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With Jesus Christ as his magnanimous model, Rev. Douglas McKay likewise looks to let lost sheep know they have immeasurable value to the world. For his efforts to help Grays Ferry’s harried herd, the 64-year-old founder and chaplain of Our House Ministries Inc, 1439 S. 29th St., will receive the St. Rita Peace Award, becoming the first locally-based honoree of The National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia, 1166 S. Broad St.
“It’s a suffering community but one filled with such promise,” the resident of the 1400 block of South 29th Street said of ministering to his native neighborhood. “Like everywhere else, it’s teeming with people yearning for solutions. The key is convincing them the ultimate answer is God.”
The compassionate clergyman has never condemned any alcoholic or drug addict whom he has encountered, seeing offering mercy and encouragement as his mission. Promoting “spiritual delights,” namely peace, joy, hope and love, he constantly considers how he can shift individuals’ focus from fleeting pleasures to durable allegiance to their savior.
“I’m not going to say we should deny the world at all times, but people are falling prey to moral sickness and emptiness,” McKay said. “We’re all sinners, certainly, and trying to convert hearts is challenging, draining work, but I never want to be doing anything else. I’m where God wants me to be.”
Faithfully following that calling prompted his selection as the Peace Award designee, with the Point Breeze-situated shrine to commend him at Popi’s Italian Restaurant, 3120 S. 20th St. The worship site lauds those who, like its namesake, an Augustinian nun who lost her husband to violence and two sons to illness, advocates for justice and peace, family solidarity, initiatives for healing and reconciliation, conflict resolution and personal forgiveness. As a provider of spiritual sustenance, McKay has emulated the figure behind the eponymous prize as well as other revered religious role models, but he proffers no pretensions when contemplating his influence.
“I open my heart because I’m no saint,” the pious priest, whose Our House Ministries involvement also strengthens the St. Raphael Addiction Resource Center’s aims, said. “Like anybody with a calling to honor the Lord and serve others, I’m on my way, though. I’m an apprentice. Anybody can be that way if we let God assist us because he’s the greatest psychotherapist.”
Having heard his creator’s messages since childhood, with the last 33 years as a member of the cloth, McKay has dedicated his days to keeping fellow believers resolute in their regard for the Lord. He has parted with many who could not conquer their constraints, with his living quarters bearing holy cards from their funerals. While he has lamented losing anyone, he knows that as society’s secular infatuation attracts more devotees, he will need to summon even more strength to prevent additional tears from falling and regrets from growing.
“It really rings true that we have to love the sinner,” McKay said. “Sin is what needs uprooting because we are not our sins; we are God’s children.”
The insightful confidant gained great exposure to piety as a boy and recalled three instances where he realized he must take up a vocation. Upon his 1982 ordination, the anniversary of which he will celebrate May 15, he knew that rather than letting people settle for being weak, owing to their mortal and therefore imperfect identity, he had to foster the stance that each community member reflects the overall power of the flock.
“It’s easy to notice we’re wounded, but it’s often difficult to take action to suppress that anxiety,” McKay said. “Our sins, though, are drops in the ocean when compared to God’s vast mercy. Many people think this is the end. I’m praying we all see it’s not and that we have obligations to ourselves and our loved ones to uphold our families and neighborhoods.”
With “Is it odd, or is it God?” as a favorite saying, he preaches acceptance of miracles big and small and is guiding acquaintances, especially recovering men and women, many of whom attend services at his home’s first-floor chapel, to see beauty after having so long succumbed to ugliness. With a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he has interacted with many individuals who have broken down upon fully understanding they should be dependent on God and not a substance.
“The way to heaven is on his ticket,” McKay offered of diligently pursuing the divine. “He suffered, too, and he wants to hear from us and help us.”
A natural storyteller, he has accumulated and can readily reveal tales of such acceptance, using 2011’s “Heaven’s Homecoming,” which draws inspiration from his 21-year chaplain stint for the Little Sisters of the Poor and Holy Family home in West Philly, as a moving means to contemplate the benefits of balancing one’s bodily abilities with spiritual talents. The latter gifts will always prove more prophetic for McKay, who contends people need not strive to number themselves among the saints to make a difference. To highlight this, he referenced Matt Talbot, an Irish ascetic who in 1884 abandoned his life as an alcoholic for a life of prayer and charity, as proof that even the most forlorn figures can find the will to glorify goodness.
“That’s one of the blessings of grace,” McKay said. “It can redeem at any time. It might not come when we want it, but it’s going to be ours. That fullness is coming.”
Looking to publish his account of a life spent shepherding community members to the Lord’s love, he is also pursuing the establishment of a Talbot Archdiocesan Shrine in St. Gabriel Church, 2917 Dickinson St., having already brought the Matt Talbot Society to the parish and praying for his beatification and canonization. As he prepares for his recognition dinner, the man fond of sharing attention and affection, the latter which he does through the granting of a “Doug hug,” knows that his willing flesh and spirit have only one benefactor.
“It all comes from God,” McKay said. “My gifts come through me, but they’re definitely not from me.”
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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