BishopAccountability.org
	New Faces Grace St. Patrick's Rectory By Nancy Donahue Stoneham Independent July 19, 2006 http://www.stonehamindependent.com/archives/2006/07/19/2 STONEHAM, MA - After five years working amidst an ambitious and fervid construction project with the accompanying noise, dust, headaches, trucks, and temporary worship spaces, St Patrick Parish Pastor Fr. Bill Schmidt almost forgot what a summer day could be like at St. Patrick's. Where construction fencing and equipment dotted the parish landscape for a long time, there are now brick walkways and flowers. In place of whirring circular saws and the crunching of trucks on gravel, there is once again the sound of church bells and gentle chatter among parishioners utilizing the new parish building. "It's been great settling into the new building ... and getting back to parish work," Father Bill said. With the project of enlarging the church and building a parish center now complete, Fr. Bill is cherishing his full time return to what he does best, parish ministry. And in this first summer of parish life post-construction, he has two men with which to share the important work that St. Patrick's is famous for. It is no secret that the number of men entering the seminary has significantly dwindled over the past couple of decades, but, despite this, St. Patrick Parish has once again found itself on the receiving end of a blessing - the arrival of two young, enthusiastic and spiritual men who bring to their priesthood and to the parish unique life experience and a commitment to do God's work. "We've really been blessed," Fr. Bill said about the two new additions to the pastoral staff, Fr. David Goodrow and Father David Ajemian, who he describes as "absolutely wonderful young priests." While their paths veered from that taken by Fr. Bill years earlier, both Fr. Goodrow's and Fr. Ajemian's journey to the priesthood reflects what is now becoming a trend among of young men who answer the calling to the priesthood. Fr. Goodrow and Fr. Ajemian are both considered delayed vocations, as each explored other careers before answering the calling that had been a part of their lives for many years. They bring with them many of the same experiences in the work force that parishioners are accustomed to, as well as skill sets that help serve a parish in various ways. A monumental year was in store for Fr. David Goodrow when he arrived at St. Patricks' a year ago. Confronted with a building project in full swing with workers toiling around the clock to hit completion dates, Fr. Ron Barker's departure to assume pastorship of St. Joseph Parish in Wakefield, and the retirements Fr. Robert Browne and Deacon Bob Turner, a parish in such flux might have intimidated another newcomer. But Fr. Goodrow took it all on with a reserve and confidence that has accompanied his ministry at St. Patrick's. Perhaps it was coming from the largest parish in the Archdiocese, St. Mary's in Franklin where he served the first five years of his priesthood, that gave him the tenacity to breeze in though the rectory doors on June 6, 2005. Or maybe it was Fr. Bill himself that drew Fr. Goodrow to the Stoneham parish. "I was really looking for a (pastor) who loved his priesthood," and he found it, he said, in Fr. Bill, a pastor who has presented himself more as a brother priest than a boss and with whom he is comfortable sharing ideas. Yet it may also have been the strong connection to the Church that has always been part of Fr. Goodrow's life that did not cause him to flinch when he faced his busy, new parish. The youngest of six children growing up in St. Joseph's Parish in Needham, where "we could see the front door of the church from out house," Fr. Goodrow described the church as being the very center of his family's life. The idea of becoming a priest was sparked at a young age as a student at St. Joseph's School in the 1970's, an alter server, and an occasional fill in for Eucharistic Adoration. "Then as I got older, it seemed a strange thing to do." He subsequently followed the path more typical of his peers. He attended college, graduated from Suffolk University, and entered the workforce, embarking on a career in the investment industry. He was busy, working on his MBA as well as holding down a full time job in the bustling financial industry, when he arrived home to his apartment one day, picked up the phone, and called his parish priest. The two met to talk, and continued to meet each Saturday morning, discussing faith and the calling that Goodrow was feeling. The priest eventually recommended that Goodrow call the Archdiocese's Vocation Office. A year later, he entered St. John's Seminary in Brighton where he spent six years. He was ordained a priest in 2000. The span between his boyhood aspirations to become a priest and ultimately entering the seminary were crucial years of questioning himself, his faith, and questioning God on what He wanted from him. As Fr. Goodrow tells his parishioners these days and has learned from experience, this type of questioning is good for people in their quest to get to the truth, and quotes a line from Boston College Professor of Theology Peter Krieft: "A thousand questions do not lead