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	New Pastor Aims to Heal Wounded Congregation By Margaret Ramirez Chicago Tribune February 22, 2007 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0702220122feb22,1,4088446.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true On his first Sunday at St. Agatha Catholic Church, Rev. Larry Dowling was feeling anxious. He worried about this new chapter of his life, taking over a congregation whose last pastor had been charged with sexual abuse of children. He knew the people were still hurting and feared he could not heal them. But before the mass began on that frigid February morning, members of the West Side parish gathered around Dowling in a tight circle, laid their warm hands on him and silently prayed. In that powerful moment, Dowling recalled, he felt tears fall down his face and knew he was home. "They prayed over me and it was probably one of the most moving experiences in my life. At that moment, I knew this is where God wants me to be," Dowling said. "On that day, I said my own prayer and asked God to please give me the strength to do what I need to do here. To love these good people." It has been a year since Rev. Daniel McCormack was arrested and accused of abusing five boys at St. Agatha and Our Lady of the Westside School, where he taught and coached basketball. He has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Since then, the vibrant African-American congregation has struggled to make sense of the events and move forward. The crush of reporters and cameras often made worship difficult. Temporary priests floated in and out of the rectory, leaving them without a spiritual guide. Several members left the church in frustration. In November, Cardinal Francis George asked Dowling, pastor of St. Denis on the Southwest Side, to consider leading St. Agatha. Known for outspokenness For Dowling, 54, a priest known for his outspokenness against racism and support of immigrant rights, the decision to leave St. Denis was painful. Yet, in his first interview since arriving at St. Agatha, Dowling said he knows God called him to this church for a reason. The challenge for Dowling now is trying to figure out where St. Agatha goes from here. With Christians marking the start of Lent, Dowling said it's a good time to use the story of the Passion of Christ as a metaphor to move the church from pain to the glory of resurrection. "Now what's the task here? It's to bring healing. It's to continue to build on the good things here because there is still a wonderful core group of people here who have really stuck it out and want to see things continue to happen and continue to grow here. So, I want to help make that happen," he said. "Some people say, we're ready to move on," Dowling added. "I also think that some people are still struggling with the `whys' and `hows' did this happen. And that I have to sort out with them. I need to talk to more people to try and figure that out. If there's still a wound that people are carrying, it's hard to move into resurrection." The reality of his task became clear last weekend when members of a victims' support group gathered outside St. Agatha before mass, passing out leaflets with information on clergy sexual abuse. Some members of the congregation said the scene disrupted a peaceful Sunday morning and put up another roadblock to healing. "Why can't they just let us be?" said longtime member Julia Bledsoe. "Father Larry just got here and we're all just praying that it works out. Every person of faith should be praying for him because this is a hard thing that he's walking into." Pastor had a late calling Dowling, a native of Downstate Paris, took an unusual road to church life, working in the corporate world as an actuary for 10 years before entering the seminary. He also had volunteered for a crisis hot line and learned about counseling people. After being ordained in 1991 at age 38, Dowling had his first parish assignment at St. James in Arlington Heights. It was followed by St. Denis in 1997. Moving from church to church is difficult for priests. But taking over a church wounded by sexual abuse demands more care. One reason Dowling may have been picked for St. Agatha is that he has done this kind of healing before. At St. Denis, Dowling followed James Hagan, who was removed from ministry for abuse and resigned from the priesthood. In addition, Dowling brings the experience of working in a multicultural community, and he was part of an archdiocese group on racism in the church. Last year he participated in a fast during Lent as part of the archdiocese campaign for immigration reform. "He is just an outstanding priest and a visionary with a huge passion for social justice," said Elena Segura, associate director of the archdiocesan office for peace and justice. Though the McCormack scandal hurt St. Agatha, the church is still very much alive. At Sunday's service, two students from Our Lady of the Westside School read Scripture with the oratory power of young preachers. A gospel choir brought the church to its feet with its soulful hymns of praise. Worshipers clapped along and shouted `Amen' when they felt the Spirit. During his homily, Dowling spoke about the Gospel's call to love one's enemies. Using varied examples, from Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to the war in Iraq, Dowling spoke about how the destructive power of hate accomplishes nothing. "Hate eats you up inside," he said. "Hate does not help you move forward. We need to pray for those we hate." Dowling says his goals for the church include bringing back members who have left. He also hopes to get the congregation more involved in social issues, such as combating gang violence and fighting for affordable housing. More activism in future "I think people are longing for: What do we do next?" said Dowling. "St. Agatha has always been a strong parish on the West Side. We want to see that continue. I want us to participate in whatever is happening on the West Side in terms of social changes like gentrification and immigration." Dowling said he also hopes to speak with members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests on the best way to continue educating his church about sexual abuse. Deacon Gregory Shumpert said it's too early to tell how the people of St. Agatha will respond to Dowling, whose first mass was Feb. 4, but he knows one thing about the church will never change. "We're faithful, prayerful and serving our awesome God," the deacon said. "Father Larry is here to help us do that." maramirez@tribune.com
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