A new rector will run the day-to-day operations and oversee the Passionist community at St. Ann’s Monastery and Shrine Basilica in West Scranton.
The Rev. Richard Burke, C.P., the current rector, will step into a new position as director of novices beginning Sunday. Meanwhile, the Rev. Paul Fagan, C.P., will become rector of St. Ann’s beginning next month. Burke will still be rector in addition to his new role until Fagan arrives.
As rector, Fagan will oversee the Passionist community at St. Ann’s and its facilities, ministerial activity, the community’s finances, the weekly novenas and the annual Solemn Novena each July, and serve as liaison to the larger Passionist province on the East Coast and to the Diocese of Scranton.
Fagan, a Pittsburgh native, entered the Passionist order in 1980 and was ordained in 1986. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in social work from St. Louis University, a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union and Doctor of Ministry from Aquinas Institute of Theology. Prior to joining the order, he was a child welfare worker at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
He is no stranger to Scranton, having initially come to the city in 1985 for a summer of clinical pastoral education at Community Medical Center and helping out and preaching at the novena. A runner, he has participated in 15 marathons, including running in the Steamtown Marathon four times. For the past 11 years, Fagan has executive-produced and hosted “The Sunday Mass,” a nationally broadcast program airing on local television affiliates and national channels and posted online.
The Rev. James Price, C.P., the community’s provincial, appointed Fagan to the position in June. While he was initially surprised when he got the invitation to be rector, Fagan said he hopes the energy at St. Ann’s will propel him to do good work there.
He said he is looking forward to being part of the Passionist community at St. Ann’s and parish life.
“I like the guys that live there and minister there. They’ve always been very welcoming to me and it would be nice to be part of their community,” he said. “I have always liked the atmosphere and it’ll be a pleasure to be a part of it, help it hopefully maybe to grow and to continue on in all the good work that it does.”
Originally from Dunkirk, New York, Burke, who joined the Passionist community in 1972 and was ordained in 1976, has had multiple terms as rector of the monastery and shrine in West Side, from 1992 to 1998 and 2002 to 2010, beginning his most recent term in 2014. Between his terms at St. Ann’s, he has also been rector of St. Paul of the Cross Monastery in Pittsburgh and was part of the provincial leadership team for the Passionist order, serving as liaison to the six Passionist retreat centers on the East Coast.
Rev. Paul Fagan, C.P. (Submitted)
Rev. Richard Burke, rector of St. Ann’s Monastery Shrine and Basilica. (File photo)
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Rev. Paul Fagan, C.P. (Submitted)
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Assumption College, and a Master of Arts in systematic theology and a Master of Divinity in pastoral theology from St. John’s University.
In his new role, Burke will oversee young men in their first year studying to become priests in the Passionist order, which Burke and Fagan are a part of. The Catholic order was founded by St. Paul of the Cross in 1720 and states as its mission to keep the love of Jesus alive as seen in his passion. They mainly preach missions and retreats. He will still reside at the West Scranton monastery and assist at the basilica and at area parishes.
The new position is in line with St. Ann’s being named the novitiate house for the Passionists in their eastern province, where Passionist priests study in their first year. The first young men Burke will oversee will arrive Sunday.
He looks forward to the change of pace the new position will bring.
“I really am excited about the possibility of doing this for the (Passionist) community,” Burke said.
Burke said he most enjoyed being part of a wider faith community of parishioners as rector. Including Burke, there are 11 Passionists at the monastery in West Scranton — eight priests and three brothers.
“It’s the people that are part of the basilica and the parish and especially the people of the solemn novena at that period of time. It’s those people and being part of their lives that becomes the most enjoyable part of it,” he said. “Providing the sacramental ministry for them, providing the encouragement, support, the peace of mind that they need, those kinds of things. That’s what fuels your enjoyment of being here with them.”
He said he has also worked well with the Rev. James Paisley, who has led St. Ann’s Basilica and SS. Peter & Paul Church since 2023, the first non-Passionist priest to serve as pastor of the basilica.
“It could not have been a more remarkable advancement in cooperation and ministry than we could ever have hoped for,” Burke said. “Father Paisley is absolutely terrific. He’s very personable with the parishioners. He’s very cooperative with us, and we try to be equally cooperative with him and the needs of the parish.”
Having Fagan as rector, Burke said, will be a benefit for the Passionist community in Scranton.
“We’re actually kind of excited that he’s coming,” he said.