John Gallen and Bill Bauman, r.i.p.

We know that many of our readers will be interested to see this message, which we just received from J. Michael McMahon, President of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM).

Dear Friends,

We received word that two leaders of the liturgical renewal in the United States died yesterday.

John Gallen, SJ died yesterday in New York City.  John was a frequent contributor to Pastoral Music magazine and a popular speaker at NPM conventions, including the first convention in Scranton in 1978.  He founded the North American Academy of Liturgy and served for a number of years as Director of the Notre Dame Center for Pastoral Liturgy.  Viewing will be held at Murray-Weigel Chapel at Fordham University on Tuesday afternoon and evening, and the funeral liturgy will be at the same chapel on Wednesday at 11:30 am.

Fr. Bill Bauman died yesterday in Kansas City, where he had served in priestly ministry for over 50 years.  Bill was a popular author and speaker in the area of pastoral liturgy, and was an active member, friend, and supporter of NPM.   Beatrice Fleo Santner called to let us know of Bill’s death and said that funeral plans are currently incomplete.

May these two leaders, from whom we have learned so much, rejoice now at the eternal feast of the Risen Lord.

Editor

Katharine E. Harmon, Ph.D., edits the blog, Pray Tell: Worship, Wit & Wisdom.

Please leave a reply.

Comments

16 responses to “John Gallen and Bill Bauman, r.i.p.”

  1. Philip Sandstrom

    May they both Rest in Peace — and partake of the fullness of what we celebrate in Holy Week and Easter Season.

    Reply
  2. Walter J. Smith, S.J.

    Thank you for your kind remembrance of John Gallen. As one of his close Jesuit brothers, his death at 2AM on Palm Sunday was not lost on me with respect to its symbolism. As many of you know, John was a great aficionado of the color red. For John to enter eternal life as the universal church was clothing itself in red and processing toward Jerusalem and remembering the Paschal promise, was consoling and comforting to recall.
    May John’s soul be at rest as he takes his rightful place at the eschatological banquet.

    Reply
  3. Paul Inwood

    Two more Great Ones taken from our midst. Bill Bauman’s contribution was less public than John’s, but no less vital for that.

    I imagine that they will be watching us struggling to manage the coming transition with not a little hilarity.

    May they both rest in peace.

    Reply
  4. Jeanne Marie Miles

    I just learned Fr. Bauman’s arrangements, and thought I’d share:
    Visitation at St. Thomas More parish, Kansas City, MO, Monday, April 25th, 5:00pm-7:00pm with prayer service at 7:00pm; Funeral Mass at St. Thomas More parish, Kansas City, MO, Tuesday, April 26th at 11:00am, burial and luncheon following. Fr. Bauman was a wonderful man. He will be missed.

    Reply
  5. Donna Eschenauer

    Liturgy as “Ritual Prayer in Community,” expressed by John Gallen many years ago always stuck with me. I referenced him for this as I used it throughout my dissertation (2010) on the Triduum.
    Thank you John!!

    Reply
  6. Bryon Gordon

    I remember when John Gallen, along with Jim Lopresti, aided the Holy Spirit in bringing fresh air and reinvigorating the liturgical life at St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City by instituting the RCIA. It brought forth a renewed interest to the parish in liturgy and evangelization. For this I am eternally grateful. May he rest in peace.

    Reply
    1. John Wilson

      My wife, Annasue, went through RCIA at St Ignatius with me by her side (as a cradle Catholic I thought I needed a refresher course), taught by John Gallen and Jim Lopresti. Both of them officiated at our wedding in Kansas City in 1982. We moved away from NYC in 1983 and never saw either of them again, although we hope to cross paths with Jim again. The St Ignatius RCIA and parish was one of the highlights of our Catholic lives together and we continue to search for similar vigor. Subsequent news about John pained us so may he rest with God’s mercy.

      Reply
  7. David Haas

    I too have some wonderful memories of both of them. I smile when I remember John Gallen giving a workshop years ago, and every time he wanted to emphasize a point, he would say “Now, the pope and I feel very strongly about this…” Great wit.

    Bill was a wonderful pastor, and I believe that he is attributed with the original 3-fold judgement (musical-liturgical-pastoral) that originally appeared in MCW back in 1972, and is still with us in high esteem today.

    May they both know the rest that comes with eternal life with God.

    Reply
  8. John Flaherty

    John was a great mentor and friend to so many of us. He opened up our eyes to a new way of seeing and being Church. I hope he was wearing those red socks. I was thinking of him and his Palm Sunday article, “From the Parking Lot to the Reign of God” as I was preparing for Palm Sunday only to receive the news early Sunday morning. He was a giant.

    Reply
  9. Nick Wagner

    Donna, I too learned from John that liturgy is “ritual prayer in community.” I’ve used that throughout my career and have taught it to countless others. May he rest in peace.

    Reply
  10. Marge Garguilo

    I was informed of John’s death yesterday and was saddened but so grateful that I had the good fortune to spend 2 years with him when he lead some of us in PHX to seeing even more broadly into the liturgical life of our church. He gave me a nickname that has stuck for more than 20 years. I met him at a rest stop in CA and his greeting was, “Olympia Dukakis” followed up with a hug. My sister was impressed with him as he spent some time with us at a rest stop! Everytime I see red socks…I shaell wear mine with pride. Heaven’s gain and our loss. Not only did he share his vision with us but brought so many wonderful people together for which I will be eternally grateful.

    Reply
  11. Meghan Millow

    I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Gallen’s death. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all who knew him. Very sad, all around.

    http://www.bishop-accountability.org/news3/2004_03_10_Yonke_JesuitWriter_John_Gallen_1.htm

    Reply
  12. John J. Kornfeind

    Oh we were so blest for so many years at St Jerome Catholic Parish in Phoenix to have had Fr. John Gallen, SJ do the Liturgy with Rory Cooney. We are all the better for the association and the experience, not the lesser for his passing. Wearing red sox in his honor in the Valley of the Sun.
    Thank You,
    John J. Kornfeind

    Reply
  13. Patricia Riley

    My sincere thanks to John Gallen who taught me “well” at the University of Notre Dame in the 70’s. Truly he made the liturgy come alive…the community, the word and the celebration of God in our midst! Also, his party at the end of semester was a great way to celebrate the community we had become.
    Very gratefully, my thanks to John Gallen SJ, ONE GREAT PERSON

    Reply
  14. Darrold Endres

    I just today learned of John’s death. John was a mentor and friend of mind during an important chapter of my life as a Crosier priest and theology student at St. John’s University, MN. John preached at my first mass in Bluffton, Minnesota in 1974 and moved the hearts of an entire town of salt-of-the-earth farm folks. I have been married for 23 years now and am blessed as the father of three glorious daughters….. and, for all these life changes, John Gallen remains a deeply set anchor in my spiritual and personal life. .. his wisdom guides me still.

    God rest his soul… red socks, yellow submarine VW, elegant liturgist, wise teacher, mentor and friend.

    Reply
  15. Stephen Krank

    What can I say about Fr. John Gallen,. The first thing I can remember was being up late at night in Heidelberg, Germany with all these Jesuits talking into the wee hours of the morning about the Vietnam War, Vatican Two. it was all heady stuff and over my head. What I can say about Fr. Gallen was that he was nice to me. I do feel that I never got a chance to really understand you, I had you and the rest of the Jesuits that would stay with us up on pretty high pedestals. I guess they were my formative days because I have spent a life wanting to embrace this God, this Jesus you filled my Childhood with. What I have done is worked as diligently as I can in serving those in need. thank you John Gallen . Stephen

    Reply

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