'He's an inspiration ...
and a big encouragement'
Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published September 15, 2006
Detroit – When 87-year-old Fr. William McGoldrick plays his harmonica at an eastside restaurant Monday, Sept. 25, it will likely be to a full house. That's the kind of crowds he has been drawing for his public appearances that raise money for various Catholic charities.
"They're always booked up about 10 days in advance," says Cheri LaGrasso, Christian Service coordinator at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Grosse Pointe Woods, who helps Fr. McGoldrick with arrangements for his appearances at the Blue Pointe Restaurant, 17131 E. Warren near Cadieux in Detroit.
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Photo by Robert Delaney | The Michigan Catholic
Fr. William McGoldrick demonstrates his virtuosity on the harmonica after daily Mass at the St. John Senior Community, where he resides. | For years, Fr. McGoldrick has been taking his harmonica along with him when he celebrates Mass at area retirement/nursing homes, hospitals and parishes. Parishioners at Our Lady Star of the Sea, where he was in residence during most of the years since attaining senior priest status, have heard him play during Mass on various special occasions, and students in the parish elementary school have often heard him play during their lunch period.
But his restaurant gigs just began this year. "He's got a great following, and he's quite an amazing guy," says Blue Pointe owner David Muer.
When Fr. McGoldrick first started appearing at the restaurant about once a month, there would be lines of people out the door, so Muer decided to move his appearances to Monday nights — when the Blue Pointe would normally be closed. Now, with $5 of each patron's dinner price going to some Catholic charity Fr. McGoldrick selects as the beneficiary, each of his sold out appearances raise something over $500.
"I set up a buffet on the bar, so we can get about 115 people in," Muer explains.
Fr. McGoldrick selects a theme for each evening. "This one, coming up Sept. 25, I'm calling 'Half-way to St. Patrick's Day,' so it will be mostly Irish tunes," he says.
Joining him that night will be singer Dorothy Ignasiak and Irish step-dancer Collen Maher.
Fr. McGoldrick intersperses his musical numbers with some humor, as well.
A little extra variety will be provided by Fr. Tom Ebong, a priest from Nigeria, who sometimes joins Fr. McGoldrick to sing some Caribbean and reggae numbers.
Fr. Ebong, part-time chaplain at the St. John Senior Community on the old Austin Catholic Preparatory campus, says Fr. McGoldrick's coming to live at the eastside assisted-living seniors residence has been a blessing for the residents.
"He is an inspiration to the residents and a big encouragement to them. And he also draws encouragement from the residents' deep religious faith," Fr. Ebong says.
Fr. McGoldrick regularly celebrates Mass on Fridays for the residents, and will follow the liturgy with a little talk and harmonica playing. He also takes his harmonica along when he celebrates Mass at Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe.
"I can't drive anymore, because of macular degeneration, but I'm blessed to have a number of people who will drive me so I can say Mass where I'm needed," he says.
An accomplished piano player in addition, Fr. McGoldrick also plays the piano for special events at the St. John Senior Community.
"It's wonderful to have Fr. McGoldrick here," says Sr. Mary Conway, SSJ, who works at the seniors residence.
Despite being so busy, Fr. McGoldrick thinks of himself as having slowed down considerably. Formerly a champion handball player — he and a partner once won the state doubles competition for senior players, and they came in second in the national seniors tournament — he had to give up the sport in his late 70s.
Fr. McGoldrick bought his first harmonica when he was a youngster growing up in St. Cecilia Parish on Detroit's west side. But he took it up in earnest during his 27 years as founding pastor of St. Edmund Parish in Warren.
"I got that first one for 50 cents. Actually, the instruction manual cost 50 cents, and the harmonica came with it for free. Now, I have a number of them, each in a different key, and the latest one I bought cost $360," he says.
This fall, Fr. McGoldrick takes his harmonica-playing a step further, when he records his first compact disc. He's working with a professional musician he knows from Our Lady Star of the Sea, and the goal is to have the CD out in time for Christmas gift sales. Proceeds will benefit the Life Teen program at the parish.
Reservations for Fr. McGoldrick's Sept. 25 performance may be made by calling the Blue Pointe Restaurant, (313) 882-3653.
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