The St. Patrick’s pooches are pastors, too
Pictured left: Rev. Tony O’Dell, left, and Rev. Jarek Pachocki with Labrador retrievers Nesbitt and Carlin at St. Patrick’s Church. – John Rennison, The Hamilton Spectator
TJ and Sutton are gone, but now Nesbitt and Carlin are feeling the love – and giving it – at historic Hamilton church
Rev. Tony O’Dell and Rev. Jarek Pachocki share a natural impulse to give comfort, especially to the afflicted, which I imagine is why they’re priests. And, as priests, they’ve spent their lives fortifying that inborn drive, with learning, practice and techniques of ministry about what works best.
But then TJ and Sutton would show up at, say, a hospital bed visit and their priestly skills didn’t seem to matter. “It’s OK, Father,” they might hear, “next time just bring the dogs.”
It’s an exaggeration. But when Tony explains to me, with a laughing shake of the head, how the two black Labs of St. Patrick’s seemed sometimes to eclipse their own efforts, the animal adorer in me has to smile in agreeing recognition.
What a power these animals can have. In general. But TJ (for Tony and Jarek) and Sutton seemed to have it in particular.
Since 2012, when Tony and Jarek took up co-pastorship at historic St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, TJ and Sutton became more than mascots.
No, they didn’t go to seminary but they should’ve had DDs after their names — dog-tors of divinity.
Their presence was a force of goodness in the life of the congregation, a dynamic thread in the fabric of the community and a source of reassurance. Their great heads propped on the laps of people in the pews; waggy greetings as visitors came through the doors; their patient, gentle strength, wherever they went, be it sick bed or high school. Ambassadors, as it were, of an all-enveloping love.
“They were so close, since puppies,” says Jarek of Sutton and TJ, who died, respectively, a month ago and last August, TJ at 15, Sutton 14. Wonderful, long lives for the big dogs, Labrador retrievers, that they were. Full lives, in constant community and affection.
Sutton
Their loss was a great blow to the church community, especially to Tony and Jarek.
But when I visit Thursday, I’m met enthusiastically at the De Mazenod Doors by Nesbitt and Carlin, Jarek’s and Tony’s new Labs, as well as Bailey, the youth minister’s. They’re beautiful, young and they’re truly helping.
“They create a magic,” says Tony of the dogs in the church, now a St. Patrick’s tradition of sorts.
“You see people pick up around them,” adds Jarek.
Nesbitt, 5, came to them after he couldn’t be certified as a service dog, for which he was trained. Carlin, younger, is being adopted.
“I always wanted a dog growing up in Poland, but in a small apartment there was no room,” says Jarek (Jaroslaw). When he and Tony began sharing ministry in Labrador, where Tony was born, the time seemed right to correct the canine omission.
“The idea was that the dogs would be both a companion” and also join in ministry, part of the charism (the fathers are priests of the Oblate order).
TJ quickly became Tony’s dog and Sutton Jarek’s. Sutton was TJ’s half-brother (same father), born on the same day as TJ, but a year later.
“They were different,” recalls Tony. “TJ was a mellow, calm dog by nature and Sutton had so much energy he couldn’t be tired out.”
“He’s the reason I started running,” says Jarek, now training for his seventh Around the Bay Race. He’s also completed several marathons, in such cities as Berlin.
The two even competed together in Hamilton’s annual The Fast and Furriest dog/human races. They came fourth one year.
In the time they’ve been at St. Patrick’s Tony and Jarek have made such a difference, not just to the church (65 new families last year; “a lot more baptisms than funerals,” says Tony, and that’s called going in the right direction). But to the whole city.
As I part company with handshakes (priests) and pats to the head (dogs), I see outside that the lineup is thickening for the food at the De Mazenod Door — St. Patrick’s serves about 400 people a day, year-round.
Even during the ice storms. When it comes to feeding and comforting those in need, rain, snow or sleet, the Fathers (along with Nesbitt and Carlin) can be quite, no excuses, dog-matic.
And, believe me, if they ever add a feline friend, my cat-echism puns won’t be far behind.
By Jeff Mahoney
Published on the Hamilton Spectator website.
