April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
EVANGELIZATION
Retired priest still going door-to-door
With more than 6,000 households, Gloversville might be his most ambitious endeavor yet, taking up to three years to complete.
"I just take one street, one home at a time," he said. He uses the alphabetical street keys on city maps to mark his progress.
Father Gaffigan, now 77, began his visitation ministry (see previous story at www.evangelist.org) after his ordination in 1962, when he received a chalice inscribed with the image of the Good Shepherd. The image reminds him of a passage from Mark's Gospel (2:17): "Jesus heard them and answered, 'People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick. I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts.'"
"That's always stuck in my mind," Father Gaffigan told The Evangelist. "If that's His priority, why should it not be my priority?"
Well-traveled
Over the years, he's dropped in on residents in Schenectady, Ilion, Philmont, South Kortright, Glens Falls, Lake Luzerne and Corinth. He recently completed his door-to-door visits in Johnstown - he's in residence at Holy Trinity parish's rectory there - after working on it for two years.
Instead of pressuring inactive Catholics to return, converting non-Catholics or asking for donations, Father Gaffigan always intends to convey to people the Church's interest in them. He doesn't care about quantifiable results, so long as a seed is sown.
"I believe [evangelization] should receive more attention," he explained.
When residents aren't home, he leaves his calling card with a friendly message.
"Most don't call back, but that's OK," he said. "You have to respect the person's freedom."
About 90 percent of the lapsed Catholics Father Gaffigan encounters say they've simply fallen out of the habit of attending Mass. He quietly listens to reasons cited by the other 10 percent, including parish closures, a family move or anger with a priest.
Some agree to take a parish bulletin; others even describe their faith journeys. If they say they follow another faith, "I commend them," Father Gaffigan said. "I'm not out to steal anyone's sheep."
To the priest's knowledge, no other clergy in the Diocese carry out the ministry to the extent that he does. Many parishes take a census to collect information or add residents to mailing lists - but to Father Gaffigan, that's not the point.
Reaching out
"We go because it's the mission of Jesus to reach out," he said. "The motive is very important."
Father Gaffigan says laity should get in on the act, but understands their fears of being rejected or asked theological questions they can't answer.
"You have to have the right kind of personality," he said. "I make it a point to smile no matter what."
But "it's very simple. Anybody can do it, really."
Door-to-door visits do take a lot of time. Father Gaffigan devotes Thursday afternoons and Friday and Saturday mornings to evangelizing.
"I'm not the evangelizer," he added. "The Lord is the evangelizer through people. I'm not preoccupied with numbers [or] results."
Father Gaffigan serves as a chaplain on cruise ships up to three times a year (see previous story at www.evangelist.org). He's currently filling in at Masses at St. Adalbert's parish in Schenectady.
He swims 20 laps at least three times a week, which energizes him for his neighborhood strolls.
"I'm grateful the Lord has given me the health to do it," he said.[[In-content Ad]]
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