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April 13, 2008
Evangelizer, clinical psychologist and busy pastor
Father Pat Brennan, pastor of Holy Family Parish, Inverness, tapes his radio show “Horizons” for broadcast on Sunday mornings. Catholic New World/Natalie Battaglia
He is: Father Patrick Brennan, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Inverness. Product of archdiocesan schools and seminary systems; ordained at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in 1973. Among his numerous degrees: doctor of ministry and doctor of clinical psychology.
For 13 years was director of the Office for Evangelization here and in 1984 was elected founding president of the National Council for Catholic Evangelization. Besides numerous national and international affiliations, he has authored over a dozen books; and his program, “Horizons,” is currently on two radio stations.
Tough being a kid: He had severe asthma and multiple allergies growing up. Saw a doctor twice a week for shots. When he did play baseball it was “in an empty lot at the corner. My brother would usually pick me because no one else would.” Brother is an Irish twin, a year and a half older. “I actually became more interested in playing and watching sports after ordination when the asthma was pretty well calmed down.”
Being a South Sider at St. “Tommy” More Parish: “I was shy and introverted … enjoyed reading, studying and writing.” He published a weekly newspaper, sending it to his aunts and uncles. “I played ‘radio,’ broadcasting with a little radio kit. The range was from my bedroom to the kitchen, where my mother was doing the ironing on Wednesday afternoons.”
Catholic kid in a Catholic enclave: “Our parish’s vocations to the priesthood were probably only topped by Visitation Parish. I was an altar boy, choir boy, patrol boy, any kind of boy you could be.”
High school seminary: At Quigley he was one of the feature editors of the school newspaper, and started a tutoring program for students with lagging grades.
A call to evangelization: On his first assignment, St. Hubert’s, Hoffman Estates, “Evangelization became extremely important to me.” He read Pope Paul VI’s document “On Evangelization in the Modern World.” “It became sort of a blueprint for how I have done ministry in all the parishes I have served.” He strives to renew active Catholics in their faith, reaching out to the unchurched, alienated and youth.
Leadership: “I was taken by [motivational speaker] Tom Peters’ definition of a good leader — a visionary who gets as many people involved in the mission of the organization as possible, and manages by wandering around, keeping the movement and the vision alive.”
Today’s evangelizing mega parish: “At Holy Family our 140 ministries ‘converge’ on the central mission of evangelization. The staff exists to train and empower the laity to have ownership over ministry.” Inspiration comes from Mark 1:15: “I’ve got good news for you. The Reign of God is here. Change your lives.”
A magic formula?: From starting a parish School of Ministry that issues a master’s degree from Loyola University, to doubling the weekly collections, “I believe that everything we have done at Holy Family, can be replicated in any parish.”
A voice crying out: “If I say something about the church, it is spoken out of love and concern. I have given my life to the church and the priesthood. I am concerned when I read something like the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life’s latest study … that Roman Catholicism is the most rapidly declining religious expression in America today. Is anyone seriously asking why this is happening?”
Encouraging dialogue: “Every couple of months we gather people to prayerfully talk about issues confronting the Church.” Couched in the context of faith and prayer, “Community on Wednesday — Contemplative Conversations” features national Catholic speakers.
On his 35th anniversary of ordination: “I’ve come to distance myself from many manifestations of clericalism, which emphasize the separation of a priest from people.” His parishioners say one of the things that keeps them coming back is an atmosphere of openness and dialogue.
Mellowing: “I try to worry less, trust and surrender more. I’ve done much more in the priesthood than I thought I would have. I hope through it all I’ve been a helpful source of service, for God’s will, and the well-being of people.
Favorite Bible passage: “‘Father, into your hands I commend my Spirit’” (Lk 23:46).
