February 2022
St. Patrick’s Church Synodal Process
What has been life giving and/or how have you experienced the Holy Spirit in St. Patrick Church?
Seven years ago I walked into St. Patrick Church, searching for a new parish that would welcome me as I am with religious beliefs that might be somewhat expanded from my cradle Catholic/twelve years of Catholic schools upbringing. I sat in the very back of the church to observe and be unnoticed. Suddenly from behind me came the embodiment of the Gospel as the most spirit filled person I had ever seen, Betsey Beckman, sang and danced her way up the aisle followed by happy children doing the same. I had heard of liturgical movement ministry, but I had never experienced it before. The congregation was as delighted as I was, and I knew from the start that I had found my people, my church, my spiritual home.
Once the Mass began, the wry and witty priest, Father Patrick Clark, seemed so in tune with his parishioners that it felt like a room filled with old friends who loved and enjoyed one another so very much. The choir, led by Laura Ash, a musician singer with the voice of an angel, sang so beautifully while Sister Judith Desmarais signed to not only the deaf community in the first few rows on the left, but also to the entire congregation who also signed back, something I had not witnessed in any other church. This was a parish family filled with love and respect for one another, people who made every effort to share in the holy banquet that is the Mass. Surely this was a community filled with the Holy Spirit and I wanted to share in their communal joy.
Once Mass was over, I followed people down the stairs to “Paddy’s Place,” the church hall, where coffee, tea and donuts were welcome treats. One kind woman spotted me, came over and said, “Well, here’s a new face!” We began to talk and shared names; hers is Jan Thomas. While Jan and I were talking, another sweet woman, Maureen Little, joined in. They both wished I had been there a week earlier as that March weekend was the women’s retreat, but I told them they were welcoming enough and that I hoped to be there for the following year’s retreat. I certainly was and have enjoyed and been immensely enriched by all four of the women’s retreats that I have attended over the years. In all the places I’ve lived and where I belonged to so many parishes, none of them come close to the outreach at St. Pat’s of especially women helping other women.
Another wonderful example of the Holy Spirit within the St. Pat’s family has been our neighborhood groups, especially the meetings in one another’s homes where we discussed Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si in a series of meetings and other church topics. With St. Pat’s being a “destination parish” and people coming from so many surrounding neighborhoods, it was wonderful to meet the people from Shoreline and Northwest Seattle. Our neighborhood contact person, Rosemary Ryan, keeps us all informed with whatever is happening in the church and diocese, plus she and her husband, Mike O’Connell, are active in every aspect of our parish life from serving as Eucharist Ministers and Ushers at Mass, to giving rides to parishioners not only to church on Sunday, but to get groceries and anywhere they need to go. Rosemary was an angel to bring me Holy Communion during the quarantine part of the covid pandemic. Through Rosemary and Mike, I’ve come to know so many of our fellow parishioners who are neighbors as well and we’re able to enjoy each other socially.
I’ve always thought of Jesus as the religious Outsider, the One who came to change the world and move forward with a new outlook on religion. He chose to live as a humble working man and ministered to the downtrodden and poor of his time. This example of ministering to people in need is very strong at St. Pat’s from our work with immigrants and unhoused people to visiting the sick and working towards a cleaner environment. Also being good citizens who vote and keep up with what’s happening around us is a part of our church community that I love. The Holy Spirit is strong within this community, helping us to fulfill the ministries that Jesus taught us were important to be simply good people and followers of His Word.
Since joining St. Pat’s, I’ve also been to many interfaith services and feel recognizing the goodness and similarities in major religions is very important in our fractured world. Dwelling on our differences only leads to wars and chaos but sharing our views on keeping the Golden Rule of loving God and our Neighbor in our own ways has been enlightening for me. God’s heaven is a mansion with many rooms, enough for good people of all faiths.
To me, the Holy Spirit is the embodiment of love and wisdom of God that inspires us to live our faith in the ways that Jesus taught us to do. In so many ways, the community of St. Pat’s has taught me to listen more to the Holy Spirit and act accordingly. After first walking into our church seven years ago, I’m still here in this parish and hope to never leave. Whatever happens to St. Patrick’s Church in the future, I do hope we can stay together as the spirit filled family we are, loving and supporting one another through all of life’s joys and sorrows. I don’t know how I would have made it through health concerns, deaths in the family, my daughter-in-law’s recurring cancer, and so many other trials without the love and prayers of my St. Pat’s family. This is what a true faith community is all about – love, support, and true fellowship.