Nurses of all denominations, from all areas and status of service – currently serving and retired -- gathered for the 15th annual tribute Mass on Aug. 11 at Queen of Heaven Parish in Green. The liturgy was planned by alumnae from the former St. Thomas Hospital School of Nursing in Akron.
Some alumnae, wearing white nurses’ uniforms, the navy blue and red capes from St. Thomas School of Nursing and their starched white caps, participated in the opening procession. One of the alumna carried the Book of Remembrance, which contains the names of deceased alumnae who are remembered at each Mass.
Father David Durkee, QOH pastor, was the celebrant. Concelebrants were Father Dismas Byarugaba, administrator of St. John the Baptist Parish in Akron, and Father James Semonin, a retired priest in residence at QOH. Father Durkee noted that Father Semonin served more than 39 years as Parma Community General Hospital (now UH Parma Medical Center) chaplain and Father Byarugaba has spent a dozen years ministering as chaplain at Akron Summa Hospital. Father Durkee also spent three years as chaplain at Akron City Hospital. Deacon Stephen Makara from QOH assisted at the liturgy.
(See photo gallery above.)
The Peace Together Choir, an interdenominational group of vocalists and musicians, led the music.
In his homily, Father Durkee told the group nurses have a special place in his heart because he has six in his immediate family: his mother, two sisters and three nieces.
Recalling the readings from Mass, Father Durkee said, “Love is patient; love is kind. Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy. After all, what are we all about?” he asked, noting that “nursing is a wonderful ministry of love.”
He said it is a habit for him to thank veterans for their service but since the pandemic, he thanks everyone for their service, for showing up and working. “There should be an extra special gratitude in our hearts for the teachers, doctors and nurses who were on the front lines during COVID,” he added.
Father Durkee said it is appropriate to thank nurses for their service at a Mass since Jesus himself demonstrated service at the first Mass when he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the feet of his apostles.
Before Mass, he asked one of the nurses in attendance to share a story with him from her career. She recalled being resentful because she had to work one Christmas Eve in the emergency room. A homeless man came in and as she prepared to wash him, she said she saw the face of Jesus in him and thanked God for the privilege of serving him on Christmas Eve.
The day prior to the Mass was the feast of St. Lawrence, a martyr in the early Church. Father Durkee told the group that Lawrence was in charge of the treasury in Rome. The emperor, who hated Christians, ordered him to gather Rome’s treasures. Lawrence asked for three days to do so. When the officials returned, they expected to collect gold and other treasures. Instead, Lawrence had gathered the city’s poor, lame, sick, widows and lepers, telling the emperor they were the Church’s treasures. The emperor was not amused and ordered Lawrence to be killed by roasting him on a grill over a fire.
According to the story, Lawrence told those torturing him that he was finished on one side and they should turn him over. “God loves a cheerful giver,” Father Durkee quipped, reminding those gathered to see the sick as a treasure and to remember Jesus’ words, “‘Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me.’ See Jesus in them.”
He said a pastor he had served with years ago reminded him to always be good to people, especially the sick, because they are vulnerable and their faith is being tested.
“My challenge to you and to myself is to keep the joy and the cheerfulness. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver. And as St. Augustine said, ‘Trust the past to God’s mercy. Trust the present to God’s love and trust the future to God’s providence. God will provide. Thank you for providing your love and service for all these years.”
Father Durkee also shared some words of wisdom from his mother that he said helped him during the pandemic. She told him to remember, the germs are with you always, but they will take over when you get run down, so don’t get run down or too stressed.
After Mass, he offered an Irish blessing to those in attendance and invited the group to a reception in the parish life center.
The Mass was livestreamed and an archived copy can be viewed here for 90 days afterward.