With the current loss of life of Brother Scott Slattum, St. Mary’s Basilica in downtown Phoenix misplaced the final residing hyperlink the historic church needed to its Franciscan friar origins.
Following a Sunday of labor on the basilica, Slattum died of a coronary heart assault on Nov. 19 after he pulled over on the street whereas driving to the Franciscan Renewal Heart in Scottsdale. He was 49.
Remembered for his ease at neighborhood outreach, Slattum was the basilica’s final member of the Franciscans of the Order of Friars Minor, which stewarded the church from 1896 until their departure this past summer.
“He was wonderful at reaching out to individuals of all types of backgrounds and religions, and he simply was liked by so many,” Father John Muir, pastor at St. Mary’s, stated in an interview with The Arizona Republic about Slattum.
The friar was the youngest of the 4 Franciscans who operated the basilica earlier than July 1 when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix took over the church, which stands at North Third Avenue close to East Van Buren Avenue.
Slattum joined the basilica as a Franciscan friar in September 2016 and served because the church’s director of religion formation and youth applications. He was additionally director of youth ministry for the complete diocese.
“Each time you could have change, it is a chance for renewal. So, it’s going to be thrilling to see what’s coming ahead, or what would be the legacy in one other hundred years,” Slattum instructed The Republic on the day of the handover as he welcomed parishioners to a lunch being served within the friary adjoining to the church.
Slattum stayed at St. Mary’s on the behest of Muir, who wished the church to retain a Franciscan presence. The friars cited a scarcity of younger members within the order who had been taken with finishing up pastoral duties as the rationale for stepping down from management on the basilica.
The Order of Friars Minor was began within the early thirteenth century by St. Francis of Assisi, who espoused the virtues of humility and charity. Slattum was not not like different Franciscan friars who wore a wool gown simply as their namesake did.
“He was all the time placing different individuals first,” Gordon Stevenson, music and liturgy director, stated about Slattum. “He actually lived out his vocation, his Franciscan vocation.”
For Muir, a current church occasion greatest captured the welcoming spirit embodied by this “light large,” because the pastor described Slattum, who towered over most at about 6 toes 3 inches tall.
‘That is my dwelling’: After 127 years, Franciscans to leave Phoenix’s St. Mary’s Basilica
The diocese’s annual Dia de los Muertos Competition, held on Nov. 3 this yr, drew scores of individuals outdoors the church, Muir recalled. The pageant celebrates the Mexican vacation commemorating departed family members, but in addition honors “the Christian confidence of loss of life” as exemplified by the Resurrection of Jesus, Muir stated.
As such, the church’s clergy was available. Muir watched admiringly as Slattum simply drew attendees to him to supply them solace, all seemingly with out ever taking a break to sit down down.
Individuals “would simply come as much as him and inform him their issues, and he would get to know them and pray with them,” Muir stated.
The friar, whose full identify was Scott William Slattum, was born Aug. 1, 1974, in Salem, Oregon, to LeRoy Slattum and Arlene Macnab Slattum, the second of three sons.
Slattum was beforehand a youth minister within the Diocese of Baker in Redmond, Oregon. He would go on to be a youth minister and head up non secular training within the rural city of Hood River, Oregon, located off the Columbia River and bordering Washington state.
Whereas there, Slattum oversaw Catholic rites for kids, corresponding to baptism and first communion. Slattum directed a bilingual soccer program for a number of hundred youngsters and a drop-in heart for migrant youth. He first served as a friar all through Northern California by way of the Oakland, California-based St. Elizabeth Parish.
Some seven weeks earlier than he died, Slattum had phrases of consolation for these fearing their mortality. Slattum took to the pulpit throughout the basilica’s Oct. 3 celebration of the Transitus of St. Francis, which observes the saint’s demise and entry into heaven.
“As Francis of Assisi embraced Sister Loss of life because the gateway to all achievement, so allow us to don’t have any worry of loss of life, however place ourselves as he did within the complete embrace of Christ and his remodeling, all-consuming love,” Slattum instructed congregants.
Funeral providers for Slattum begin with a 9 a.m. visitation on Thursday on the basilica, adopted by a ten a.m. Mass. Interment will proceed instantly after at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, situated at 2033 N. forty eighth St. in Phoenix.
Attain breaking information reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on X, previously Twitter: @jrgzztx.
This text initially appeared on Arizona Republic: Last Franciscan friar at St. Mary’s Basilica in Phoenix dies at 49
