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We would like to thank, Rev. Leonard M Mullaney, for all he has done for our parish and community. He touched many lives over the years and he will be sorely missed. Below are his song and sermon from his farewell mass.

Farewell Sermon......

     In the gospel today we hear about a miracle our lord performed to help a deaf man with a speech impediment. This was one of many miracles our lord performed and people gradually came to know he had extraordinary powers. Eventually they would understand that he was from God, that he was the Son of God.We enjoy hearing about our lord's miracle. We might wish we were there when they happened, that we could have witnessed them. But, if we think about it, miracles still happen. People are miraculously cured. they recovered when there was no medical explanation. Tragedies are avoided, storms diverted, and accidents prevented. As I say I think miracles still happen. A miracle is when God intervenes in your life. When he does something extraordinary, extraordinary to you for you, and that is what happened to me. So I think a miracle happened in my life. It happened when Almighty God called me to be a priest.A vocation is such a mysterious thing. No one can really understand it. I came from a fairly religious family and I ended up traveling by bus to an out of town catholic high school. I think the brothers who taught there had an influence on me. At first I thought I wanted to be a brother, but then I thought it would be to confining a life.So I decided on the diocesan priesthood. As I say it all had to be the hand of god working in me. There were others better suited, more capable, more talent, including my own two brothers, classmates, but God chose me, my own little miracle. It was another miracle that I survived the seminary eight long years, no talking above the first floor, no newspapers, or radio, or TV, lights out at 9:00pm. More than half of the class I started with dropped out, but I survived. That was a miracle in itself.
     Being a priest hasn't always been easy. Either you have your good days and bad days, but the good ones outnumber the bad. Someone asked me once what I like best about being a priest. I told them baptizing was one of them. (Did some counting, 300). I got the chance to share in the joy of the new parents. That was always fun. But best of all would be saying mass. To take the place of Christ at the altar, to say the words he spoke at the last supper, and say the words that make him present in the bread and wine is a real privilege, an honor.
I have been thinking about that these past few weeks as I prepare to enter into retirement. It hasn't been an especially pleasant time. It sounds somewhat morbid, but I think of it more or less as dying a little. Giving away and getting rid of things you had for years, and starting to say goodbye to everyone or those that were close. I had to keep reminding myself what I have been telling others for years. It will all work out for the best. It is all in God;s hands. I am lucky to have a house to go to. I'll be living with family members in Westport.
     I want to say thanks to all you good parishioners here at St. Anthony's, all who helped me in anyway and brought me food and quahogs, all the employees and volunteer - won't mention names. You got me at the end of my line. I was already a priest for 37 years before I came here. I was on my last legs, and those legs haven't been good lately. So thanks for putting up with me. It's a great town. I consider myself a lucky man to have been your pastor.

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