December 5, 2008

NEW YORK, NY - On Sunday, November 9, the parish community of Saint Anthony of Padua, Manhattan, marked the 70th anniversary of the death of Fr. Richard Fagan, OFM., who died at the age of 27 in devastating fire at the Franciscan Friary at 151 Thompson Street, on November 4, 1938.   At that time, this friary (currently Padua Friary) served as the Provincial Curia of the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception as well as the rectory for Saint Anthony Church.

The fire, began early in the morning, and was discovered by a worker who smelled smoke. He made his way up the stairs to arouse the friars, but was met by a wall of flames. The fire quickly swept up the wooden stairway of the five story building and trapped the friars who were in their rooms.

Father Richard Fagan was one of the first aroused and quickly exited the building. He missed two of the priests and returned to the building to locate them, dashing through the flames in the hallway. He awakened Fr. Luigi Vitale, OFM, who was later injured when he jumped two stores to safety. He then awakened Fr. Bonaventure Pons, OFM, who was sleeping while the door to his room was burning down. Fr. Bonaventure, following instructions from Fr. Richard, started up the stairs to the roof. On the way he felt an explosion which threw him and Fr. Richard to the roof of the building next door, where he saw Fr. Richard lying unconscious, burning and bleeding. He called for help and firemen carried Fr. Richard down a ladder.

Fr. Anicleto Silvioni, OFM, 57, the Provincial of the Immaculate Conception Province, also leaped from a third floor window to the next door roof, and was carried by firemen using an ironing board as a stretcher to a nearby tenement. Fr. Antonine Tosti, OFM, 68, was rescued from a ledge on the fourth floor, to which he had been forced by the flames. He was treated for exposure. Another friar, Fr. Edward Salerno, OFM, secretary to the Provincial, was also rescued.

One of the most spectacular rescues was that of the pastor, the Rev. Virgil Liucci, OFM, 40, who, after being awakened, tried unsuccessfully to get into the hallway.   The flames were too intense, and as they started to sweep into his room on the second floor, he knelt briefly before an image of St. Anthony to pray. Then he tied a bed sheet to a radiator and started to lower himself to the street. The flames were shooting out the window when he was about to jump to the street, but just then he heard the fire engines approaching and was rescued.

Not everyone survived the fire, however. Brother John Chiazza, OFM, a young Italian friar in this country only a short time, was found dead in his room in a kneeling position with his hands clasped as if in prayer. Also perishing in the fire was the friary cook, Julius Tapperio.

Fiorello LaGuardia, the Mayor of New York, informed of the fire while at home, sped to the scene in a police radio car and immediately inquired as to what he could do to help the friars. He offered his sympathy to the pastor. Also visiting the scene was the Most. Rev. Stephen J. Donahue, Administrator of the Archdiocese of New York.

Father Richard was taken to Columbus Hospital to be treated for burns he received on his hands, face, and legs. For five days he lay on an inflatable air mattress, suffering great pains from his burns.

The Provincial Archives reports: "For four days Father Richard lay in the hospital, hovering between life and death, happy in the knowledge that he had saved the other Fathers, cheerful, resigned, uncomplaining, courageous even beyond belief. Never did his cheerful, happy nature desert him; he was conscious of having done his duty and even on his bed of pains he had requests to make which concerned his work in the parish, so anxious was he that certain particular details be carried out- details which were pertinent to the work he had to leave unfinished but which he wanted to see carried out on behalf of the parties concerned. There was little change in his condition, but on Tuesday, five days after the fire, he took a turn for the better; hope mounted. His dear sister, Colette, who was constantly at his side and apparently knew no fatigue; his relatives, and his hosts of friends, were cheered to no end. Wednesday morning at about 6:50, fortified and comforted by the Last Sacraments of the Church, which was administered by Fr. Matthew De Benedictis, OFM, a schoolmate, he passed peacefully to his reward- the eternal and blessed reward that Our Blessed Lord has reserved for heroes such as he. For He has said: 'greater love that this no man hath, than he lay down his life for his friends'. This Father Richard did; he risked his life that others might live. His was the death any Franciscan Friar might envy. He knew and felt he was slated to die, but he did not fear the Angel of Death. He lived an heroic life as a follower of St. Francis and died an heroic death, carrying into the Other World with him those virtues and traits that made him so beloved by all- qualities that characterized him wherever he went and that endeared him to old and young alike."

