Barrett, Father Michael Stephen, S.S.
2000, November 15
Date of Birth: December 26, 1951
Michael Stephen Barrett died on November 15, 2000 in Columbia, Maryland after a lengthy illness. In addition to his mother, Steve is also survived by a sister, Mary Russell of Phoenix, Arizona and a brother, Thomas of Concord, New Hampshire, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Born on December 26, 1951 in Concord, New Hampshire, Steve was one of three children of Mary (McLaughlin) and the late Michael D. Barrett. He attended St. Peter Elementary School in Concord and St. Mary Seminary in Garrison, New York for high school.
In 1975, he attained a B.A. in Sociology from St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire. His theological studies were at Theological College of The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. where he received an M.A. in Theology (1979).
Steve was ordained a priest on May 5, 1979 for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
After four years in parish ministry in the Diocese of Bridgeport at St. Anthony Parish and Assumption Parish in Westport, Steve was released to work with the Society of St. Sulpice in June of 1983. His first assignment with the Sulpicians was to St. Joseph’s College Seminary, Mountain View, California, from 1983 -1991. He was formally admitted into the Society in 1989.
While serving on the faculty at St. Joseph’s, Steve assisted in several parishes with weekend Masses, but in particular at St. Lawrence Parish in San Jose, California. In 1991 he was assigned to Theological College in Washington, D.C., where he spent four years on the formation faculty.
From 1995-1997, Steve undertook graduate studies at Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. Upon completing his master’s degree in pastoral counseling, he was assigned to the Provincial House as Personnel Aide for the Province of the United States. Ill health forced him to resign from that office in 1999. During his assignments in Baltimore and Washington he assisted at the Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City, Maryland on weekends and conducted numerous retreats and workshops both in the Baltimore-Washington area, as well as in San Jose, California. He was on medical leave when he died.
On November 16 and 17, 2000 at the Church of the Resurrection in Ellicott City, MD, Steve was waked, and a Funeral Mass was offered with Very Rev. Ronald D. Witherup as the presider and Rev. Lawrence J. Carroll as the homilist. His remains were taken to Concord for a funeral Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish on Monday, November 20th. Burial was in the family plot at Blossom Hills Cemetery, Concord.
Adapted from the Homily of
Very Rev. Ronald D. Witherup, S.S.
Provincial