April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
PAULIST FATHERS
Faith and Lake George history combine in priest's new book
Rev. Kenneth McGuire, CSP, decided he would. The result is "Holy Ground for Generations: A History of Paulists at Lake George," a newly published book.
Father McGuire, who now lives in California, where he teaches at Loyola Marymount-Los Angeles, spent 16 years as director of St. Mary's on the Lake in Lake George, a facility operated by the Paulist religious order.
As noted on the religious order's website (www.paulist.org), "St. Mary's on the Lake serves as a summer retreat for Paulists and as the summer component of Paulist student formation. Special summer retreats, featuring outstanding speakers and retreat masters have been offered in June and July to lay persons and priests."
Photos and memories
Father McGuire's book expands on that sketch. An Ohioan who converted to Catholicism while in the Air Force, he was inspired to pen the book after listening to people reminisce about the center.
"I have always liked Lake George," he explained. "I've heard all kinds of stories about what happened at St. Mary's. Several people said, 'Write that down,' as they listened to the stories. After several years of hearing that, I thought, 'I know a lot of things that ought to be recorded'" for posterity.
Two years ago, he began to collect the stories and photographs for the book, tracing the history of Lake George, the Paulists and St. Mary's.
The tales range from the story of St. Isaac Jogues in the 17th century and the founding of the Paulists in the 19th century by Isaac Hecker to a dramatic rescue on the water 50 years ago.
Research process
Father McGuire said of his book, "I try to give the flavor of what the place is like and what the Paulists are about. But it's mostly a history of the lake" - including the formation of Lake George in prehistoric times.
In his research, the priest created a list of every novice who went through St. Mary's and charted places where Paulists have worked. The coffee-table book is filled with stories, historic maps and many illustrations, ranging from sketches and paintings to contemporary color nature photos by Richard Dean.
Lake rescue
Father McGuire noted that his research did not always go smoothly. One photo with no date or caption remained a mystery, he said, until three other people arrived in his office with copies of the same picture: "That's how I found out about the rescue on the lake."
A chapter in the book titled "Fishers of Men," written by some of those involved in that incident, tells how a group of young men thought they were in an unsinkable boat that became a mini-Titanic on Lake George. Seminarians from St. Mary's saved them.
"Holy Ground for Generations" has been out only since July, but Father McGuire said he has already received a great deal of positive reaction.
"The people in Lake George really like it," he said, "as do the Paulists. I've gotten good comments."
The title, he added, came about because he always considered the Lake George area "holy ground, because the founder of our order and every Paulist walked there.
"I encourage people to read the book because it's a piece of American history," he added. "The Paulists were the first community of priests in the U.S. We've always had a large Catholic presence in the U.S., and are in the forefront of missions and preaching."[[In-content Ad]]
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