New generation finds a home at old Old St. Pat's

National Catholic Reporter, Sept 25, 1998 by Tim Unsworth

Close up, St. Pat's has over 600 volunteers. One wag observed that it has "volunteers for which there is no apostolate." There are over 100 programs and events and nearly 60,000 volunteer interactions, including an internship program that trains students for positions in the not-for-profit sector. An intelligent catechumenate program introduces at least 40 new Catholics to the church each year. The church's pervasive female influence can be seen in its Fertility Support Group and New Moms Network.

The staff seems to recognize, however, that some efforts have a life of their own. They are unafraid to drop a function or activity that has flamed out. Virtually every liturgy is evaluated almost before the candles have been blown out. The liturgy committee meets after each weekend and completes its report card. It's the same with activities.

There are touches of showmanship. Thus, Phil Jackson, former coach of the six-time NBA champion Chicago Bulls, filled both upper and lower churches one night as he explored spirituality outside the churches. Clearly, he wasn't invited to analyze Michael Jordan's jump shot or tell wildly exaggerated stories of long deceased jocks, the way potbellied athletes used to do years ago at Communion breakfasts over Styrofoam eggs.

Jackson demonstrated a powerful Far Eastern mindfulness that his listeners could bring to work. The community has also hosted major theologian David Tracy, spirituality guru John Shea and priest-sociologist Andrew Greeley as speakers.

One can find activities at Old St. Pat's that range from an annual crowning of the May Queen to a Jewish-Catholic couples group. When NCR visited, staff and volunteers were preparing for a three-evening seminar celebrating the rich heritage of Celtic spiritual wisdom, featuring priest-poet John O'Donohue. Crossroads Center, which examines the spirituality of the workplace, was offering a 30-hour stress reduction program and a 12-week "spiritual path to high productivity." No Bingo.

The Crossroads Center is just one of what Old St. Pat's calls its "missions." These are virtually freestanding apostolates, largely funded by Old St. Pat's. CARA (which means friend in Gaelic) is another. It assists the homeless and at-risk populations by offering job-readiness training, permanent job placement and other support services.

With such arc-lamp brightness, one would be inclined to look for spores of jealousy from sister parishes: Years before, many parish devotional processions ended up in riots when two monstrances and cultures collided. But beyond an exceptionally mild observation that' St. Pat's may be draining some of the marrow from other parishes, other churches have nothing but praise for the revived community. Further, the positive outlook at St. Pat's is so pervasive and the community so inclusive that criticism sounds vaguely like a fussy gourmet visiting a four-star restaurant and sending back the ice water.

An area renaissance

In keeping with its "federal property" policy, St. Pat's generously promotes events being held at neighboring parishes. Further, its own growth has been helped by recent rapid development in the area. Presidential Towers, a huge, four-building complex, was built for the very population St. Pat's wanted to serve. At least 3,600 additional housing units are underway. It's clear that St. Pat's will not be able to accommodate the influx, but the halo effect is likely to benefit neighboring parishes. It could lead to the renaissance of a few nearby parishes, including some that have been closed.