Sunday, April 1, 2007

Internet Services
provided by:

Holy Rosary Church, in Rochester, and St. Leo's in Gonic are saying goodbye to The Rev. Paul Montminy, their friend and leader. Conor Makem/ Citizen photo (Conor Makem/Citizen photo) * Order a print of this photo

With a congregation of 5,000, The Rev. Paul Montminy is one of the best known figures in the city — a charismatic, down-to-earth leader. If he's not preparing a couple for marriage, he could be shoveling snow or mowing the church lawn.

Holy Rosary Business Manager Connie Hamann used to tell new associates, "You'd better take your vitamins so you can keep up with him."

His last Sunday Mass at Holy Rosary was March 18, a week after his final Sunday Mass at St. Leo's in Gonic. His final day was March 23, ending 18 years with the community.

He is taking up a new assignment in Manchester, the same city where his twin brother Marc, also a Catholic priest, serves. The Rev. David Kneeland, who has been assisting Montminy for the past seven months, will be helping lead the congregations after Montminy's departure. Father Paul says he'll miss everything.

"These have probably been the happiest years of my life," he says.

He leaves behind not only a huge flock between his two churches, but a changed city. Under his leadership, Holy Rosary Church started Rochester's SHARE Fund (originally from Milford), which has helped thousands of local families receive food, clothing, basic utilities and affordable housing during tough times. His church also operates Gerry's Food Pantry, which, along with the SHARE Fund, is responsible for providing around 225,000 free meals a year to the area's poor. According to SHARE Fund Grant Coordinator Dan Steinbach, they have provided groceries equal to at least two million meals since their inception.

Then there's the Community Clothing Shop, Holy Rosary Credit Union, Saint Elizabeth Seton School and St. Leo's Kindercare. Montminy also has worked closely with the Indonesian community and their immigration issues.

"I came to realize how many families and individuals he has helped," says Capt. Paul Callaghan of the Rochester Police Department. "His leaving the community is going to be deeply felt for years."

"He's the exact definition of what a good priest should be," Hamann adds.

Shirley Felker, Holy Rosary Pastoral Minister, explains that Montminy knows when parishioners are missing from Mass and immediately wants to know if they are okay.

"He says people have formed his priesthood and yet I feel so strongly that he has formed me as a pastoral minister and as a person spiritually," she says.

Both Holy Rosary and St. Leo's have doubled in parishioners since Fr. Paul took over in 1989. And church staff (whom he says he can't speak highly enough of) are quick to name him as the reason. Montminy also has mentored 23 associates during his tenure in Rochester.

His new assignment will bring a slightly less hectic life. The bishop has asked him to accept reassignment four times in the past, but each time he has had projects going, which prevented him from moving. This time around, he felt he was ready and wanted some input in where he would go. And at 55, he felt it was a good time in his life to "downsize."

Moving from Rochester was much easier than leaving it, so to speak. His needs were simple: memorabilia, mementos, a few files, books (mysteries are his favorite), an armoire, perhaps a Loon Mountain ski pass. There wasn't too much to take.

"I don't even have a chair," he says.

Montminy has concerns for the Catholic Church, especially in priest recruitment, an area he says is getting critical. But he has confidence that Holy Rosary and St. Leo's will continue to change things for the better. An administrator will replace him while a priest personnel board and Bishop The Rev.John McCormack, the diocese's bishop, decide on his new full-time replacement.

"He's a friend. This is why it's so hard for everyone," Hamann says of Fr. Paul. "We should be thankful we've had him for so long, but we have to share him."