Book of the Month: Parish Priest: Father Michael McGivney and American Catholicism By: Douglas Brinkley & Julie M. Fenster

It is a well-researched book that reads like a history book. I didn't find it particularly well-written, I could not be drawn into the story as easy as I had hoped, yet I was intrigued by this book and read it in bits and pieces. At a young age the calling was so clear to Father McGivney he just knew this was his path. He studied hard and struggled to maintain his spiritual strength and be a responsible son; It was difficult for young men to leave their families in the 1800's and become priests. At this time numerous families were falling on hard times. Working in the manufacturing towns was a risk, so many male heads of house would die or be permanently injured. This most certainly caused several families to struggle for survival. Upon the death of their husbands or fathers many families fell apart as a result of financial despair. With very few options mothers were forced to send children to orphanages becoming the burden of the state. Those children lucky enough to remain home became employed in the factories and too suffered from the hazardous conditions. It was an endless circle of despair.

There was a tremendous amount of prejudice against Catholics in the 19th century when Father Michael McGivney became a priest. Being the leader of a Parrish was not easy. He had to endure the endless negativity and prejudice and be the shining light for his Parrish. It was rather easy to like a man as outgoing and charming as Father Michael McGivney. These attributes certainly helped him maintain the trust of his Parrish community. Father Michael McGivney may have been a joy to be around but he was also man with a will to do good. His compassionate heart could not ignore the suffering he saw. Watching the community fall apart was something he would not let continue further, he came up with a solution, a way to keep families together and instill a bit of hope into their lives. His idea to create a fraternal benefit society to provide aid to members and their families was ingenious. The result of this organization was two fold. It would save families from falling apart, stabilize the community, bring in men with families to the church and enhance Catholic fidelity to the Parrish.

I recommend that you read this if you are Catholic or are interested in social work. His social ideas have saved the lives of many Catholics in this country, as well as in others. Learning about this fraternal society and how it began will certainly amaze you. To think that the Knights of Columbus started out as a small organization serving the needs of one small Connecticut Parrish to one day became this multinational organization that has provided assistance to millions is remarkable. We all can learn from the compassion and determination of this man, Catholic or not.