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homily | eulogies

On the evening of Thursday, October 24, mourners filled Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel to pray for the repose of the soul of the College's founding president, Dr. Ronald P. McArthur. At Mrs. McArthur's request, College chaplain Rev. Cornelius M. Buckley led those gathered in reciting the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, and offered his own reflections at the beginning of each decade.

The following morning, three alumni priests offered a Solemn High Requiem Mass in the extraordinary form for their beloved teacher, mentor, and friend. Rev. Sebastian Walsh, O.Praem. (’94), served as priest and gave the homily; Rev. Rhone Lillard, F.S.S.P. (’00), served as deacon; and College Chaplain Rev. Hildebrand Garceau, O.Praem. (’78), served as sub-deacon. Tutor Dr. John Nieto (’89) directed the Thomas Aquinas College Schola in the chanting of the Requiem Mass, and Jane Forysth (’11) sang Bach’s Ave Maria and Faure’s In Paradisum, accompanied by Paul Grimes (’15). 

“Dr. McArthur had requested that the extraordinary form be used for his funeral ‘to introduce people to the dignity, solemnity, and simplicity of the ancient Mass,’” says President Michael F. McLean. “It was a beautiful Mass,offered for him by those who had once been his students.”

Following the Requieum, a long procession of vehicles left the campus for a graveside service at Santa Paula Cemetery.  A luncheon followed in St. Joseph Commons, where Dr. McLean, Senior Tutor Dr. Thomas Kaiser (’75), and two of Dr. McArthur’s fellow founders — Vice President Peter L. DeLuca and Senior Tutor Dr. John W. Neumayr — offered eulogies.

Updated: November 6, 2013