to one single doubt." Fr. Goodrow has had a busy year. In addition to taking over coordination of the alter server program, his finance background has been helpful to Fr. Bill with regard to financial and budget issues. Fr. Goodrow also makes it a priority to see his spiritual director, Fr. Jose Ruizsanchez, on a regular basis. "Prayer life as a priest is so important. That's your foundation. You can't help others unless you help yourself. You have to go to the Lord to help yourself." His greatest message to the people of St. Patrick Parish is that the role of a priest is to serve the people. "We are servants...We are here to serve the people. We are married to the church. That is our spouse. The church is the people. We're always here for them." Fr. David Ajemian is the newest kid on the block at St. Patrick's having arrived last October. His arrival, while celebrated throughout the parish, has lead to some confusion in that he shares a name with one of the two priests who have welcomed him into the fold. With "Fr. Dave" (Ajemian) and "Fr. David" (Goodrow) on the roster, there has been the occasional mix-up, but as parishioners get better acquainted with each man, the confusion is dissipating Fr. Ajemian's journey to the priesthood has likewise been called a delayed vocation, but his followed a less conventional path than Fr. Goodrow's. Raised in New York City and Connecticut, Fr. Ajemian learned much about the world from his father whose career as a journalist for Time and Life magazines took him around the world. Prior to that, he worked as a sports writer for the old Record American. Much of what the future Fr. Ajemian would know of the world was rooted in his upbringing in Manhattan during the tumultuous 1960's and '70's. Although he was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church, he described his family as "not terribly religious," and himself as a non-practicing Christian during his undergraduate years at Harvard College. That's why, at age 30, after having worked in a series of jobs, including telemarketer, aid for people with disabilities, and in the legal department for the MBTA, along with a brief turn at law school, he was taken by surprise by an experience so powerful, it changed the course of his life. "Around 30, I had a real experience of grace. The Lord touched my heart. I felt in a personal way the truth of Jesus as God." He began searching for a church that was right for him, and eventually found it through attending mass regularly at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Harvard Square. "I decided I wanted to become a Roman Catholic," entering the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) at St. Paul's, where he was received into the Church on Easter of 1995. He grew into an active participant in the church, working with youth groups, making retreats, and becoming a Eucharistic Minister. "Right away I felt a call to religious life." A meeting with Monsignor Francis Kelly, rector of the Blessed John XXlll Seminary in Weston who would later become a powerful mentor to Fr. Ajemian helped clear a path for his future. "He said I had all the makings of a good priest...It seemed like everything I was doing was leading in that direction." Another pivotal experience Fr. Ajemian enjoyed during that time was meeting Mother Theresa of Calcutta. "It was like being in the presence of a saint." His core belief he brings to St. Patricks is one he has devoted himself to since his May 2001 ordination, and during his posts at St. John the Worker Parish in Hanson, where he found a friend and mentor in former St. Patrick Pastor Fr. John Mark Hannon, and at St. Agatha's Parish in Milton. "You have to be able to share people's joys and pains and bring God's presence to them. You must know you can do that. You feel it. It's grace." Parishioners at St. Patrick's knew they were blessed to welcome their second new priest in under six months. Fr. Ajemian felt the same way about coming to Stoneham. "I was looking forward to being in a vibrant parish with many ministries and projects...I was thrilled to come to this beautiful new worship space which is a sign of the faith of the community. In addition to teaching St. Patrick School eighth graders, he recently chaperoned a field trip to Washington, D.C. But one of the most significant jobs he has taken on thus far has been coordination of the RCIA program. "I never thought, having been through RCIA just ten years before, that I would be bringing others into the Church." "People have really expressed a lot of support and happiness that Fr. David and I have come. Each of us has our own gifts. We've reached out in different ways." As for the boss, aside from the occasional ribbing for being a Harvard man, Fr. Ajemian has only praise. "Fr. Bill is very generous, and is a good pastor." Fr. Bill likewise praises both men, particularly for the courage and resolve in honoring their callings in the midst of the abuse scandal in the Church, a dark time for Catholics in this area. "They began their priesthood with all this crashing down. For them to persevere, I have a lot of respect. And both are very happy to be priests."
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