The Provincial Archives go on to say: "To attempt a description of our hero would be impossible; besides, we feel that it would not meet even with his tacit approval. Who could, for instance, describe his love for the poor, his kindness in the fulfillment of his work among the faithful , his zeal and interest in the spiritual welfare of the young of the parish, the numerous converts he brought to the Church, his charity and solicitude for the sick, his willingness to aid those in need, his ready smile and cheerful quip, his sunny disposition and friendliness towards all, his immunity to discouragement, his all-around amiableness?"

Fr. Richard's body lay in state at St. Anthony's for three days, and thousands paid their last respects. The Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated at the church on November 12.

Fr. Virgil Liucci, OFM, the pastor, was the celebrant, and was assisted by Fr. Michael Di Pietro, OFM, as Deacon, and Fr. Henry Borelli, OFM, as Subdeacon, both of whom were Fr. Richard's classmates. Two other classmates, Fr. Paul Bertolami, OFM, and Fr. Andrew Bacigalupo, OFM, were acolytes. The eulogy was delivered by the Right Rev. William E. Cashin, representative of His Excellency, Mot Rev Bishop Stephen J. Donohue. The church was crowded with parishioners and clergy. Outside, 1,000 or more men and women stood mourning for the popular priest. Fifty priests and four monsignors attended the mass. Among the clergy were the Very Rev. Anicleto Silvioni, the provincial, and the Very Rev. Alphonse Parziale, vice-provincial. His burial was at the Franciscan Friars plot at Calvary Cemetery.

Father Richard was born in Rio De Janeiro, February 20, 1911. He came to Boston at an early age where he lived for several years before moving to Brooklyn, New York. He first entered religious life with the Marist Brothers in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He remained with them for two years before transferring to the Franciscan preparatory seminary in Catskill, N.Y. Upon completion of his preparatory school course there he entered the novitiate on August 15, 1929. After completing his novitiate year, he took his simple vows August 16, 1930. Upon completion of his philosophy course in the Catskill seminary he came to St. Francis Seraphic Seminary, and was ordained a priest in 1935. While at the seminary in Andover, Fr. Richard was instrumental in designing the landscaping of the seminary grounds as well as the new cemetery for the Franciscans. Father Fagan was called to duty at St. Anthony's Church in 1936. He died at Columbus Hospital in New York City on November 9, 1938 at the age of twenty-seven

In a letter written shortly after the fire, Fr. Anicleto Silvioni, O.F.M., the Provincial, and Fr. Virgil Liucci, O.F.M., Pastor of Saint Anthony's, wrote: "What happened to our Monastery and Church on the morning of November 4th is known to all. A horrible tragedy that will not easily be effaced by time. The Monastery destroyed. Three lives lost. Two of these were religious- Brother John Chiazza, sexton, faithfully serving Almighty God and His Church to the best of his ability. And our well known and loved Father Richard Fagan, whose acts of Mercy and Charity extended from the babe in the cradle to those breathing their last on the death bed. He was indeed an Apostle, Missionary, and Martyr of Christ. No one can ever deny his keen interest in our parochial activities, and the outstanding heroism which culminated with his untimely death. Truly a lasting Memorial of unselfish Christian love and sacrifice in the history of St. Anthony's Parish. "Greater love than this no man hath, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Father Fagan Park sits at the intersection of Prince Street and Avenue of the Americas. It was one of several wedge-shaped plazas developed when Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) was extended south of Carmine Street in the mid- 1920's. It was named in memory of Father Richard Fagan by local law in 1941 and was one of several properties along Sixth Avenue and West Houston Street improved and rehabilitated by Parks in 1960.