By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami

Archbishop Thomas Wenski preached this homily during the funeral Mass for Msgr. James Reynolds, celebrated March 11, 2022 at the parish where he served as pastor for 25 years, St. Henry in Pompano Beach.

Msgr. James Reynolds was ordained a priest — before I was born. For almost 72 years, he served Christ and his people in a sacred ministry — bringing God to men, and men to God. And he did it his way — to paraphrase a Sinatra song that he loved to sing. His way certainly had a certain flare. He never lacked for a joke or a song to entertain his parishioners — he was known as the “lord of the lounge lizards,” so yes, he had flare — but he was always appropriately a priest. The various personae he assumed — entertainer, singer, emcee, tour leader, and manager of Henry’s Hideaway — was always about advancing his ministry as a parish priest. He described Henry’s Hideaway as a pastoral experiment to create community among his parishioners, whom he also described as “chronologically gifted.”

St. Pope John Paul II wrote, “If (the priest) is able to offer himself as a gift placing himself at the disposal of the community and at the service of anyone in need his life takes on its true meaning.” Msgr. Reynolds had a meaningful and significant life — touching thousands of souls, first as a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn and then here in the Archdiocese of Miami. Msgr. Reynolds gave a witness of priestly integrity and the joy that comes from walking through this life as a friend of Jesus. St. John Eudes once said: “... the greatest effect of God’s mercy, the most precious grace He bestows upon mankind, is to send worthy priests, men after His own heart, seeking only His glory and the salvation of souls.”

Monsignor was one of those worthy priests. As priests we touch and influence people — for good or for ill — in ways that we may never be aware of, at least on this side of eternity. I hope that now, from his side of eternity, he is aware of the influence for good that he had in the lives of so many people here in the Archdiocese of Miami.

I remember “Father” Reynolds when we both served on Archbishop McCarthy’s presbyteral council. Once he appealed to Archbishop (Edward) McCarthy that he should ask the pope to appoint some of his more outstanding priests “Monsignors.” Archbishop McCarthy was not convinced — in fact he said that a few priests opposed the very idea of having new monsignors. I remember because, at the time, I raised my hand and asked the archbishop, who had Msgr. (Noel) Fogarty on one side and Msgr. (Bryan) Walsh on the other side: “Archbishop, can we keep the ones we already have?”

Of course, later Father Reynolds was named a monsignor — during Archbishop (John) Favalora’s tenure. It was almost 25 years ago — about the same time I was appointed auxiliary bishop. Archbishop Favalora had a special tailor fit us for our cassocks.

A few months later, as auxiliary bishop, I was here for a Mass at St. Henry’s and Msgr. Reynolds told the parishioners that we had the same tailor. And I answered: Yes, the same tailor but not the same barber. (And of course, when he became a monsignor, he changed the color of his hair piece from mostly black to a distinguished gray.)

He retired almost 17 years ago — so there are few of those parishioners here today to bid him farewell; but you can be sure that they were on hand to bid him welcome home as he returned to his Lord and Savior after 97 years on this earth. We entrust him to the Lord confident that, as once he adored Christ hidden in the form of bread and wine, he will now adore him face to face. To his nephews and nieces, and all who mourn his passing, we express our condolences and thanks for the care and companionship given to him in his later years.

Like Msgr. Reynolds, every priest here is privileged to serve God and his people in this awesome vocation of the holy priesthood. And even though we carry this treasure in the “earthen vessels” of our frail humanity and sinfulness, it is a holy priesthood because as “other Christs” we share in our Lord’s own high priesthood in our ministry of Word and Sacrament. God uses imperfect instruments to work his will so that we will know that it is He who saves and not we.

And since we priests know our own human frailty, we are not shy in asking for prayers for him — and when we die, we beg your prayers for us, confident that the love of Jesus Christ who gave us the gift of the priesthood is stronger than death.

Eternal Rest, grant unto him, O Lord; may his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.