The rebirth of the Eucharist in New York CityThe day-to-day life of the rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York CityIn the last moments of the interview Salvo, spoke of today's immigrants and those who came before them to America, to New York City, a place where many seek and need a new life, a new dream, and simply food and shelter, but above all God and the Catholic Church.
Like many U.S. cities, New York has received a large influx of immigrants in the past two years, and many of them will gravitate toward the Church. Father Salvo has this to say about what he hopes they will feel when they are in the Church. St. Patrick's Cathedral"We hope that they, when they come to St. Patrick's Cathedral in this period of their life, which can be scary and can be daunting, that they feel at home here because that's what every Church is meant to be, because wherever we are in the world when we come to a Church, we are at home because that's one thing that belongs to us wherever we are, as Catholics."
He also mentions the Roosevelt Hotel, located a few blocks from St. Patrick's Cathedral, which has become temporary housing and processing center for immigrants. His hope for Hispanics and any newly arrived immigrants is that they "feel at home...". He is proud to share that the "Church is very much alive in New York and in the United States, and it's because each generation has brought a new group of immigrants who have brought their faithfulness" and as a result, "the Church expands, and the faith expands."
While there are many who politicize the current situation, Father Salvo says that the "Catholic Church will always be there for everyone's pastoral needs." Regardless of the story behind the problem, whether "right or wrong," "at the end of the day, our goal, once a person is here, is to let them know that they are a son of God and a daughter of God, and that we have a responsibility to give them the faith and offer it to them."
He is also realistic and recognizes the limitations of the Church's ability to help, but is confident in the excellent support Catholic Charities provides to those in need. He says that in addition to "pastoral and spiritual care, Catholic Charities has been helping immigrants settle and meet their basic needs, such as food" and other necessities for years.
At the beginning of his rectorship, Father Salvo said it was "exciting." Still, "there was a bit of nervousness" about how things would be done. And, with any new job, there are some "growing pains." He says he felt "at home from day one." As time went on, he felt "even more comfortable in the sense that when you already learn the most basic parts of the job, it frees you up to be able to start envisioning new projects and doing things better."
A place of comfort
Throughout our talk, Father Salvo continued to speak of the importance of the Church being a place of refuge and consolation for all who come to it. "We live in difficult times in the world...[and] it's not just about celebrations," but the Church "has to be a place of consolation, a place of healing, a place where people find a refuge from the problems of the world." We must be prepared for whatever happens to us, and the cathedral must be a "beacon of hope."
Choose a saint
In his first interview, Father Salvo said that his favorite saints were the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist. Most things have not changed. However, St. Patrick got an honorable mention and perhaps was always present. He says, "I pray to St. Patrick, of course, and now I have a great devotion to St. Patrick."
He also recalled his time at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York, "When I would look out the window at the seminary, I would see from afar...in the courtyard...an orchard of trees, in the middle of which was a beautiful statue of St. Patrick, and it wasn't until I was here that I realized that the statue was originally in the church...and so I always prayed to St. Patrick, and now he is the patron saint of the archdiocese....."
St. Patrick, pray for us
Father Salvo begins most Masses with the Hail Mary and always asks St. Patrick to "pray for us".
He talks about the challenges and hardships St. Patrick had to endure and relates them to the suffering of the average Catholic. "He took his adversity...and made something beautiful out of it."
And he continues: "When we go through difficult times, personally or globally, we should remember that so many saints and so much Church history have already seen it happen, and we should draw inspiration from them and try to imitate them. He recommends that we don't just ask for the intercession of the saints. He suggests that we learn from them.
He also spoke of a summer visit to Ireland with Cardinal Dolan. He recalled, "It was mostly Irish immigrants who built this magnificent cathedral, and if they hadn't gone through the adversity that they went through with the potato famine, and all the injustices that the Irish faced, especially in the 19th century, they might never have come...or they might have come bitter and faithless, but instead they came with their problems and gave them to God and made something beautiful out of it; so when we live in times of adversity, we have to learn from all those in the past."
In Omnes' first interview with Father Salvo, he said he never asks and never says no to new positions as a priest. So I asked him if he was happy to have accepted the position of rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and he replied, "Of course I am!" He added, "That's why that tactic works."
We are happy that you said yes, Father Salvo!
