She was parish saint of my church

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 8, 2004 by Tim Unsworth

We told Dorothy Connor stories. People remembered her as the matriarch of St. Clement's, a master at little things that meant a lot. In a parish heavily larded with single professional women who lived alone in one-bedroom apartments with a Monet poster and a cat, she became the model of a woman who led a full and happy life. Indeed, there are parishioners at St. Clement's who will swear that Dorothy's prayers brought them through a crisis.

She won't be canonized. That would take over a million bucks and clout galore. Dorothy wouldn't even show up.

We should revert to parish or diocesan saints.

Let John Paul II elevate Mother Teresa of Calcutta and her helicopter. Send us Dorothy Connor.

[Tim Unsworth writes from Chicago, where he's been in remission for three years thanks to St. Dorothy Connor.]