Marathon blessings

A priest who understands runners ... because he was one of us!

This is a marathon story. A very different kind of marathon story.

It involves my good friend and longtime running partner Anthony Ferreri. Tony and I have been running together regularly now for more than 15 years. Along with our Hyde Park Early Birds running group, it’s a fantastic partnership. We’ve all shared hundreds and hundreds of miles through the years.

Tony is the model of consistency, having completed the New York City Marathon for the past 22 years and the Boston Marathons for 21 consecutive years. Because of a stubborn injury, this late spring and summer have been challenging for Tony’s running.

Because of this, his usual NYC Marathon buildup was curtailed to a very brief six-week training cycle. He went down to NYC last weekend with very, very modest goals and ended up surprising himself with a tremendous finish of 3:40:55, in the top 10 percent (139 of 1,378) of the 60-64 age group. He even got a 2026 Boston qualifier out of the way! A great comeback story, right?  

Ah, but wait! Remember? This is a different kind of marathon story!

The night before the NYC race, Tony emailed me about a very cool Mass in which the Roman Catholic priest did a collective “blessing” for all marathon participants in attendance. Like me, Tony is a devout Catholic who attends weekly Mass. When he is away from home, he always makes an effort to find a Mass, and last weekend was no different.

“It’s nice to have a church in NYC to get a marathon blessing as I have received a pre-marathon blessing for many years at St. Anthony’s in Boston before the Boston Marathon,’’ Tony texted me.  

Tony’s pre-marathon blessing before NYC was a bit more poignant, given the priest’s experience with marathon running.

Father Brian Jordan (O.F.M.) is the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in New York City. He was also uniquely qualified to connect with Tony and the other marathon celebrants at the Mass. Father Brian completed 21 NYC and 21 Boston marathons among the 61 marathons he finished during the 33 years he was an active marathon runner.

In the email interview that follows, Father Brian noted the symbolism – Jesus’ life on earth was the same 33 years as the span of his marathon running career. The following question-and-answer interview reveals Father Brian’s journey of faith and also informs us of his many 26.2-mile journeys in the many marathons he completed. We thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to read and reply to my emails! Here’s what he had to say …

What is your background with running? How, when, where and why did you start running? Were you a runner in high school or college?

I started running as part of conditioning for high school football.  I continued running as conditioning when I played rugby in college. I continued running when I joined the Franciscans after college. I did it for spiritual, mental and physical reasons.

Tell us about your marathon career! How many marathons have you completed, how many NYCs, Bostons and others?

I ran my first marathon as a bandit in the Boston Marathon in 1979. I did it in 3:39 at the age of 24. From 1979 till 2012 -- 33 years, notice the symbolic number, Jesus died at age 33 and Jesus rose from the dead at age 33 -- I completed 61 marathons during those 33 years: 21 NYC, 21 Boston, 10 Chicago, 6 Marine Corps Marathon in DC;  one in Toronto; one in Philadelphia and the only overseas marathon was Dublin in 2005 at the age of 50.

What are your best times in the marathon and other distances? 

Boston 1982 in 3:29, NYC 1984 in 3:42; Chicago 1993 in 4:14; Marine Corps 1981 in 3:31; I do not recall the others.  As I got older and a bit heavier, my times increased.

What type of training did you do when you were marathon training in terms of miles per week, long runs, etc.?

I ran regularly during the year, but three months (leading up to races) did I increase the mileage and lift some weights as part of cross training.  Within those three months were 30-45 miles per week.  I did at least three 20-mile runs before the marathon, plus a 15-miler.

Are you still active in the sport/how much do you currently run these days?

My first marathon was in 1979 in Boston and my last marathon was in 2012, also in Boston.  I do not run anymore since I had a double knee replacement at the Hospital for Special Surgery in June 2018.  The surgeon forbade me from running again. He advised walking and bike riding. I now do 5-mile walks, five times a week.

How have you balanced your running with your busy schedule as a priest/pastor?

I always found time to run despite my schedule.  I believe there are 25 hours in a day, 8 days a week, 32 days in a month and 400 days in a year!  I integrated running in my daily regimen as a necessary activity which promotes physical, mental and spiritual health.  Running is like breathing—you could not go on without it.

Have your parishioners been aware (through the years) of your running and racing and what is the reaction when they find out?

My parishioners always supported me in my running schedule.

Please describe your faith journey/discernment into your religious order and the timeline of your religious journey. In what year were you ordained and what parishes have you served?

I never thought about being a priest until I met the Franciscan friars at my college alma mater, Siena College in upstate New York.  They were intelligent, down to earth and had a great sense of humor. I was drawn to the Franciscan spirituality.  I took my simple vows in 1979, my solemn vows in 1982, and was ordained at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Md., in 1983.  I had the great honor of being the pastor of the church where I was ordained. First time from 1990 to 1996, and second from 2020 to 2024.  I just became pastor here at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, NY, NY back in July. I am now the pastor where I took my solemn vows in 1982.

Do you ever use your running/racing stories in your homilies?

Yes, all the time. In fact, I wrote an article “Running for My Religious Life” in a religious periodical in the 1980s.

Between NYC and Boston, which marathon do you prefer and why?

Even though I am a native New Yorker, I always preferred Boston over NYC for a variety of reasons.  The historical consciousness of the Boston Marathon, the challenges of the hills going from Newton to the top of Heartbreak Hill, the warmth and energy of the spectators who are actually active participants in a marathon. Also, their pints of Guinness taste better than in New York!

Please provide us with some background information: Your age, your hometown (where you grew up, went to high school, college, etc), your family (parents, siblings, nieces/nephews), etc.

I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, 69 years young. St. Agnes Cathedral High School, graduate 1973;  Siena College, Class of 1978;  Washington Theological Union, Master of Divinity degree 1982;  Andover Newton Theological School 1990 with a Doctor of Ministry degree and finally Cornell University in 2008 with a Masters in Industrial and Labor Relations.  Mother Eileen and father Gerard are both deceased and I have four brothers and two sisters. I have four nephews and six nieces. 

Anything else you'd like to ADD …

“Life is like a marathon.  We all have a goal in life.  There is a beginning. There is an end.  And a new beginning with the gift of eternal life. AMEN.”