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Page 1: IN PEACE REV. BERNARD AHERN

REST IN PEACE

REV. BERNARD AHERN OCTOBER 30, 1926 - JULY 31, 2020

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL

AUGUST 6, 202010:30AM

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M I N I S T E R S O F T H E M A S SPRESIDER

Most Rev. Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, S.T.D.

PRINCIPAL CO NCE LE B R A NTS

Rev. Sebastian K. George, CMI Rev. Clay Ludwig Rev. Nicholas Bennett Rev. Maurice Culver

MAS TER OF CE REMONI E S

Rev. Briggs Hurley

DEACON ASSI STANTS

Kevin Boudreaux Robert Gardner

LECTORS

Theresa Lebhar Lien Nguyen

PREL U DE “Be Still and Know that I am God” Steven C. Warner

“Transfigure Us, O Lord” Bob Hurd

“Prayer of St. Francis” Sebastian Temple

“O Shelter Me” Michael Joncas

“Litany of the Saints” Chant

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T H E O R D E R O F M A S ST H E I N T R O D U C T O R Y R I T E S

GREET ING

PENITENTIAL RIT E

COL LECT

ENTR ANCE “All Creatures of Our God and King” LASST UNS ERFREUEN

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T H E L I T U R G Y O F T H E W O R D

FIRST READI NG Wisdom 4:7-15The just, though they die early, shall be at rest. For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years. Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age. He who pleased God were loved; He who lived among sinners were transported– Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind. Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness. But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account.

RESPONSORIA L PSA LM Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Michael Guimont

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SECOND READ ING Romans 6:3-9Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.

GOSPEL John 12:23-28Jesus said to his disciples:“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me. "I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it and will glorify it again."

HOM ILY

ACCLAMATION BE FOR E THE GOS P EL “Mass for John Carroll” Michael Joncas

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T H E L I T U R G Y O F T H E E U C H A R I S T

THE PR EPARATIO N OF THE GI FTS HYMN “Eternal Father Strong to Save”

John Dykes

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SANCTUS “Mass for John Carroll” Michael Joncas

MYSTERY OF FAITH “Mass for John Carroll” Michael Joncas

GREAT AMEN “Mass for John Carroll” Michael Joncas

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T H E C O M M U N I O N R I T E

THE LORD’S PRAYE R

DOXOLOGY

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COM MUNION

During Holy Communion, as you come forward, please remember to keep an appropriate distance of six feet. Ushers will be available to direct you. Masks should stay on while processing. If you are wearing gloves you will need to remove them to receive the Eucharist. You are asked to step aside to remove your mask and consume the Host before returning to your seat.

AN ACT OF SPI RI TUA L COMM UNION

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

AGNUS DEI “Mass for John Carroll” Michael Joncas

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HYMN “Ubi Caritas” Bob Hurd

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I am the Bread of Life you who come to Me shall not hunger; And who believe in Me shall not thirst, No one can come to Me unless the Father beckons.

The bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world, And if you eat of this Bread, You shall live forever, you shall live forever!

Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man And drink of His Blood, and drink of His Blood, You shall not have life within you.

I am the Resurrection, I am the Life If you believe in Me, Even though you die, you shall live forever.

Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, The Son of God, Who has come into the world.

HYMN “I am the Bread of Life” Sr. Suzanne Toolan

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PRAY ER AFTE R COMM UNI ON

REMAR KS

HYMN “Jesus, Remember Me” Jacques Berthier

MEDIDATION “Ave Maria” Franz Schubert

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R I T E O F C O M M I T T A L A N D F I N A L C O M M E N D A T I O N

PRAY ER OF CO M ME NDATI ON

COM MITTAL

PRO CESSION

INVITAT ION TO PR AY E R

SONG OF FARE WELL “Song of Farewell” Ernest Sands

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Music used with permission under OneLicense.net #A-733859

Music used with permission under OneLicense.net #A-733859

RECESSIONAL HYMN “The Strife is O’er” VICTORY

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Father Bernard Joseph Ahern, beloved priest and loyal servant, went home to the Lord on Friday morning, July 31, after suffering from a short illness. He was 93. He was a senior priest serving at St. Joseph Parish in Jacksonville.

The son of Daniel Joseph Ahern and Elizabeth Nee Klaue Ahern. Bernard, was born on Oct. 30, 1926, in East Durham, N.Y. He had three sisters Eileen, Elizabeth and Johanna.

