"He was the best of the best," Father Jonathan Gaspar, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption, Brookline, said of his priestly mentor Father Michael W. MacEwen, who died on March 16 at his sister's home in Framingham. He had been courageously battling cancer for some time and until a few months ago was able to celebrate Mass at his Natick parishes.

Born in Newton on March 4, 1959, he was one of the four children of the late William and Carmela (Cardarelli) MacEwen. A son of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, he attended the parish grammar school and then the local Day Junior High School and Newton North High School.

He entered St. John Seminary, preparing for the priesthood first at the college division at St. Clement Hall and then for theological formation at St. John Seminary, both on the Brighton seminary campus.

Cardinal Bernard Law ordained him to the priesthood at Holy Cross Cathedral on June 8, 1985. It was the first ordination class following the Boston archbishop's elevation to the College of Cardinals on May 25, 1985.

His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. James the Great, Wellesley, a town bordering his Newton hometown. After five years, he was named parochial vicar at St. Theresa of Lisieux, North Reading. It was at that parish where the young Jonathan Gaspar met Father MacEwen, whose priestly example inspired thoughts of a vocation to the priesthood.

In 1993, his life changed notably when he was named secretary and master of ceremonies to Cardinal Law, a post he held twice: 1993 to 1997 and 1999 to 2001. Of his years as the cardinal's secretary, he always spoke with great affection and admiration for his boss. Notorious for keeping his priest secretaries busy -- one of them joked that "if there were four of us instead of two, we'd still need extra help." The job also gave him a perspective about the Church. While he genuinely preferred parish ministry, he got to see the Church in the archdiocese and beyond in action.

Being the master of ceremonies can be a challenge -- you have to help make things go right, but not ruffle too many, if any, feathers. But Father MacEwen always seemed to be on an even keel and managed to accomplish the delicate task with great style and grace.

After his first stint at "the Residence," he was asked to consider graduate studies in Rome and almost until the plane took off from Logan he was ready to go. He told me that "I was there thinking "Why am I doing this? I want to be a parish priest." He called the cardinal and explained. The cardinal understood and named him parochial vicar at St. Theresa of Avila, West Roxbury, where another former secretary of both Humberto Cardinal Medeiros and Cardinal Law, Msgr. William M. Helmick, was the pastor.

He was there, and busy, for two years (1997-1999) when he was called back to his previous job, serving a second stint of two years as Cardinal Law's secretary and MC.

He finally got his wish to return to parish life when the cardinal named him pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Marlborough. He served the western suburban parish for 13 years. He was deeply loved at the parish -- one much like his home parish in Newton with a school, responsibility for elderly housing, religious education program, and multiple parish activities. One of his parochial vicars was Father Jonathan Gaspar who was assigned there following his ordination in 2004 by Archbishop Seán P. O'Malley -- for whom a few years later, Father Gaspar, following the path of his mentor, would be secretary and MC.

In June 2014, he was named pastor of two parishes in Natick -- St. Patrick and St. Linus. Once again, he was in a busy place or places and once again his people loved him. Father Mike, as he preferred to be called, won their hearts with his gentle demeanor, his extraordinary kindness, and his profound sincerity. They knew they had "the best of the best" in their pastor.

Once confirmed that he was battling cancer, something he shared readily with his people, he grew even high in their esteem. As soon as he finished a round of treatments, he was back at the parish celebrating Mass. What was difficult for the pastor and the people was that he had to be more remote and could not be as present and with the parishioners as he had been previously.

People were in awe of his tenacity in battling the disease.

He entered hospice care at the home of his sister Mary Abruzzi in Framingham. He died there on March 16, 2022. Both Cardinal O'Malley and Father MacEwen's classmate, West Regional Bishop Robert Reed, were able to visit at different times and celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.

Father George "Chip" Hines reported that the church was packed, standing room only, with people from every one of Father MacEwen's assignments there. Father Hines also added of his pastor: "he was a priests' priest."

Cardinal O'Malley was the principal celebrant of Father MacEwen's funeral Mass at St. Patrick, Natick, on March 22. Bishop Reed was a concelebrant and the homilist. Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Arthur Kennedy was also a concelebrant. Father Jonathan Gaspar returned to his previous role as master of ceremonies for the funeral Mass.

Four dozen priests both from within and without the archdiocese -- friends, classmates, and former collaborators -- were concelebrants as well, among them were Msgr. Kevin O'Leary, rector of the cathedral; Father George Hines and Father Michael Alfano, respectively administrator and parochial vicar of St. Patrick and St. Linus parishes; Father Leroy Owens, one-time associate at Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, and a friend of the MacEwen family from his many years in Newton and who is now senior priest in residence at St. Linus; Father Richard Fitzgerald, administrator, St. Columbkille, Brighton; and three priests from the Fall River Diocese, all friends of Father MacEwen: Father David Costa, St. Thomas More, Somerset; Father Thomas Frechette, St. John the Evangelist, Pocasset; and Father Timothy Reis, St. Mary, Norton.

Father MacEwen's surviving siblings are his sister, Mary Abruzzi, Framingham; and brothers Daniel and William, both of Waltham. He is also survived by his aunt, Sister Donata Marie Cardarelli, CSJ, Framingham.

Following the funeral Mass, Father MacEwen was buried with his parents at St. Stephen Cemetery, Framingham.