Fr. Jim Field dies after struggle with cancer
Today’s Parish author Fr. Jim Field died peacefully yesterday morning, July 12, 2010. I first met Jim in the pages of Today’s Parish. In the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote regularly on liturgy. At the time, his contributions were one of the best sources available for advice on parish worship.
I got to know Jim much better when we served for several years together on the board of directors for the North American Forum on the Catechumenate. That time coincided with the worst moments of the child sex abuse crisis in the U.S. Jim, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, never succumbed to despair. Even in the darkest moments, Jim was able to see the light of Christ. He did his best to shepherd his parish and his parishioners through a very rocky period.
Jim loved being a pastor, and he loved the people of Incarnation Parish in Melrose. Every time the Forum board would meet, he would tell some hilarious, outrageous story about his community. More than once, I accused him of stretching the truth a bit. He’d always put on a shocked expression and say, “It’s true! I swear, every word of it is true!”
At our spring 2008 board meeting, Jim was not feeling well. After he got back home, he e-mailed his friends with the shocking news; he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His doctors told him he probably only had a few weeks left. That was over two years ago.
In those two years, Jim taught us what it means to live the paschal mystery. Just as he had when his parish was in crisis, he was able to see the light of Christ in his struggle with cancer. Just as he had shepherded his parish through a dark time, his parishioners rallied around to sustain him in his time of suffering.
The way Jim faced death is a lesson in grace for all of us. He was 59 when he died. He could have retired. He could have taken sick leave. Instead, he committed to pastor his parish as long as he was able. In a June 2009 interview with Michael Paulson of the Boston Globe, he said, “This is what I got, and this is how I deal with it. I’m a teacher, and this is a teachable moment.”
What he taught us—what he taught me—is that death cannot win. Cancer may have taken his body, but it can never take Jim, child of God and priest of Christ. Jim is one with us and one with Christ—always.
As he said in his 2009 interview: “This is a time when you have to figure out–do you believe this or not. You’ve been saying this your whole life. Is this really the truth or not? And, so far, it feels like the truth.”
Jim, may the angels lead you into paradise;
May the martyrs come to welcome you
And take you to the holy city
The new and eternal Jerusalem.
Well said of Jim Field, May God share with him the glory that belongs to him, from a teacher and friend, Rick
This is a wonderful tribute. “So far, it feels like the truth.” Amen. Thank you, Nick.
Sr. Rose Pacatte posted a link on her Facebook page to today’s Boston Globe story about Jim. http://bit.ly/bm8p0d
Dear Nick,
My name is Heather and I was one of Father Jim’s nurses at MGH PH22. I was saddened to learn of Father’s passing. I just returned to the states after being away for nearly a month, finalizing the adoption of my daughter. Although I only knew Father for a short period of time, he was such an inspiration. He truly did share the Love of Jesus with everyone who walked through is room. My prayers are for the church body, that they would continue the Great Mission. Blessings, Heather
Hi Heather. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Jim truly was an inspiration.