By Kathy McGee Burns
Musician Mick Moloney will be returning to St. Malachy’s Church in Philadelphia for his annual concert on Sunday, November 1. The event raises money for the operating costs of St. Malachy’s School, a mission school and “beacon of hope” in North Philadelphia that serves mainly low-income children.
But this year, something is different. Sr. Cecile Reiley, SSJ, will not be there, physically, to guide us. She passed away on April 24, 2015. She and Mick worked on this event for 28 years and, as Mick said, “Sister Cecile was one of the loveliest people I have ever known. A living Saint, really. The most gentle of souls but with a calm inner strength that was extraordinary.”
Sister Cecile, a native of Pottsville, joined the Sisters of St. Joseph as a young woman in 1957. She double majored in music and art at Chestnut Hill College and later got an MS in pastoral counseling. She was a teacher and an immigration counselor in the Diocese of Allentown and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She was a member of the Catholic Peace Fellowship which has met at St. Malachy’s—her ministry up until her death—for more than 30 years.
So it’s befitting that this special concert will be dedicated to her.
Last year at this time, the St. Malachy’s committee, of which I’m a member, were meeting regularly to plan the 2014 concert. She was becoming more and more fragile—Sister Cecile had rheumatoid arthritis– but she conducted those meetings at her bedside like she was the CEO of Comcast. And we did her bidding. Now we are on our own but I have no doubt she is directing it all from her well-deserved throne in Heaven.
We are also honoring some good friends of hers, Eileen and Gene Troxell. Eileen Dougherty Troxell and I are involved with St. Malachy’s because of our ancestral connection. Elizabeth Mahan and Mary Jo Callahan (our grandothers) were baptized, went to school and married from St. Malachy’s.
Eileen grew up hearing stories of, “the old neighborhood”, North Philadelphia. She longed to see it for herself but her husband Gene was fearful of her venturing into this now very changed area. In the 90’s, Eileen read Pastor Emeritus Father John McNamee’s book, “Dairy of a City Priest”, and that changed the direction of her life. She and Gene have been there ever since.
“I really encountered the mystique of St. Malachy’s when I attended my first Irish concert,” says Eileen. “I was touched by the coming together of so many different people to experience the sound of Irish music drifting through the old church. The altar, where for over 150 years countless Masses had been offered, became a stage for the day. The haunting music of Irish ballads echoed through the lovely church, bringing memories of the people who worshipped there so long ago.”
When the Troxells met John McNamee they were overcome by his Irish charm and commitment to peace and social justice. Eileen said she made the mistake of asking Fr. McNamee if anyone had written a history of St.Malachy’s, and his quick retort was, “No, why don’t you?”
In 2001, Elizabeth Mahan’s granddaughter, Eileen published the “History of St. Malachy’s. ” She also has kept the church records, helping all those seeking family histories.
Her husband became interested in restoring the magnificent organ,
Built circa 1869. With no musical talent, Gene, an engineer, gathered a crew “The Organ Guys” who have worked to repair and restore this famous organ which was destroyed in 1997 by a collapsing ceiling.
The organ has its own history. Its original builder, Henry Knauff, had a grandson, Jack Norworth who wrote the lyrics to “Take Me Out To The Ball Game,” a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song and baseball’s theme song. Gene and his cohorts were responsible for enabling a successful, first annual “Take Me Out To The Ball Game” concert. And, yes the organ was played and everybody sang.
Mary Courtney, a member of the St. Malachy’s committee, thinks of Gene and Eileen as being not only the backbone, but custodians of St. Malachy’s. She says, “They have given their time, talent and treasures for the goodness of the parish.”
The Troxells credit Sr. Cecile for being the driving force behind the concert. Mick Moloney said, “Cecile would hound me to confirm the date, name the musicians and as time grew closer and closer became more persistent…but always graceful.
At Sr. Cecile’s Memorial Mass, Mick sent this message about her: “As Cele grew weaker physically over the past few years, she continued to touch every musician who came by, with her courage, her humility, her grace and her fortitude. I will miss her deeply. Coming back to Philly will never again be the same without her humble and gracious presence”.
