Father Figure

The Rev. Richard M. Erikson, the new vicar general of the Archdiocese of Boston, is coming home. The 47-year-old, who served until recently as a lieutenant colonel and staff chaplain in the Air Force, was once an altar boy at St. Luke's of Belmont. He graduated from Watertown High School, Saint Anselm in New Hampshire, and St. John's Seminary in Brighton. After spending 40 days in Iraq in 2004, Erikson thought he was heading to a comfortable posting in Hawaii. Then came the call from Cardinal Sean O'Malley. Erikson's bringing a quick wit and humble spirit to this new chapter in his life.

For most Americans, their major experience with a chaplain in the military is Father Mulcahy in M*A*S*H. What's it really like?

To be honest with you, I can't recall watching M*A*S*H that much. I was watching Charlie's Angels at the time. So what I do as a priest in the military is exactly the same as what I do as a priest in the civilian world. What's different in war is there's a greater intensity. When you're hearing someone's confession who is about to go out on a convoy, there is a greater intensity in that confession. When you are anointing someone whose body is horribly disfigured from a bomb, there is a greater intensity in that. It deepened my understanding of what it means to be a priest; it deepened my commitment to being a priest.

So, you get all the easy jobs. You're lucky. I am! I'm blessed.

I'm being glib. This job has many challenges.

You're right, this is a very challenging position, but I'm coming here to try to do whatever I can to help. The Globe had a headline, something to the effect that "Erikson hopes to heal archdiocese." That's an awful lot to put on my shoulders. If I were to rewrite that headline, I think I'd rewrite it "Erikson hopes archdiocese allows Christ to heal." The problems, the challenges in Boston are far greater than little old me. And the solution is far greater than little old me. St. Francis is attributed to saying in prayer, "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." I want to say, "Lord, make me an instrument of your healing."

How do you get that across?

I expect people to judge us by our actions. I can go down to the Boston Common with a megaphone and proclaim Christ, but it's how are we living our lives, and how are we leading, and Father Figurehow are we healing? And are we doing so in a way that would imitate what Jesus Christ would do out of love and care? And let me say something about upholding Christ. It may sound almost arrogant, unlivable - you know, I'm going to uphold Christ? He doesn't need me to uphold him. But I need to uphold him. It's about what I need to do to be centered in Christ. Because if my life here becomes primarily about finances and about structure and about corporations, and if I'm more concerned about the heater than I am about people's souls, then I have lost perspective.

How was hearing about Boston from away?

I've been in a very honorable profession for the past seven years. Even though there is a lot of debate about the war, the nation as a whole seems very much able to separate support for the war and support for troops. And when I left Boston in 1999 [he was then on the faculty at St. John's], I was in an honorable profession. And now I come back and priests are looked on by many with suspicion. So that's difficult. It's difficult. And I realize that people look at me and say, "Is he one of them?" And that's not a pleasant experience.

Was it hard to come back?

Well, first of all, it was stunning to be called home. It was totally unexpected. I was leaving on March 28th for Hickam Air Base in Hawaii to be the wing chaplain. To be a wing chaplain is a dream job. I was really looking forward to that. So how does it feel to come home? It feels surprising. To be very honest, what I wanted to do is not what mattered most. So, yes. It was hard to come back. But, again, the question was not "What do I want to do?" The question was "What should I do?" And the answer to the question was "I should go home."

What are your priorities for the archdiocese?

The priority is leadership in the Catholic Church. Our priority is to continue Cardinal O'Malley's effort of healing, of rebuilding trust, of welcoming people home to the Catholic Church who've gone away, continued care and outreach and support of victims of sexual abuse. And also, besides sexual abuse, there are other people who've been hurt by actions of the church, and reaching out in a healing way to them. Those are the structural priorities. And my personal priority is to uphold Jesus Christ and bring whatever leadership and healing I can in his name.

Your other career is writing liner notes for albums. You've done, what, 12 now?

Yes, one Bobby Vinton collection and the rest Andy Williams. The last one was 2004 - Andy Williams B-sides and rarities. That CD I compiled, was the associate producer, and did the liner notes. I'm flirting with doing another one. It's an interesting hobby and one that I enjoy very much. Music is a passion. Going to concerts is one of my favorite things to do.

Did you play an instrument growing up?

To say I played it is too strong a word. I tried the piano, the guitar, and the clarinet. And I can't sing a note that is on target. So I do a lot of lip-syncing at Mass.

Michael Fitzgerald is a freelance writer based in Millis. E-mail him at michael@mffitzgerald.com.