BRATTLEBORO — Five years ago, the Most Rev. Salvatore R. Matano, the Bishop of Burlington, assigned a young priest from Bellows Falls to St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Brattleboro.
He sent the young priest here with a mission: to strengthen and rejuvenate a Catholic school whose fortunes were flagging.
Five years later, the Very Rev. Richard C. O'Donnell told parishioners at his farewell Mass on Sunday that “We've done amazing things because of how amazing you all are.”
The priest, whom everyone calls “Father Rich,” ended his tenure at St. Michael's on June 30. His new assignment began on July 1, as Bishop Matano moved him anew - to Christ The King School in Burlington, which is part of St. Anthony's Catholic Church. O'Donnell is being asked to do for that parish what he did for St. Michael's.
But before he began the next chapter in his career, he had one more Sunday to spend with his first congregation.
The old church at the end of Walnut Street saw a standing-room-only crowd of well-wishers for Father Rich's final Mass as pastor of St. Michael's.
O'Donnell was visibly emotional as he began the 10:30 a.m. Mass. During his homily, he spoke of what it meant to him to have spent the past five years in Brattleboro.
“When I look back, a lot of things have happened over five years. We experienced amazing, joy-filled moments. In sorrow, we sought the comfort of God. There were moments that were hard to get through, but through the grace of God, we did,” he said.
He admitted there were times during his tenure where not every member of the parish agreed or understood some of the decisions that he made.
“But our school, which was on the verge of closing, is on a solid foundation,” he said. “The church has never looked better. The pews have never been fuller. Our faith has never been stronger.”
Enrollment at St. Michael's School, a pre-K through grade 8 school, had dipped to around 80 students five years ago. This year, they had more than 100 students, according to the school.
For that, he credited the work of the parishioners who have kept St. Michael's going when other Catholic churches around Vermont have had to close or merge, or share pastors.
“I have had the best ride these last five years that any one could ask for,” he said. “I am a better priest today because of you.”
O'Donnell also served as chaplain for the Brattleboro Police and Fire departments. Members of both departments showed up as a honor guard to salute their departing comrade. They crowded the balcony during Mass, and O'Donnell gave them a salute in his homily.
“You allowed me to enter not only your work, but your lives,” he said. “You will always have my prayers, my friendship, and my admiration.”
A journey of faith
O'Donnell, who turned 36 on June 29, was born in Malden, Mass., and grew up in Bellows Falls. He was a parishioner of St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls and graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School with the Class of 1996. He majored in philosophy at Boston College, and graduated in 2001.
It was at BC where he began explore the idea of being a priest. After graduation, he entered Mount St. Mary Seminary in August 2001. Bishop Matano ordained him to the priesthood on June 4, 2005.
After ordination, O'Donnell served as parochial vicar and administrator of parishes in St. Johnsbury and Enosburg Falls. After serving as administrator of St. Michael's in 2008, he was named parish pastor on July 1, 2009.
Even though he is leaving town, O'Donnell said he is certain to return to Brattleboro when his work is done.
He told how Bishop Matano asked all the priests in the Diocese of Burlington to make out their funeral arrangements.
O'Donnell spoke of filling out the paperwork.
“And then I get to the line that [asks], place of burial. I said, Where would I want to be? And the simple answer was to be where I was first named pastor - a position and title that is given to you once, and you hold on to it for your life. So I will be back again...”
The congregation laughed.
“...I may not be the best looking,” he continued, “but in St. Michael's Cemetery, I'll own the only property I'll ever own, 6 feet by 3 feet. Please know that I will be with friends; and your friendship and your love I am grateful for.”
The new pastor
Succeeding O'Donnell as pastor of St. Michael's is the Rev. James C. Dodson.
A Barre native, Dodson graduated from Concordia University in Montreal in 2004 with a B.A. in history and a minor in theology. He entered Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in 2005, and completed his pre-theology studies in 2007.
He then went to Rome, where he attended the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and completed a graduate degree in spiritual theology.
After he was ordained, on June 25, 2011, Dodson served as a parochial vicar at Christ the King parish in Rutland, St. Patrick Parish in Wallingford, and Our Lady of the Mountains in Killington.
He also was a chaplain and faculty member at Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Rutland.