One Day in the Life of a Priest

"A pastor is one who speaks to your spirit, listens to your heart and understands what words can never say."

After spending a recent Thursday with Father Isopo, pastor of St. Luke's Church in Schenectady, as he met with parishioners, St. Luke's School students and faculty, hospital patients, and neighborhood folks, it's evident that he lives by those words and has earned the respect of the people he encounters in his ministry.

Morning Mass

After Mass, we return to St. Luke's rectory for coffee -- Father Isopo's beverage of choice throughout the day -- and chat about his upbringing. The second oldest of seven children, Father Isopo and his family lived in Schenectady and worshipped at St. Anthony's Church.

After graduating from the former Linton High School in 1971, he entered St. Bernard's Seminary in Rochester and was ordained in May 1980. During one summer break from the seminary, he was a writer for The Evangelist, and he recalled the subject of his first story: Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Hitting the ground

Although Father Isopo, 44, welcomed the opportunity to serve a parish as pastor, he didn't want to perform what he called "maintenance ministry," or staying with the status quo. Upon arriving at St. Luke's, therefore, he gradually brought new members to the school board and the pastoral council, and encouraged women to participate in lay ministry.

Those changes have helped to breathe new life into the parish, which now includes 1,200 households, Father Isopo said.

Among the kids

A few students run up to Father Isopo and throw their arms around him, but they're all happy to see him, whether it's the second-grade students in Sister Grace Bacon's class who are practicing readings for Ascension Thursday or kids in pre-kindergarten and nursery quietly watching a movie.

After visiting the school, we return to the rectory, where Father Isopo catches up on paperwork and phone calls for an hour or so until lunch. Msgr. Howard Manny, who is in residence at St. Luke's and continues to celebrate 11 a.m. Mass daily, joins us for lunch, and the three of us discuss such topics as travel, Msgr. Manny's recent birthday celebration, and the upcoming weddings in the parish.

More to do

He stops in at the pastoral care office in each hospital and checks on a computer to see if any parishioners or neighbors have been admitted. Then, he takes the elevator from floor to floor and visits each patient.

One man, Joe Winkler, appears to be in good spirits and is surrounded by family and friends when Father Isopo arrives. They all exchange some light-hearted remarks and smiles, and Father Isopo wishes him well and promises to visit him again.

Father Isopo's presence seems to lighten people's moods in both hospitals. There's something reassuring and comforting about seeing a priest, and Father Isopo believes that there's a strong connection between a patient's physical health and spiritual health. Even visitors and hospital staff, many of whom know him by name, say "hi" as he performs his ministry.

At the wheel

At the rectory, Father Isopo puts on a fresh pot of coffee and waits for a couple that's coming to discuss marriage preparation. Once their appointment has ended, it's after 5 p.m., and Father Isopo decides to dine at Da Vinci's Ristorante up the street. He's a regular there, and patrons and employees greet him warmly when he walks in the door.

Over dinner -- he chooses Chicken Da Vinci -- he shares stories about his recent trip to Ireland. He was surprised to learn that his fellow priests were reluctant to discuss the proposed peace settlement in their parishes, and he attests that people aren't kidding when they say that there's 40 shades of green in the Emerald Isle.

Over the meal, Father Isopo also shares some of his likes and dislikes. He enjoys cooking, especially Italian cuisine, and seeing movies, but he's not much of a sports fan and doesn't surf the Internet.

Into the night

The meeting is an informational session on a proposed business park near the school. Father Isopo serves as moderator for the meeting, during which city officials present environmental and traffic study results, and concerned residents ask about compensation for their homes and effects upon taxes.

This was the third such meeting for residents to learn about the plan, and Father Isopo has played a key role in making sure that they have a forum in which to learn about the plan.

Full day

Through it all, Father Isopo maintained a sense of dignity and an easygoing nature, and he showed how even during one day in his life, he touches many other lives.

(05-28-98) [[In-content Ad]]