Beloved pastor embraced for joy, unity of parish

Msgr. Allen Roy, who retired June 26 at age 81 after 39 years as pastor of Holy Spirit Church in New Orleans, never was a priest to stand on title or ceremony.

He cheerfully chided those who called him “Monsignor” and pleaded to be recognized as “Father” instead. The black cassock from his early priesthood and his purple monsignor’s cassock still hang in his closet, but he views them more as cherished heirlooms of a different church era than as a must-wear, clerical uniform.

In Father Roy’s case, parishioners said, the clothes didn’t make the man – the man made the clothes.

“I don’t use the term ‘beloved’ lightly, but he was absolutely beloved,” said Gene Barnes, chairman of the festivities surrounding Father Roy’s farewell Mass, attended by a throng of parishioners who packed the church to pay their respects. “The guy is a joyous, gregarious, welcoming, loving pastor in every sense of the word. He is a remarkable leader through whom the love of Christ showed.”

Called by name
Even with the church packed, Father Roy was able to distribute Communion by calling each recipient by his or her first name, a personal touch that endeared himself to the congregation.

“You know our names!” said parishioner Barbara Donlon, who spoke on behalf of parishioners after Communion. “Meeting us at the door by name as we come to church is better than going to a friendly bar for an ice cold beer on a hot day.”

Father Roy was personal and unconventional. The only collection he ever took up at Holy Spirit came on his first weekend as pastor. The following week, he explained that he would place a bowl with Communion wafers, a plate and a basket at the front of the church. As parishioners entered, they were asked to put wafers into the plate if they were going to Communion and then place their offertory gifts in the basket.

“That not only has taken care of all of our needs – but we’ve also got money in the bank,” Father Roy said. “The only time I talk about money is to announce a special collection. I did add one. I said the collection one Sunday was to pay for the expenses of the retired priests’ villa – ‘and I’m going to move there!’”

A native of New Roads, La., Father Roy, the eldest of three brothers, said he felt a push toward the priesthood even before high school. But his father, A.J. Roy, who owned a welding and machine shop, advised him to complete high school before entering St. Joseph’s Seminary in Covington.

He was ordained in 1954 and was a young priest when the heady changes of the Second Vatican Council were ushered in, calling for laypeople to live out their baptismal roles more actively in the church. It was a change Father Roy embraced.

Qualities of a priest
Asked to identify the most important qualities of a priest in relation to his parishioners, Father Roy said: “Number one, to love them. Number two, to listen prayerfully and support them and then check on them regularly to realize that suffering is not the worst thing in the world.  Suffering can be a great teacher. The (symbol of the) cross is a plus and a minus.”

Week after week, Father Roy took great care to prepare homilies that he hoped would uplift the congregation, usually interspersing a story or two about his own life to draw a connection to the scriptures.

“Preaching is one of the ways by which you can reach people and touch their lives and let them touch your life,” Father Roy said. “It’s great to be able to not just reach them but to form and motivate them.”

Likes his new digs
In his retirement, Father Roy will reside at St. John Vianney Villa for retired priests but still be available for Masses, baptisms and funerals. He appreciates the archdiocese’s care for elder priests.

“I’ve been in this diocese since 1932, and I’ve never seen the diocese as unified among its priests as it is right now,” Father Roy said. “That has to do with the archbishop. When I call the archbishop’s office, he picks up the phone and says, ‘This is Greg.’ We are working toward unity.”

Parishioners will always remember the sheer joy with which Father Roy celebrated baptism, which was done within the Mass. After the baptism was performed, Father Roy would hold up the infant at the altar as a sign of offering the baby to God.

“It’s so beautiful that it makes everybody cry,” said parishioner Phyllis Robert. “He’s not only a pastor. He’s a friend, and he’s such a good man.”

Peter Finney Jr. can be reached at [email protected].