My travels this past weekend took me to Rhode Island and to the parish of Saints JOHN and James in West Warwick.

I flew out of Palm Beach International on Friday, May 17, to Charlotte where I got a connecting flight to Providence, Rhode Island. At Providence Airport, Mike and Linda, from the parish, were there to meet me at the foot of the baggage elevator holding a sign. I recognized them immediately because they were the only ones holding a sign. From there, Mike and Linda drove me to the parish rectory, my home away from home, for the remainder of my long weekend.

One of the benefits of my work is meeting extraordinary, ordinary people in my travels, and I meet them everywhere. Before I left Palm Beach International, I met a lovely lady at Starbucks. We were both ordering coffee, and I offered to let her go ahead of me since I got there early and had time to spare.

“I’ve got plenty of time,” she said, with a big smile. “I always get to the Airport early when I’m traveling.”

“Same here” I said, thanking her, and I asked where she was traveling to.

“Long Island,” she said with unusual enthusiasm. “I’m going to my sister’s birthday. She’ll be a hundred on Sunday.”

Everybody within earshot, gasped.

“And, what about you?” I asked, politely.

“Oh, I’m the baby of the family” she laughed. “ I’m only ninety-three.”

Everybody in line again gasped, in wonder, and began complimenting this little jewel of a lady on how well she looked, so lively and hearty and healthy for her years. One person asked: “What’s your secret to living so long and hearty?”

“I have a glass of wine every night before going to bed,” she answered, with another laugh.

Meeting her made everybody perk up and appreciate the gift of life which we too often take for granted.

The Church in West Warwick was built as a Cathedral to seat over a thousand people. At one time, parishioners told me, it was packed, standing room only during every mass. This weekend, like every weekend, there were less than four hundred at all the masses. The total congregation at my four masses, one on Saturday and three on Sunday, could easily fit into one of the central Isles of the Church. Such is the dramatic change in Church attendance during the lifetime of several parishioners in the parish.

What I observed at Saints JOHN and James with regard to the decline in mass attendance is a pattern that’s repeating itself, with some notable exceptions, all over the country. This huge Church was named, St. John the Baptist, when it was built. Over the years, with the decline in mass attendance, it merged with St. James, whose property was sold by the Diocese. The combination of the two Congregations, St. John and St. James, led to the present name-change of Saints JOHN and James. But, there’s more. Saints JOHN and James is now going to merge again with another Church, St. Mary’s. I wasn’t told if the name is going to change again.

In spite of the struggles and challenges of this parish, I found the people to be very devout and dedicated. They could not do enough  for their parish and for myself when I was there. The parishioners were a busy bunch, always doing their best to serve one another, at the Church, in hospitals, and in homes by bringing communion to those who couldn’t attend Church.

I stayed at the large, three-story rectory which I had all to myself for the weekend. It was built to house six priests, but now the parish is lucky to have one.

The Pastor, Fr. Eddy, got me to replace him for the weekend, he told me, so he could celebrate his birthday with his parents. I was happy to do so. Like many priests today, Fr. Eddy, is feeling the pressure of having too much to do and not enough help to do it.

Priests are a valuable and vulnerable commodity today. They are so few, and with parish mergers, closings, and the shortage of vocations, they are often stretched to the limit. As Jesus said: “the harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” The problem today, however, is that houses of worship are closing rather than opening, and the number of vocations are falling.

As I travel around the country, I meet lots of priests and we share our stories about the pressures and blessings of the job. I’m fortunate to be a retired priest who doesn’t have to deal with the burden of running a parish anymore. I was there, did that, know what it’s like, and can relate to what my fellow priests are facing.

I really enjoyed my stay at the parish of Saints JOHN and James, and was inspired by the stories and commitment of the parishioners and the priests. They are what scripture describes as the remnant, that dedicated group of believers that remains faithful during times of struggle, challenge, and even persecution.

Priests and parishioners today are to be admired for their dedication in fighting an uphill battle in today’s culture which offers voices contrary to the Gospel. I’m always glad to be able to lighten the burden when asked to serve in parishes like Saints JOHN and James so that an over-burdened priest can take off and rest awhile.

Everybody needs a break.

My return flight back to Florida was at 6:00pm on Sunday, May 19. Debbie was my driver this time. The parish, she told me, was getting a new pastor, just four years out of the seminary. They are appointing pastors so much younger nowadays because of the priest shortage. So, that explains why people kept asking me, in spite of my age, if I was the new priest. I had to explain to them I was just visiting the parish as an Outreach Speaker for Cross Catholic.

I arrived at the Airport to learn that my flight was delayed by half an hour. Nothing to worry about, I mused. Later, the flight time changed again, and again until it was finally scheduled to leave at 8:00pm. I got a helpful call from American Airlines which offered to re-schedule my flight to Monday morning since I would miss my connection in Charlotte to Palm Beach. I went along with this, but as I got on the plane I learnt that my connecting flight from Charlotte to Palm Beach was also delayed. There was still an outside chance that I might make it home the same day!

As we were landing in Charlotte, the Captain announced that those who were expecting a connecting flight could get off first. The other passengers were to remain seated so we could exit the plane. It worked. I made my connecting flight on time to Palm Beach from Charlotte. But, there was another problem. The computer would not accept my boarding pass. American Airlines had changed my boarding pass for a flight the following morning. There was a hectic scramble, with computers pounding, to reverse the decision of American Airlines before the doors were closed. A little Filipino lady came running up also seeking to board the plane. She had the same problem as me. I felt I was not alone. “We’re in the same boat,” I said, comforting her. She looked up at me, and shrieked : “Fr. Duffy!” It was Dr. Trinidad Garcia, a former parishioner at Sacred Heart in Okeechobee.

I was let through the gate, and, as I was comfortably seated in the plane, I saw Dr. Garcia coming down the Isle, all smiles, to take her seat as well.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy