Mass of Christian Burial for Rev. Anthony Azzarto, S.J.: Program

Mass of Christian Burial for

Rev. Anthony Azzarto, S.J.

April 21, 2023 • Saint Aedan’s, the Saint Peter’s University Church

Rev. Anthony Azzarto, S.J. Born: September 15, 1938 Entered the Society of Jesus: July 14, 1956 Ordained: June 12, 1969 Died: April 15, 2023

Order of the Mass

Presider: Rev. James F. Keenan, S.J. Introductory Rites Greeting Sprinkling with Holy Water Placing of the Pall Placing of Religious Symbols Processional Hymn: Be Not Afraid

You shall cross the barren desert But you shall not die of thirst You shall wander far in safety Though you do not know the way You shall speak your words to foreign men And they will understand You shall see the face of God and live

Refrain: Be not afraid I go before you always Come, follow me and I will give you rest And blessed are your poor For the kingdom shall be theirs Blest are you that weep and mourn For one day you shall laugh And if wicked men insult and hate you All because of me Blessed, blessed are you

Opening Prayer

Liturgy of the Word First Reading (Isaiah 43:1-6) • Paul Schaetzle, ’71 Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 23) Response: Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants, beyond my fears, from death into life.

Second Reading (Philippians 1:3-11) • Grace Gualario Gospel Acclamation Gospel (Luke 24:13-35) • Rev. James Keenan, S.J. Reflection • Jack Raslowsky, ’79 Prayers of the Faithful • Bill Lillis, ’80 & Jim DeAngelo, ’85 Liturgy of the Eucharist Offertory Hymn: Prayer of St. Francis, arr. Ryan Cayabyab Presentation of the Gifts • Sue Baber, Rich Hansen, Rosalie Romano & Teddy McCarthy, ’23 Holy, Holy (Mass of Creation)

Memorial Acclamation: When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.

The Lord’s Prayer Greeting of Peace Lamb of God Communion Hymn: One Bread, One Body

Refrain: One bread, one body, one Lord of all One cup of blessing which we bless.

And we, though many, throughout the Earth We are one body in this one Lord.:

Communion Hymn: Taste and See

Refrain: Taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Oh taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord, of the Lord.

Communion Meditation: Suscipe (Take, Lord, and Receive) Final Commendation Prayers of Commendation • Rev. Chukwuyenum Afiawari, S.J. Commendation Hymn: The Hand of God Shall Hold You Refrain: The hand of God shall hold you, the peace of God enfold you, the love that dreamed and formed you, still surrounds you here today; The light of God beside you, above, beneath, inside you, the light that shines to guide you home to the loving hand of God.

Recessional Recessional Hymn: On Eagle’s Wings

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord Who abide in His shadow for life Say to the Lord, “My refuge, my rock in whom I trust!”

Refrain: And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings Bear you on the breath of dawn Make you to shine like the sun And hold you in the palm of His hand.

The snare of the fowler will never capture you And famine will bring you no fear Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield.

Answering the call to be a “man for and with others” is a challenge in two parts. First one must commit to serve others, and whether they have needed a friend, a spiritual adviser, a cheerleader, or a voice calling out for justice, or simply a tie to stay in dress code, you have served thousands at Prep and beyond with distinction for nearly 60 years. But one must also be ready to stand with others—sometimes in spirit, often in person, at the peaks of joy and in the depths of despair. On the very best days, on the very worst days, and—crucially, because you have taught us to seek God in all things, to find the sacred in the simple, ordinary moments— on all the days in between, you have always been there, and you have always been “Our Pride and Our Glory.”

Tony Azzarto, S.J. A Prep Legend • Inducted October 19, 2022

For walking with us always...

For reminding us of the sacred in us and around us...

For showing us what it means to be a person for others...

For teaching us the very best of what it means to be Saint Peter’s Prep...

Thank you, Fr. Azzarto.

As Kingfishers Catch Fire Gerard Manley Hopkins, S.J.

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame; As tumbled over rim in roundy wells Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell’s Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name; Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells, Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.

I say móre: the just man justices; Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces; Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is — Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his To the Father through the features of men’s faces.

In 2014, the Saint Peter’s Prep Library invited members of the faculty and staff to read their favorite poems on video for National Poetry Month. It came as little surprise that this was Tony’s selection, as he so often quoted the closing lines in homilies, when offering a prayer at graduation, and on so many other occasions—including, memorably, when he was inducted as a Legend of Prep last October.