Video Review: Eugene Martin’s “Diary of a City Priest”


by Peter Gaffney

Like so many others, Fr. McNamee is a priest who accepted the social activism of the Sixties. Unlike so many, he has a real spiritual life well-grounded in the lives of the saints. Again, unlike so many, this devotion and knowledge has inoculated him from losing his vocation.

This short, 78-minute video recently released for home rental, gives that depressed, almost mopey feeling of an isolated priest — quite true to life. Having been a deacon in a burnt-out Bronx parish in the 1970's I can testify to its truthfulness. Only being ordained and sent to a city rectory will give one a closer experience than this film.

Actually, the word “deacon” is central to the dilemma lived by such priests. In the Acts of the Apostles Peter and the Twelve realize that physical works of charity (distributing food for example) was interfering with their true appointed mission of preaching Jesus, the Word of God. They therefore ordained deacons to do it. A priest is not a deacon. He is ordained to offer the Eucharist and Penance as a direct delegate of the bishop. He should not be reduced to the role of social worker. Remember the mission and half the social problems will disappear and the other half will be handled by the disciples.

Of course, in the life of Fr. McNamee and most priests in the last few centuries, the bishop is absent. They are too busy being administrators of the works that Peter handed over to deacons. Only the saints seem to come and offer help to this particular city priest.

This movie takes religious, spiritual realities seriously. That alone might recommend it in these times. But it also lets you visit a good priest and be strengthened by his witness. Rent it, enjoy and pray for such priests and their poor bishops.


Peter Gaffney is editor of Aretheos.com.

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