During a weekend of October in 2001, I drove down from college to Macon. This was my first official step in answering a mysterious call I felt to the priesthood. The same evening I arrived, a group of us continued onto Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Columbus for a vocations dinner. That evening I met the legendary Father Lucree, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes.
After dinner while standing in the parking lot, Father Lucree approached me and another young man who had attended the dinner. He asked, “are you two discerning?” The other guy beat me to the answer, “Yes, Father.” Father Lucree looked at him suspiciously while sucking on his cigarette. As he exhaled he inquired, “Are you waiting for God to call you?” “Yes Father,” the young man replied politely. Father Lucree, in a way he could only say, stated while pointing his index finger towards his chest, “Pretend I am God. Become a priest.”
After a laugh he turned to me and said, “I am into meat and potatoes theology, we need work horses to work in this diocese. “ I never quite figured out what he meant by the first part of his statement, I suppose it’s up for interpretation, but the second half has been clear to me since that first day I met him.
As a seminarian and priest I had the privilege of knowing Father (and later Monsignor) Lucree. Because he loved Christ, he loved his priesthood and the people he served. He was never afraid to state what he thought and was always quick with a joke or comment. He never hesitated to express an encouraging word. I will never forget his parting words to me each time we saw each other, “love you boy, keep up the good work.”
Father Lucree brought thousands of souls to Christ. He faithfully served as an instrument of God though I heard him twice refer to himself as the bishop’s prodigal son. He wasted his life away for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in South Georgia. He is a worthy priestly example to follow.
May the Lord have mercy on him and welcome him into His kingdom. May he rest in peace. He will be missed.
[Monsignor Lucree died Monday afternoon and will be buried tomorrow morning at the Catholic Cemetery of Savannah.]
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