Teen holds keys to church

Daniel McNamara knows the "secret spaces" at St. Stanislaus parish in Amsterdam: the low attic and catwalk that runs the length of the church; the basement, where the boiler hums; the inside of the belltower; even the tiles on the school's roof.

That's because, as the paid sacristan, the 15-year-old is responsible for keeping the complex running smoothly.

In 2003, after Daniel graduated from eighth grade, Rev. David Mickiewicz, pastor, asked him to become the sacristan.

Candlelight

Daniel's duties include overseeing the parish's many devotional candles: 100 of them are scattered around the church, along with racks of votives with 100 candles each that parishioners burn regularly.

He also assists in decorating the church with swaths of fabric and flowers for major holiday seasons, and is helping to re-do the library at the former school building.

He also unlocks the church when there are Saturday funerals.

First in

Daniel arrives at 7:30 each Sunday morning to open the church, set up extra chairs, and turn on the lights and heat. He also monitors goings-on during the week, including choir rehearsals, confessions, Stations of the Cross and meetings.

It is his responsibility to make sure that there are enough hosts for the congregation and that the readings are bookmarked -- even, sometimes, checking to see that lectors have glasses if they need them.

"It's a totally different thing [from] sitting out [in the congregation]. It's a different view," he said. "It's a lot of details to make sure everything goes smoothly. It keeps me busy. You see it in a different way when you're in all the action."

Restoring order

After the Masses end, Daniel goes through the pews, putting hymnals back, raising kneelers and scraping errant Cheerios from the floor where young families sat.

He vacuums, dusts, waters the plants and flowers, and helps in the parish thrift store.

There are odd jobs now and then, too: most recently, keeping up the tradition of covering statues with purple fabric during Lent.

Pluses

Daniel enjoys his work. "I like our Polish customs," he said. "I like being around the people. I was sick a few weeks ago, and I missed them."

He's the one parishioners come to with comments about the heat or the cold, and the one they say hello to on their way out the door. Sometimes, they tell him that he does a "beautiful job."

"Stuff like that makes me feel pretty good," he said.

Future

Daniel is still figuring out where his life is going to go -- perhaps college for something technical; perhaps something else entirely. Right now, he's happy behind the scenes at St. Stan's.

"I look forward to coming here and seeing the people," he said. "I'm comfortable around them. People are surprised sometimes" that he's a teenager, "but most people know about me by now. It's normal. I like being here."

He would counsel other teens and fellow parishioners to "volunteer their time. We always need help here. It's not scary, though people think it is sometimes. Don't be scared to get involved. It makes you feel better when you're doing something to help others. The church is giving me a lot, so I should return what they are giving me."

(The McNamaras are longtime parishioners of St. Stanislaus. Daniel graduated from the former St. Stanislaus School and is now a tenth-grader at Amsterdam High. When he's not at church, Daniel is involved in a junior bowling league and enjoys hanging out with friends.Daniel's mother, Joanne, facilities manager for the parish, picks him up after school to bring him to work.)

(3/16/06) [[In-content Ad]]