vein in his neck pulsated it was just like my
dad LoL.
He even acknowledge my dog Diamond at the blessing of the animals.
Also his great sayings Love me love my dog and most of all when he said
"We don't own the air that we breathe.
Even at mass this morning while Fr. Glenn was saying Mass this book dropped
(10/31/07) and Fr.John hated that book he said the only book that should
be on the stand is the work of God. So he was with us during the 9 o'clock
mass.
Bernie Dietzel
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The
first time I really met Father John was when I asked him to hear my confession
after a weekday morning mass. I was nervous, as usual, about going to
confession. I was a bit apprehensive about confessing my sins to Father
John because he seemed so intense and I thought he would probably yell
at me or scold me for my sins. After doing my best to confess my sins,
Father John talked to me about what I had confessed. Within about 30 seconds,
I felt totally at ease with Father John. He managed to put everything
into perspective, including the mercy of our Lord.
Father John’s morning mass sermons usually lasted only 2-3 minutes. It was totally amazing to me how he could make such profound observations seem so straightforward. I never tired of his telling us “how God is always creating; the act of his creation is never ending.” It seems so simple yet I never heard anyone but Father John explain it in that manner.
Father John has helped me (and countless others I am sure) on my spiritual journey. While I still have a long way to go, I would not be even close to the person I am today without Father John’s influence. It will be difficult moving on without him. Like another Poverello member said, “I still had so many things I wanted to talk to Father John about…” I am grateful that I have my Poverello brothers and sisters to support me.
Hopefully, all of us will continue to learn from Father John even though he is no longer with us on earth. Just as God continues the process of creation, we can all continue our spiritual journey with Father John. Another point that Father John repeatedly made is that we are put on this earth to live our life FULLY. I think that, although his life was way too short, that Father John lived his life to the FULLEST. May we all try to emulate him in the way we live our lives.
George Leibig
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Fr.
John admired and emulated the life of St. Francis of Assisi. In the way
of Francis, he was humble and unpretentious, never wishing to be the most
honored or recognized.
Fr. John made himself helpful to those in need. He ministered to those
ill from the Aids disease. He gave of his own funds for beggars unable
to pay for their basic needs. He was always available to minister to those
with spiritual needs.
Fr. John, certainly with the vision and call of St. Francis, established
and regularly participated in "Poverello," the Franciscan lay
order of Holy Family Parish, which is the living testimony to Fr. John
O'Hara!
Fr. John O'Hara helped us better understand the purpose and the potential
of our lives in three realities.
First, we ar radically poor and absolutely dependent upon God, not even
owning the air we breathe.
Second, we cannot overcome our selfish human nature by a one time declaration
of conversion but need to rededicate ourselves every day to follow the
Gospel of Jesus.
Third, each of us have unique God given talents, not to be used selfishly
but to be shared with others whenever there is a need.
Jack and Mary Krings
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Father
John will be missed for his dynamite homilies, formidable wit and his
caring attitude. Without him we of Poverello now truly are, the 'poor
little ones'. As we grieve it is comforting to remember that if he were
here he would surely tell us, "Its not about me baby!"
Joel Keene
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It
is amazing that we don't realize how many lives we touch until we are
not here to see. Fr. John meant so much to me. He helped me through some
very difficult times and through him I found my way back to the church.
I drifted as many do but Fr. John showed me that it is not what counts
in this world but in the next. "WE DON'T OWN THE AIR WE BREATH."
"LET GO AND LET GOD IN." I know that when he meets his maker
he will say, "LOVE ME LOVE MY DOG." And I will miss his stories.
Helen T Bouffoard
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Alone,
in a dark hospital cafeteria on a rain soaked October in 2002, I was in
given a glimpse of Christ's mercy through Father John. Devastated, confused,
and shocked with the news of my husband's terminal illness, Father John
joined me. It was his pink hands I remember, holding and steadying me.
His words, actions and compassion gently molded the panic into a spiritual
journey of faith for my family. "Let God do what he has to do, the
way he wants to do it"
Thank you Father John for all the families, soldiers, children and the parish.
Cathy McDonald
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So
much has been said already that echoes my thoughts about Fr. John. He
was a champion for every needy cause and helped me to find direction as
I grappled with the Ministry to the Separated and Divorced. He was my
advocate when I needed support and was never too busy to meet and speak
with the group when I asked him to. His infamous words "YOU DO NOT
OWN THE AIR YOU BREATHE" will always be in my heart and mind when
I am tempted to feel superior in any given situation, and my narcissism
will certainly be held in check everytime I think about the teachings
that Fr.John gave us at the Poverello meetings. He was truly an inspiration
in my life and I will miss him, may his soul rest in peace!
Pat Nelms
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Father John was everything that has already been so eloguently said about him here and much more. I will miss him not only for all the spiritual gifts he brought to us as a group and individually, but also for his keen intellect and his dry Irish wit that so reminded me of my late husband. He was a friend and confessor and there is a large space in my heart that I will try to fill by remembering the person that he was and the truth of a loving and, above-all, a forgiving God that he shared with us.
In one of his homilies, right after the death of my husband, he said that people all play roles in life, but that when we die all the role playing is over and all the baggage that we drag around with us in our relationships in life is gone....All that remains is the LOVE.. What a revelation and a comfort that was to me! God grant him peace and let him know how much we all loved and still love him.
Carolyn White
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Father John was a happy smiley man who loved / loves the Lord and shared his love with us. The first time we attended Father John celebrating Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church during the Consecration, we knew it was unique. Father John would say the words of Consecration in a speaking voice and when it was Jesus talking he would say the words in a talking lower voice and we would feel the words of the Consecration were just for us. It was very powerful!!!
Jaan and Dave Harris