Visiting priest urges aspiring writers to learn by doing

WARWICK — On Thursday evening, Aug. 16, the Rev. Flor McCarthy, a Salesian priest and accomplished author living and working in Dublin, conducted the third in a series of writing seminars in the hospitality room at the Parish of St. Stephen, the First Martyr.
McCarthy, who has served the parish as a visiting priest during the summer for 31 consecutive years, is the author of more than a few books including “The Berrypicker,” “Let the Light Shine: The Gospel Story for Young People,” “New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies, Funeral Liturgies and Wedding Liturgies.”
His latest publish book, in addition to several revisions of others, is “The Gospel of the Heart.”

‘A bit of encouragement’

The parishioners at St. Stephen’s, however, know him as a story-teller and talented homeliest who offers clear explanations in modern terms of gospels written more than 2,000 years ago. They also appreciate his Irish humor.
McCarthy explained that he became a writer out of necessity without any formal training.
“That might give you a bit of encouragement,” he told his group of would-be writers.
Salesian communities are often involved with the education of at-risk youths and teaching at technical and vocational schools as well as traditional educational facilities.
McCarthy had been a mathematics teacher in the Irish equivalent of a high school when, after a year of study in England, he was reassigned to teach at a technical school in Dublin.

In language people understand

Religious education was a very important part of his mission but he soon realized the city kids at the school would have little understanding of the parables in the Gospel since Jesus was often speaking to farmers in terms they best understood.
“The kids at my school had never even seen a sheep,” said Father McCarthy, “so I started to write versions of the messages found in the Gospel in more familiar terms.”
The lost sheep became a story about a lost pigeon. The traveler in the story of the Good Samaritan became a victim on a Dublin street. And all the stories became a published book for youngsters.
“To my surprise,” he said, “I discovered I could write. I was learning by doing and as Arnold Palmer once remarked about his golf game, ‘The more I practice, the luckier I get.”
McCarthy recalled that a letter from his publisher, praising his skill, was so embarrassing that he tore it up. He laughed, then added: “But I remember it word for word if anyone would like to hear it.”