Gulf Pine Catholic

10 Gulf Pine Catholic • December 13, 2019 Father Antone Lynch, 82, dies after a lengthy illness Father George Murphy incenses Father Antone Lynch’s casket during a Nov. 25 Mass of Christian Burial at St. Matthew the Apostle Church in White Cypress. Father Lynch passed away in Bay St. Louis on Nov. 21 after a long illness. Also pictured, l-r, are Father Michael Barth, S.T.; Father David Hamm, S.T.; and Father Satish Adhav. Photo/Juliana Skelton BY TERRY DICKSON BAY ST. LOUIS – Father Antone J. Lynch, a Missionary Servant of the Most Holy Trinity who fell in love with Mississippi and was eventually incardinated into the Diocese of Biloxi, died Nov. 21 at the age of 82. Father Lynch was a native of St. Paul, Minnesota and a longtime resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “I had a chance to get to know Father Antone during his long illness, and we prayed together each time I saw him,” said Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III. “He was a gentle soul who loved serving God’s people, and had a great care for the people of the parishes he served as a priest. He will be missed by all of us. “In the words of St. Paul to the Philippians (3:20): ‘Our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we also await a savior, Jesus Christ.’ Father Antone has gone to rest in the peace of Christ. We remain united with him in the Eucharist he faithfully celebrated as a priest; may we all meet Christ Jesus when He, who is our life, appears in glory.” Father Lynch was born on June 29, 1937. He earned a master’s degree in theology from Loyola-Mundelein College, a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Religious Studies from Pacific Western University, and engaged in theological studies at The Catholic University of America, Washington Theological Union, Villanova and Notre Dame Seminary and Biblical Hebrew and Greek studies in Jerusalem. Father Lynch served the church as a Missionary Servant of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians) from 1957-1991 in Monroe, Virginia, Chicago, Kiln, Mississippi, Holy Trinity, Alabama, and Norfolk, Virginia. He began his ministry as a brother in the order, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1981. He served as a priest in the Diocese of Biloxi, beginning in 1991, at Annunciation Parish (Kiln) and St. Joseph’s (Gulfport). After his retirement, Father Antone moved temporarily to Minnesota to care for his brother and provided pastoral assistance at Assumption Parish (St. Paul), St. Mary of the Lake Parish (White Bear Lake), and to the St. Joseph Sisters of Carondelet, and then returned to serve in the Diocese of Biloxi. His final ministry was as patient and pastor at Dunbar Village Nursing Home in Bay St. Louis. He was preceded in death by his father, John B. Lynch, Sr.; his mother, Gertrude M. Lynch (Paul); and his brothers, Kenneth and Paul Lynch. He is survived by his brothers, John Lynch, Jr. (Bobbi), and Dennis Lynch (Pat); a sister-in-law, Marilyn; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Lynch was celebrated Nov. 25 at St. Matthew the Apostle Church in White Cypress. Father George Murphy was the main celebrant, and Father Michael Barth, S.T. was the hom- ilist. Interment followed in St. Matthew the Apostle Cemetery. “The person we gather to honor this morning, to thank God for, to pray for, was unique and special in many ways,” said Father Barth. “Each of us gathered here know that, and each of us gathered here experi- enced some aspect of his rich and vibrant personality. He was many things to many, many people.” Father Lynch was baptized James Lynch, but was given the religious name of Antone by the Trinitarians when he took his first vows in 1957. “He never wanted to give up that name, although he could have many times,” said Father Barth. “I think it’s evidence of his desire to remain, at least in his heart, a religious man. He was, thus to all of us, a religious brother, a brother to his four siblings. He was a great teacher and professor.” Father Lynch was renowned as an expert in scrip- ture, theology and liturgy. “He was a faithful priest for many, many years, both as a Missionary Servant of the Most Holy Trinity first, and then when he was incardinated here in the Diocese of Biloxi,” said Father Barth. “He was an author, a poet, a lover of art, painting, plants – anything, frankly, he could grow in his gar- den. He loved music and, during his life, he took lessons in several things, including the piano, cello and pan flute.” While it could be said that Father Lynch was a Renaissance man, he was, most impor- tantly, according to Father Barth, “a mission- ary at heart.” “I think that’s why he loved Mississippi,” Father Barth said. “He was constantly reach- ing out to those in need, all those who were left out in some way or marginalized. We all saw those most recently in the pastoral care that he gave to his fellow residents at Dunbar Village, a ministry there using his priesthood that he loved until the end, even though, at times, he had to really drag himself to do those Masses and liturgies.” Father Ken Ramon-Landry said when he thinks of his dear friend and brother priest of almost 30 years, his first thought is one of gratitude. “I’m grateful for his life, grateful for his ministry, grateful for his friendship and his seemingly unending wisdom and faithfulness to be all that God called him to be,” Father Ramon-Landry said. “That mission to be that didn’t end until a few days ago when his creator and his God called him home.” Father Ramon-Landry said it was “no secret that Father Lynch was ready to go.” “He shared with many, in these last few months, that he would welcome God’s call at any time,” said Father Ramon-Landry. “In fact, he was a little bit con- fused as to what God had planned for him. “I remember visiting him one last time before he moved. He said, ‘You see this, Ken?” He showed me a stack of books and said, ‘I prepared these for heaven.’ It included his much-loved journal. He said, ‘I don’t know if I can take these with me but, if I can, here they are.’ I guess he knows the answer now.” Father Lynch