From the Spring 2010 Edition of Clippings Magazine

by Bradford E. O'Hearn

Msgr. Richard Bauhoff

Msgr. Richard C. Bauhoff, 63, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs' incoming pastor, is a friendly, outgoing, informal priest with a thinning thatch of white hair who says he "has always wanted to be a priest" and never doubted his commitment.

Born in the Bronx, his parents were of German and French-Irish stock who had the wisdom to move from the Bronx to Mineola when he was three months old and where he later grew up, becoming, as many others, an almost native Long Islander.

He loves show tunes, particularly Show Boat and Hello, Dolly and on his recent reading list was Boom!, Tom Brokaw's memoir of the 1960's and the cultural revolution it spawned and Og Mandino's The Christ Commission, a fictionalized story of a man trying to prove that the resurrection of Christ was a hoax.  He also likes to dip into biographies of the saints.

In addition to his parish duties, Msgr. Bauhoff also served full time for 12 years on the Diocese of Rockville Centre's marriage tribunal as Adjutant Judicial Vicar and later as Judicial Vicar.  "I loved being an advocate," he said, "but when I become Vicar there was much more administrative work.  That wasn't as interesting; too much paperwork and not enough contact with people." He holds a doctorate degree in Canon Law and a Ph.D.

He attended St. Mary's High School in Manhasset and Pius X Preparatory seminary in Uniondale, Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston and graduated from the seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington.  Pope John Paul II conferred the papal honor of monsignor on him in 1996.

For relaxation, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, long walks and movies.  Forest Gump is a favorite.  He said he particularly enjoys his annual family visits to Radio City Music Hall for its Christmas pageant.

Msgr. Bauhoff was quick to apply for the job when Msgr. Peter Ryan's retirement was confirmed because, "I knew that parish worshipped well together and was an alive, vibrant parish that is very family-oriented and is a magnet for new families, even many from other areas.

Msgr. Bauhoff says that it is his ideal parish and one that plays to his pastoral strengths.  "Don't get me wrong," he said, "I think I am a good administrator but my heart is really in person-to-person pastoral care."  As a result, he doesn't do email, preferring individual contact and emotion compared with the sometimes sterile email communications.

He said both his most recent parishes, Our Lady of Hope in Carle Place (three years) and St. Mary's in Roslyn (12 years) are financially stable today.  He cites as major accomplishments a $1.8 million fund drive at St. Mary's to rehabilitate the 150-year-old church and an aggressive evangelism campaign at Our Lady of Hope to draw new people to the Church and encourage those who did not attend Mass frequently to return to church.

As the shortage of priests continues to grow, Msgr. Bauhoff said the laity's role in administration will continue to grow.  "At the end of my term (six years), I expect that the biggest change we will see is much more involvement of the laity then we have now."

In his pastorate he said he would be fully committed to social justice activities and to the respect for the sanctity of life from conception to death.  He also says the parish and the church should continue to speak out and defend its belief on issues such as health care, abortion and prison reform.  "We can and should express our beliefs and our faith as part of society," he said.

  Although several bishops have said they would refuse the host to politicians who stray from Church teaching by voting to fund abortions, Msgr. Bauhoff says he would take a personal approach by meeting legislators to explain the Church's teachings and their duties but he said, "If they appear for communion, I would not deny them the host."

He tied together the need to encourage religious vocations, priests, deacons and nun, with his vigorous efforts in prior pastorates to draw young people, their parents and grandparents into the church.  "We have had grandparents day, Little League days, a blessing of the backpacks days for young students and a lot of what I call gimmicks to draw people back into communion with the Church."

Noting that several parishioners told an open meeting on a new pastor said that they wanted a holy priest, Msgr. Bauhoff said, "I've been told that I am and I certainly strive to be holy.  But holiness is not a simple prayer.  Social justice is another form of holiness.  All of us are called to holiness in different ways.  Those who do corporal works of mercy can be just as holy in the eyes of our Lord."