When I was a senior in high school, I was a stringer for a local newspaper in the small midwestern city where I grew up. Like most entities of that kind, there was a pecking order to assignments and mine weren't always plum. At the risk of dating myself, that was the year Sonny & Cher were big and they were coming to town for a performance and had agreed to an interview session with the press. Needless to say, a senior staff member was chosen to do that interview. I, instead, got to attend a press conference with the governor of the state. At the age of 17 one could - and I did - feel gypped, but looking back, I know now that my assignment was perfect for me; it was a fine lesson in the art of the interview, and the gentleman being interviewed was someone I truly admired. So when I was recently asked to write something about Monsignor John Skelly, I knew another plum assignment had come my way.

Msgr. Skelly has been head of St. Mary's parish and schools for nearly 11 years, and as of July 1, will be retired from parish duty. His years in Manhasset have been a time of challenge and opportunity on many fronts and when I spoke with him about his tenure, he appears to have relished every minute of it.

He came to St. Mary's bringing with him an accomplished career that already included teaching (on the high school and college level), parochial and administrative work. When asked how he took the news about being reassigned from St. Martin of Tours in Amityville - a place all his parishioners know he still holds dear - to St. Mary's, he responded with his usual candor, "I knew the complexity and the vastness of the operation far exceeded that of most parishes, and I wondered who would be the fool to run that? I found out in the mirror one day." He chuckled then and simply said, "The bishop called and asked me to go and I said yes."

Msgr. Skelly admits that his first years at St. Mary's were ones of challenge. He recalled that "The parish was in some difficulties financially, and in terms of enrollment for the schools." After a year of studying the problem and soliciting advice from parish and professional counsel, he initiated an endowment fund that to date has raised more than $4.5 million and has established a sound financial footing for the parish and its schools. He is modest about that considerable accomplishment and gives praise to the parishioners who assisted in the endeavor. He was pleased to note that the program has subsequently been copied by other parishes on Long Island as a means to move fiscally forward.

Another fiscal concern of St. Mary's was the cost of running two high schools, so Skelly undertook the merging of the boys and girls schools. School board president Arthur Schulteiss recalled the ominous rumors of the time, "Need help from the diocese, the schools are closing", but credits Msgr. Skelly with getting the job done. "He turned it around with his ability to direct people and listen to people who knew what to do." Today the high school is self-sustaining and because of careful planning will, for the first time, be offering merit scholarships to eligible students entering in the fall. Schulteiss clearly admires the work Skelly has done for all the schools of St. Mary's. "John Skelly has been an educator for 40 years. Education is a vocation at St. Mary's and he has cared more than any CEO." In his turn, Skelly is appreciative of Schulteiss' longtime commitment, and is pleased with the two current administrators, Dr. Celeste Checchia and Kevin McBride, "The schools are in very good care."

There are other aspects of parish life that Skelly is enthusiastic about including the expansion of pastoral work the parish has experienced under his guidance. A few years ago, he published a booklet that describes numerous ways parishioners can become involved in St. Mary's and the surrounding community. Impressive in depth and scope with dozens of programs listed, Skelly singled out as fine examples of extensions of living the faith, the Outreach program with Sr. Peggy Byrne, "Our interest is totally Catholic in the best sense," and the youth program, with Mark Hovanic, whose "ministry brings us into contact with children of other faiths too."

Lest you think the many aforementioned parish activities comprised all of Msgr. Skelly's time, you might be interested to know that he concurrently held several board appointments including three at St. Francis Hospital and five others at the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He has retired from these positions as he prepares to move on.

True to his love of learning before he settled in Manhasset, Msgr. Skelly spent the summer in England studying history and theology at Oxford's Lincoln College. Now that he will have some time on his hands, he intends to do some traveling, but immediate indulgences will include walking, reading and listening to classical music. Skelly's home base will be Rocky Point, but he already has plans to make weekend visits to Southampton to help Msgr. Edward Trench with pastoral duties. There will be other visits as well, "In this phenomenon of one man parishes, there is simply a need to help out," he explained, as though everyone entering retirement is looking for something else to do.

And how did he find the people of Manhasset? I guess I am never sure what I expect to hear when I ask a question like this, but the answer came unhesitatingly from Msgr. Skelly, "It's a very active community taken up with the obligations of business. (The parishioners) are very loyal and very dedicated." He considers the people he has met at St. Mary's to be one of the lasting legacies of his time here and noted how wonderful it was "To be able to associate with intelligent, industrious, pleasant people...to have the opportunity to meet on a social/family level."

The people of Manhasset are invited to share in Monsignor's farewell liturgy and reception on Sunday, June 14, beginning at the 11:30 a.m. Mass. The St. Mary's choir will be performing the Cantique de Jean Racine by Gabrile Faure in tribute to Skelly, who professed admiration for the piece, which is frequently heard in the many cathedrals of France. Musical director Diane Bayen undertook the rehearsal of the 22 page arrangement with the choir in preparation for this special celebration because, "He has a special place in his heart for music." It seems Monsignor has a special place for the people of St. Mary's, because when I asked him if he had a message he wanted to send, he said, "Please tell them that I am a person who loved them very much and had their best at heart. I was willing to serve."