Someday the bells in the tower of St. Michael’s Church on Fourth Ave. in Sunset Park may ring again. But last Sunday, the public had to settle for the sweet harmony of the Irish Tenors which rang throughout the church.

The famed Irish Tenors were there to help raise much needed funds for the repairs needed to the bell tower. Work has already begun. Scaffolding has been evident around the structure for months.

Parishioners of the financially challenged parish have raised $125,000 on their own, thanks to the parish’s share in the Annual Bishop’s Appeal and other fundraising events. The total cost of repairs will be somewhere around $420,000, a hefty bill for any parish.

“About a year ago, a brick fell out of the tower and hit a parishioner,” recalled Father Patrick Burns. “The diocese has lent us the money to fix it but we have to pay the money back.”

Ed Wilkinson Photo

The Irish Tenors at St. Michael’s Church

The landmark tower, a familiar sight at 42nd St. to anyone who drives down Fourth Ave., needs repointing and other structural work, and someday, says Father Patrick with a twinkle in his eye, they may put musical chimes back in the works.

“They tell me,” he said, “that when they get done, it will be structurally sound for the next 100 years.”

The concert last weekend, no small feat to accomplish, got some support from CitiBank, Pepsi and Costco. Eight hundred people filled the beautiful church, the interior of which was refurbished within the last 10 years. It’s a tremendous venue for a concert.

Ronan Tynan, a former member of the Irish Tenors, gave a benefit concert there last year and will return on Dec. 9 for a return engagement.

It was a personal contact that Father Patrick made with Tynan that began the whole project. Father Patrick was pastor in Bushwick at the time. He had gone to a Ronan Tynan concert in Manhattan and attended a champagne reception afterward with the star.

“I deliberately made myself the last on line so that I could talk to Ronan,” said Father Patrick.

When Father Patrick asked if Tynan ever did private concerts such as a parish church, the tenor said he would, but his agent could be difficult to deal with. Father Patrick said he was a man of faith. Tynan said he was also and gave the priest his personal phone number to make the arrangements. “We’ll make it happen,” was the way Tynan had left it.

Since then, Tynan has performed in St. Martin of Tours, Bushwick, and also at St. Michael’s for Father Patrick.

Currently, the trio of tenors from Ireland consists of Anthony Kearns, one of the three original Irish Tenors; Finbar Wright, a member since 2000, and Karl Scully, the newest member who once starred as the famed Irish singer John McCormack in the film “Nora.”

The concert opened with the voice of 10-year-old Dominique Monroe Krol, a fifth-grader at St. Bernard’s School, Mill Basin, who performs with the Metropolitan Opera. She was followed by tenor Wayne Hobbs and Josephine Sanges, a familiar face around the diocese because she cantors at many diocesan events as well as sings with the Diocesan Vicariate Choir.

“We try to showcase some local talent,” explained Father Patrick. “We also used the event to honor local people who have made a difference.”
Concert’s Honorees

This year’s honorees were Sister Lorna Colin, CSJ, for her contribution to Catholic Charities’ child care in the diocese, and the late Capt. John J. McKenna IV, USMC, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary parish, Windsor Terrace, who was killed in action on his second tour of duty in Iraq last year. Both were presented the St. Michael Angel Award. The McKenna family accepted on behalf of the Marine hero, who had been a New York State Trooper before his military service. McKenna was a graduate of Bishop Ford Central Catholic H.S., Park Slope.

To add to the star-studded atmosphere, the emcees were Magee Hickey of CBS 2 News, and Mike Sheehan of Fox Five News.

While the goal of the drive to pay for St. Michael’s tower is still a ways off, no one doubts that Father Patrick and the parishioners of St. Michael’s will achieve their quest.

Of course, St. Michael’s is a parish that is rich in history. Father Patrick would love to hear from former parishioners who just might want to attend a future concert or assist him in some other way with the tower campaign. He can be reached at St. Michael’s rectory, 718-768-6065.

Irish Tenors in Brooklyn

Father Patrick Burns, pastor of St. Michael’s, Sunset Park, poses with 10-year-old Dominique Monroe-Krol who opened the program for The Irish Tenors March 4 concert at the church.

The event honored Sister Lorna Colin, CSJ, upper right, and below, the late

Marine Capt. John J. McKenna IV, whose family accepted on his behalf.

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