MEDFORD - If a picture is worth a thousand words, then Patrick Monaghan knew he'd taken the perfect shot when he took one of himself. It's an attention- getter for sure. With dark, wavy hair, wearing a baseball cap and a wide, open-mouth smile he was a happy-go-lucky, free-spirited kind of kid who would think of doing something like taking a picture of himself. But it's quite possible that the same picture that he had framed and hung in his bedroom, might have served as a source of comfort and triggered a pleasant memory for the many whose eyes gazed upon it in the days following his death Feb. 16.

At age 16, Patrick died in a skiing accident in Vermont while on a trip with the youth group from St. Mary of the Lakes Parish.

"This is the funniest picture I ever saw," Conventual Franciscan Father Jude Michael Krill said as he held up a copy of the Funeral Mass booklet during his homily in St. Mary of the Lakes Church for Patrick's Mass of Christian Burial Feb. 22.

Father Krill, a weekend assistant at St. Mary of the Lakes, was principal celebrant of the Funeral Mass at which Bishop John M. Smith presided in the sanctuary and Msgr. James H. Dubell, pastor of St. Mary of the Lakes, was among the concelebrating priests.

With more than 1,000 people at the wake service Feb. 21 and the Funeral Mass the next day, all who knew Patrick affirmed that he was a caring, compassionate, fun-loving thoughtful young man.

Franciscan Sister Justina Marie Miller, principal of St. Mary of the Lakes School, recalled that Patrick "seemed very happy and seemed to love life."

What makes his death so difficult to accept, she said, is that "I saw him grow up" during the eight years he attended the parish school.

Even after his death, Patrick's caring and generous nature carried on for he had donated several of his organs including his cornea, heart and liver to a hospital. Just before his funeral, it was learned that his heart had been transplanted.

"Now someone lives because of Patrick," said Sister Miller.

The nearly 20 inches of snow that lay on the ground did not stop the tremendous outpouring of support of so many people who tried to give consolation to Patrick's family, friends and classmates.

In the days following Patrick's death, St. Mary of the Lakes' youth minister, Kathy Ellis, brought the youth group members together twice to give them time to talk, grieve and just be with one another.

The first evening, Feb. 18, was a time for prayer and an opportunity for the youth to experience their feelings on the loss of their friend, said Michelle Houmis, associate director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. The second evening, Feb. 20, was a bit lighter for the youth. Despite her own grieving, "Kathy saw that the kids were well taken care of," Houmis said. The parish was well equipped with members of the parish staff available for the youth.

"They can serve as a real model of a way a parish can come together and support everybody," she said.

Among those staff offering consolation to the youth was Msgr. Dubell. "All I try to do is listen to them and see where they are," he said. "There's no explanation for this. This is one of those processes that they have to go through and experience the gamut of emotions - anger, pain, confusion, resentment and to ask the question, 'Is there a God?' This is something that can challenge their faith and their love and support for one another."

Similarly, at St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Philadelphia, where Patrick was a sophomore, a prayer service was held for his class during which Patrick's family was present, said Dr. Michael Coury, principal. The school also had a crisis management team in place to help any students or faculty members deal with their loss.

After offering his condolences on the tragic death of someone who was young, healthy and full of energy, Dr. Coury channeled his remarks onto Patrick's service-oriented nature. Patrick had volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and he and other parish youth group members traveled to West Virginia and helped to build houses in the Appalachia area. But Patrick's service did not stop with Habitat for Humanity. Patrick also tutored the young students at Jesu Elementary School, located next door to St. Joseph's Prep.

Patrick's willingness to serve was instilled in him through his family, his parish and his school, Dr. Coury said.

"Part of our mission at St. Joe's is to help prepare students to use the gifts and talents that God blessed them with and for our students to become men for others. That's a phrase we use at 'the Prep' - 'To be a man for others.' And Patrick certainly lived that motto."

In his homily at the Funeral Mass, Father Krill spoke of how children are born and dedicated to God through the waters of Baptism. "They are a sacred gift and what a gift they are," he said.

Patrick was a young man who had dreams and now tragically they are gone, Father Krill said, but Jesus, the Good Shepherd, called Patrick's name and "I'm sure Patrick was surprised too."

"Today is about Patrick recognizing God's voice and his going home," Father Krill said. "Today we come together in this holy house and this precious gift is returned back to God. It is difficult, but if you were God, wouldn't you want him home in heaven with you?"

This article by Mary Stadnyk, was published in the Feb. 27, 2003 edition of The Monitor, newspaper of the Diocese of Trenton.