Father Ahern was a priest for 66 years, but he didn’t always wear the Roman collar. For 25 of those years, he wore the uniform of a U.S. Navy Chaplain with a captain’s insignia and several rows of service ribbons. And he was awarded the Bronze Star in 1970. Before retiring from the Navy in 1985, he was assigned to Naval Air Station, Jacksonville where he served the men, women and families at St. Edward Chapel. As Senior Chaplain, he was also responsible for Cecil Field and Mayport.

Father Ahern’s history in the Navy goes back to World War II when he enlisted as a second class sailor working as an electronics technician. After the war, he attended the seminary at Niagara University and was ordained for the Diocese of Albany, N.Y. on June 12, 1954. His first assignment was to a parish in Troy, N.Y., where he served happily for six years.

Then he witnessed an unhappy incident that directed him back in the Navy. A promising young man from his parish had enlisted in the service. “After two years,” explained Father Ahern, “I saw the kid come home ruined.” This experience made the Father Ahern seek a place for himself in the military. Perhaps with his background as a sailor, he reasoned, he would be able to relate to young servicemen and women and prevent them from being affected adversely by military life.

That was in 1960. Twenty-one years later, Father Ahern had earned retirement, but he had no desire to leave. “There’s such a shortage of priests in the military,” he explained in an article that was published in 1982 in Community for the Diocese of St. Augustine.

Before reporting for duty in Jacksonville in early December 1981, Father Ahern was stationed at Camp Lejeune, N.C. His years before that include service in Pennsylvania, California, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, DC, the Philippines, aboard the USS Iwo Jima in the Mediterranean, and “the worst year of my life” – spent with the Marines near Da Nang, Vietnam.

During the periods when he was not aboard a ship or at war, Father Ahern had an advantage, which he said made him “the luckiest priest in the world.” His mother, Elizabeth (and his father, Daniel before he died) accompanied him on his tours of duty, making a home for him in each new place, including Jacksonville.

While serving at St. Edward Chapel on base, Father Ahern’s days were tightly scheduled with administrative duties and counseling appointments.

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More than anything else, his counseling dealt with marriage problems. “Our society is the biggest contributor to marriage difficulties, not the military,” he said. He was a team priest for the World Wide Marriage Encounter for many years and Marriage Renewal Enrichment weekends in the Diocese of St. Augustine for nearly three decades.

“I aim to strengthen the community here – to make it really a family of believers who love each other, are concerned with each other, and who reach out to each other in their needs. This may sound idealistic, but to me, that’s what makes a parish,” said Father Ahern.

Father Ahern retired from the military in December, 1984. He returned to his Albany diocese and served as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Ft. Edward, NY for six years until his retirement in 1991. He was granted faculties in the Diocese of St. Augustine and has served at St. Joseph Parish in Jacksonville since 1991.

As with all his past assignments, Father Ahern lovingly served the many men, women, and families in several ministries at one of the diocese’s largest parishes. On Feb. 29, 2020, Father Ahern was incardinated a priest of the Diocese of St. Augustine.

“Father Bernie was always available to care for others, especially sinners in need of mercy, the sick in need of prayers and visits,” said Bishop Felipe Estévez. “He loved his country with passion. His contribution to strengthening marriages and family life is immense. I will treasure his wisdom.”

Father Ahern was preceded in death by his parents and sister Elizabeth Corrado. He is survived by his sisters Eileen VanHoomissen and Johanna Palmer, and 14 nieces and nephews: Frances Gill, Michael VanHoomissen, Denise Fort, Kathleen Kenney, Mary Anne Maggio, Bernard Van Hoomissen, Christine Vican, Mary Elizabeth Emmel, Michael Corrado, Mary Patricia, Thomas, Daniel, and Francis Tartaglino, Theresa Lebhar, and 15 great-nieces and nephews, 10 great-great nieces and nephews, and cousins.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church Capital Campaign, 11730 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32258.

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ST. JO S E P H’S CAT H O L I C CH U RC H 11730 Old St. Augustine Road

Jacksonville, FL 32258 (904) 268-5422

www.stjosephsjax.org

Fr. Sebastian K. George, CMI, Pastor Fr. Bernard Ahern, Parochial Vicar Fr. Briggs Hurley, Parochial Vicar Fr. Clay Ludwig, Parochial Vicar

Frank M. DeProspo, Director of Music


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