Father Sean O’Brien navigates change, connection, and challenge in his latest assignment
Above, Bishop Lucia and Father O’Brien at the reception following the installation Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Rome on July 28. Photos courtesy of Sacred Heart Parish
By Tami S. Scott
Editor
Father Sean O’Brien is about six weeks into his new assignment as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Rome and Lee Center, but when The Catholic Sun caught up with him in mid-July, he was just two weeks in — and already, significant progress was underway.
Effective July 1, the one-parish community united Rome’s St. John the Baptist Church, St. Peter’s Church, St. Paul’s Church, and Lee Center’s St. Joseph’s Church. On July 28, Bishop Douglas J. Lucia presided over the installation Mass for Father O’Brien, with a well-attended reception that followed.
Adept at shepherding multiple churches simultaneously — though never this many — Father O’Brien was happy to talk about his most current appointment and how it’s rolling out for him, his clergy, and his parishioners.
Many parishioners gather together at the reception following the installation Mass.
“I think it’s going better than some people thought. For me, I think it’s going well,” Father said. “We’ve only had two weekends, but the comments I’ve gotten are, ‘It’s a full church like I remember when I was young.’ ‘A combined choir sounded really great.’ ‘It’s nice to see so many people in church at once.’ So some really positive comments. And people have said, ‘You know, I’m from St. John’s and I came to St. Paul’s for the vigil Mass and I really enjoyed it.’”
Father commented on those who have opposed the change — people who say they won’t move from their home church and are dedicated either to a specific location or a particular Mass time. They are very few, he said. “So it’s been very positive that way.”
What’s been slightly more complicated, however, is figuring out how to schedule the deacons. Previously, there was one deacon per parish — now, he has four at once. “(Parochial vicar) Father Immanuel [Agbulu] and I have come up with an A/B schedule to alternate, so each parish sees both of us every other week. But with the four deacons, they have to come up with a schedule so that three deacons don’t show up at one mass and nobody shows up at another,” he said, with a laugh. “So the people have done a great job. The ordained ministers have to kind of figure out how to work together — it’s part of [the] transition.” He didn’t sound the least bit worried, calling it a challenge in business operations.
Many parishioners gather together at the reception following the installation Mass.
A more personal challenge for Father O’Brien has to do with, well, the pastor himself. “I’ve noticed almost immediately that I feel — and I’m not saying that I am — but I feel like I’ve been actually withdrawn from people.” He explained that the Mass schedule no longer allows him to see the lectors and the Eucharistic ministers every weekend. It could be a month or longer before he sees some of them again. “That is, for me, challenging … probably the biggest adjustment I have to make as a priest. Even though I’ve had multiple church parishes in the past, I’ve always been able to [be present at] each place each week … I’m their pastor, but I only see them every other week [now]. So for me, that’s very noticeable for me. I feel removed. I feel a little more removed than I ever have before. That bothers me.”
On a brighter note, Father describes himself as an extrovert. “The most joyful part of it is [that] I’m meeting so many new people. Let’s face it, there’s good people everywhere … and I’m now getting an opportunity to meet more of those good people in Rome. What has inspired me is how people from every church — they’re not parishes anymore — every church, how they’ve really stepped up. Nobody’s happy that they don’t have their own priest and their own Mass schedule. Nobody. But everybody’s willing to embrace it and move forward. And that’s exciting.”
In fact, a new Facebook group for the parish, launched on July 13, already has 645 members. Named Sacred Heart Parish, Rome, NY, the group is updated almost daily with posts. Parish events, Mass times, volunteer opportunities, and positive feedback fill its timeline.
The help of the laity
When everybody is on board, it makes the load that much lighter. “Father Immanuel and I can’t do everything,” he said, noting that office staff are taking on more leadership roles to accommodate their pastor and parochial vicar; their calendars are central to keeping chaos at bay. “Especially when you have two funerals at the same time on the same day, [in] two different locations. The secretary and I both have to get used to this.”
At the same time, Father half-joked that he has to block out Wednesday and write, “‘Remember, it’s my day off!’ Yeah, it’s frustrating, but there is fun within the frustration if you look at it the right way.” He added that, for the first time in his life, he has to schedule dinner with his parents. “Wow, that’s weird,” he said.
‘Patience is a virtue’
When asked what type of advice he has for parishioners unfamiliar with this new model, Father O’Brien responded that patience is a virtue. “I’m guessing that as a human being, I’m feeling the same thing they’re feeling. I get frustrated with the situation, but I also get frustrated with myself. And so, you feel that frustration on two levels and you’ve got to be patient with yourself, understanding that nobody is naturally born into change. But you also have to be patient with the situation. That is because it’s new. There are no creases, thank goodness, but there are wrinkles that have to be ironed out, and that takes time.”
