Homily by Fr. Timothy Kelly for the Funeral of Fr. James Conner – 7/29/25

T. Kelly: James’ Funeral 250729: Lam 3: 17-26; 1 Jn 3: 14–16; Jn 17: 24-26

Our Gospel text is from the final words of Jesus at the last Supper, “(Father) that the love with which thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them”. In some ways this epitomizes our Father James whose burial we have gathered to celebrate. That love of the Father is a totally giving and total giving is Jesus living in the person. It is the mystery of God who is always creating and giving us life. Father James was always looking for the way to have and give more life.

Father James epitomized that total giving which is God’s love. He began his monastic life at age sixteen when Dom James Fox was beginning his abbatial tenure. James received the name, Tarcisius, on receiving the novice habit.  The Saint, Tarcisius, was a twelve-or-thirteen-year-old Christian who died a martyrs’ death while zealously protecting the Eucharist which he was distributing as communion to prisoners. It seems, like his monastic Patron, a fundamental character trait of Father James was zeal. The title of the penultimate chapter of the Rule of Benedict, which is the foundation of our monastic way, speaks of the wicked zeal of bitterness that separates and leads to hell and a good zeal which separates from evil and leads to God and everlasting life. This quality of good zeal is a criterion that is looked for in the novice beginner – whether he show eagerness – zeal – for the Work of God, for obedience and trails.

After Tarcisius’/James’ novitiate, as a newly professed and student, he was under the care of Father Louis (Thomas Merton). They seemed to have had a sound relation and Fr. Louis helped with the maturing of the newly professed. In fact, Tarcisius/James was chosen assistant when Father Louis became the Novice Master. (Brother Paul and I began our lives as monks under them.)

Soon after Fr. James’ priestly ordination, he was chosen to study Theology in Rome. Rome was a further maturing time and opened James to the world of study in which he did very well. It was the time of the Vatican II Council and its opening to vast new horizons. On his return James taught and moved his students to new theological insights from Rome.

During these years, Fr. James, became involved in Merton Studies and gave occasional papers on Merton topics. He became president of Thomas Merton Society and saw to its broadening place in the world of Spiritual and literary interests.

At the same time, he was active in Community development and moved beyond his bookish learning to be involved in the Community farm operation. Unfortunately, this involved a couple of accidents, one disfigured his face and another took part of a finger.

Father was always interested in new monastic ways; how the traditions could avail themselves of insights from Vatican II, psychological insights and other Community ways. In 1973 at the request of the Superior of Mount Savior Benedictine monastery, Father James was asked to be Superior of their struggling monastery, “Christ in Desert” in New Mexico. Assisted by monks from other Communities, Father James laboured to re-establish the Community. With some success, so that a monk from Mt. Angel monastery was able to develop the Community further and bring it into the Subiaco Congregation of the Benedictine Federation. The Community continues to flourish and has established its own foundations.

In 1978, Father James was invited to be the Chaplain of a group of Benedictine Sisters who were in the process of establishing a Community that combined Benedictine traditions with the some of the Spiritual practises of the East.

In 1994 Fr. James was requested to become the Superior ad nutum of the monastery of Ava, a Cistercian Community founded from New Melleray in Missouri. In 1995, he was elected abbot of the Community. In addition to developing the Community, Fr. James was instrumental in constructing a monastic building that respected the Community and offered facilities for Guests.

Unfortunately, the intense labours of strengthening the Community and the complex process of the construction, all in the context of having spent a number of years assisting other Communities, burdened Father James to the realization that he needed a serious time evaluating his own journey and relocating the zeal to his original commitment. After several months he came home to Gethsemani.

Father James has been active in our midst sharing in the Community life and work in every way. Being Guest Chaplain and a ready confessor. During the last several years he helped prepare the rooms for the Guests, doing the laundry. Father was always a willing listener to the Brothers, always someone to take the side of the underdog and always someone wanting to reconcile. His greatest pain was to be aware of divisions and would spend great efforts to create reconciliation.

HIs patron, St. Tarcisius’ devotion to the Eucharist was a strong element in Father James’ life. He would make an effort to attend as many Masses as possible and even with great physical burdens would pray the office with the Community using a light and a magnifying glass.

Father James has been in our midst proclaiming and giving us the example, as the first reading from the Book of Lamentations teaches “That the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases… and so the Lord is my portion, therefore I will hope in him”.

In the Eucharist we will celebrate, we will share that love of the Father that Jesus has brought and we will live the hope that Father James lived.