Second-Class Relics

I remember Father Harvey as very gentle and very kind. He was genuinely fatherly towards us. As a priest, he was firm in purpose and love of God; he was obedient to the magisterium and really lived the Gospel. Father was gentle, but not wishy-washy; he made judgements, but he wasn’t judgemental.

I especially remember that Father was easy to speak to. He was a good listener and not threatening at all – he was very approachable and was really interested in what you had to say.

Shea Stadium - Home of the New York Mets from 1964 - 2008

Father also had a cute way about him, with a twinkle in his eye and a great sense of humor. I can see him bringing his hands together and folding up his arms to one side as he’d lean in to tell us something very earnestly when we’d be sitting and chatting with him.

I do think Father Harvey was a Saint. It would be nice if the Church eventually recognized him as such, but those of us who knew him already know he was a Saint.

Oh! And Father also loved baseball! I remember once he accompanied a small group of us to a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game and he took time to explain the game to one of our friends who didn’t really understand baseball. He really enjoyed doing that. Another time, we took Father Harvey and Father Shelley to a New York Mets game. It was cold so I lent Father Harvey my gloves (Father Shelley already had gloves).  After the game, he returned the gloves to me. I took the gloves home and kept them in a plastic baggy, which is where they still are today, because I figured Father Harvey is a Saint and now I have these second-class relics of him! 😇

Thank you for your ministry, Father Harvey! Please pray for me - I’m praying for you too!