April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.

Grafton parish one for the books


By PAUL QUIRINI- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Paul Wilkes is convinced that there are great Catholic parishes across the United States, and he's writing a book to prove it. One of his proofs is St. John Francis Regis Church in Grafton.

The author of "The Soul of the Great American Catholic Parish" is including the Albany diocesan parish as one of only 300 across the U.S. considered outstanding by parish experts and editors of diocesan newspapers.

He hopes that Catholics will read his book "as a survival kit. If there's one book that a person would want to take into a parish, I hope this is it," he said.

Profiling parishes

Mr. Wilkes got the idea for his book after participating in a mission at a parish in Saddle River, New Jersey. He enjoyed being there and found parishioners welcoming, and he wanted to profile other great parishes across the country.

He spoke with people associated with the Lilly Endowment, a philanthropic organization that supports the study of religious issues, about funding his research, and was awarded a grant as project director through the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he teaches graduate level writing courses.

With the help of researchers Marty Minchin and Melanie Bruce, Mr. Wilkes then asked parish experts and editors of diocesan newspapers which parishes they would recommend for his book. He and his researchers contacted these parishes and requested materials from them to learn more about each parish.

Finalists

After reviewing this information and visiting some of the parishes, Mr. Wilkes and his researchers selected eight that would be profiled extensively in his book. St. John Francis Regis is not one of the eight, but "it does not mean the parish is not as wonderful as the other ones," Mr. Wilkes pointed out. "Geographically, we've got to spread it out."

The eight parishes that will be profiled extensively are in Newton, Massachusetts; Wichita, Kansas; Inverness, Illinois; Benson, Minnesota; San Antonio, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Boise, Idaho; and Portland, Oregon.

St. John Francis Regis will be included in a state-by-state listing at the end of the book that will mention other programs and ministries that make these parishes great.

Great traits

There are different reasons each of the eight parishes was chosen, such as location, the types of ministries and programs offered, and the urban, suburban or rural feel of the parish. For example, the Wichita, Kansas, parish has a tithing program that enables 800 students to attend its school for free and pays their tuition at a local Catholic high school.

In Newton, Massachusetts, parishioners raised $2 million to renovate their aging church and restore its original glory. Inverness, Illinois, has a parish of 10,000 members served by one priest but with an active lay ministry.

Parish central

Mr. Wilkes, who is working on a similar book, "The Soul of the Great American Protestant Congregation," hopes that profiling great Catholic parishes will "show specific programs, attitudes and approaches that are reproducible," he said. "There are parishes that are alive and well -- and more that can be. We're trying to provide a guide to good parishes."

Writing a book on great Catholic parishes has reinforced his belief in the importance of parish life and the potential that parishes hold.

"The parish is where the tires hit the road for 98 percent of the Catholics in America, and they can be great places of spirituality," he said. "We have many good men and women who can do marvelous things if they're allowed to do so."

Grafton honored

Sister Mary Kenan McGowan, parish life director at St. John Francis Regis, is honored that her parish will be included in the book. She sent bulletins, calendars, newspaper clippings, a mug and cookbook to him to provide some information on the parish history and its ministry.

Being mentioned in Mr. Wilkes' book is due mostly to the parishioners of St. John Francis Regis, who make it so great, the nun noted.

"The people really take ownership of the parish," she said.

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