Hancock parish celebrates summer with movie nights

For many people, summer means barbecues, dips in the pool and the jingle of ice cream trucks. But, for parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Hancock, summer means that parish movie nights are back at Hancock Cinemas.

From June through August, St. Paul’s rents a theater at the local cinema for a night every week or two to screen a free film provided by Rev. Daniel Quinn, the pastor.

Father Quinn started the movie nights last summer. “The Church has always participated in the arts,” he says.

Previously, the pastor has shown films such as “Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” the story of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare; “Of Gods and Men,” a film about Trappist monks in Algeria who chose to stay during the country’s civil war in the 1990s at the risk of losing their lives; and “The Secret of Kells,” an animated fantasy.

While he doesn’t call himself a “film buff,” Father Quinn has always been a follower of the arts. He studied theater at SUNY Fredonia and worked for Chautauqua Theater Company before beginning studies for the priesthood.

Father Quinn got the idea for a movie event in 2014 while serving at three parishes in Columbia County: St. John the Baptist in Valatie, St. James in Chatham and St. Joseph’s in Stuyvesant Falls/Stottville. Pope Francis had declared it the “Year of Consecrated Life,” so Father Quinn organized movie screenings of religious films at each of the parishes, pulling out films he owned to share with the community.

“I showed these films about religious sisters and brothers,” he said. “It got people together.”

He decided to bring the movie nights to St. Paul’s, and the success has continued. An average of 25 to 30 people attend each film; Father Quinn said the night is offered for parishioners, but guests are welcome.

Father Quinn either picks out the DVDs from his home collection or purchases a film to bring in for Hancock Cinemas to screen. He said the films do not necessarily have to be religious, but most of the movies he selects are Christian or have underlying lessons parallel with Christian values.

“I wanted to show good films to the parish, Christian or not,” he said. “I’m not looking for a film about a saint; I’m looking for good films.”

Because St. Paul’s is just renting the theater space from Hancock Cinemas, Father Quinn legally cannot charge parishioners for entry to the movie. But Mike Argiros, owner of the theater, also does the bookkeeping for St. Paul’s and offers the space to the parish at a minimal rate.

“Ultimately, we’re doing this at a loss,” Father Quinn told The Evangelist. “But it’s not a huge loss, and it’s good to share these films and discuss them.”

Father Quinn also believes “the arts should be free. The Church has always been a patron of the arts.”

St. Paul’s next movie night takes place July 31, 7 p.m. The screening includes an episode of the television show “The Twilight Zone” titled, “The Obsolete Man,” and a short film called “The Butterfly Circus.”

“I want people to see good art, and good art will always reflect the truth. It was always be beautiful,” said Father Quinn.

(For more information on St. Paul’s movie nights, contact the parish office at 607-637-2571.)