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Father Paul Perry, parochial vicar at St. Sebatian Parish in Greenbrae, begins each day at 3 a.m. with an hour of prayers followed by a half-hour on the organ. (Photo by Lidia Wasowicz/Catholic San Francisco)
June 7, 2018
Lidia Wasowicz
Father Paul Perry, known to parishioners, patients and prisoners as the quirky, quiet, quintessential servant of Christ, has been selected Marin County’s most popular Catholic priest among newspaper readers.
The 77-year-old parochial vicar at St. Sebastian Parish in Greenbrae, chaplain at Marin General Hospital and former associate chaplain at San Quentin State Prison polled high in the “favorite pastor, priest, rabbi” category of the Independent Journal’s annual “Best of Marin” survey.
While declining to disclose exact figures, IJ publisher Robert Devincenzi said four times as many participants cast ballots this year as in 2017.
Of more than 20 clergy write-in candidates, the Rev. Chris Rankin-Williams of St. John’s Episcopal Church came in first, followed by Father Perry, Rabbi Stacy Friedman of Rodef Sholom, Rabbi Yisrael Rice of Chabad of Marin and the Rev. Dr. Joanne Whitt of First Presbyterian Church, who all received the same number of votes, Devincenzi said.
Father Perry shrugs off the honor, brought to his attention by the parish secretary.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” he said, timidity tingeing his tone. “Only two things mean something to me: Am I doing what Jesus wants me to do and am I pleasing the archbishop, my boss.”
Father Perry’s denigration of self and dedication to service prompted longtime St. Sebastian catechist Patricia Lazor to send in his name.
“He does tend to hide his light and talents,” she said, listing a litany of his good works.
Another vote came from Kathleen Woodcock, a St. Sebastian parishioner for 55 years.
“Father is quirky with a great sense of humor,” the eucharistic minister, altar server and lector said. “What you see is what you get: a very reverent, humble man who loves his God and his ministry.”
He shares the love through his “approachability” as he performs on the organ, which he has played for 66 years, chats with visitors or moves among the congregation, recognizing familiar faces and welcoming new ones, greeter Pat Leahy said.
Such antics have cast Father Perry as a “pastoral people priest,” said Deacon Dave Previtali, a staff member at St. Sebastian since 1997.
“It is wonderful that he has received this recognition … because his work is normally under the radar,” said fellow Deacon Bill Turrentine. “He is a true ‘man for others,’ pouring himself out quietly for those who need his help.”
They have included congregations he shepherded at nine parishes over five decades, students he taught at Marin Catholic High School from 1970 to 1979, convicts he counseled, celebrated and converted from 1999 to 2017, the hospitalized he continues to visit every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Carmelite sisters in Marinwood where he celebrates weekly Mass.
Of the many highlights brightening his 51-year vocation, Father Perry considers his interactions with inmates the most momentous.
His expression transforms from menacing to meek, his posture from aggressive to accepting as he re-enacts some movie-worthy scenes:
Donning a bulletproof vest, passing a series of high-security checkpoints and seeking dispensation for carrying contraband – wine – to celebrate liturgies for the condemned on death row;
Leading the first Kairos retreat at San Quentin and watching the transformation of sneering gang leaders who sought a temporary escape from their cells into smiling believers who found a permanent connection with Jesus over the three intense days of contemplation; bidding farewell to 100 felons, many teary-eyed, at an Epiphany organ recital of Christmas carols.
“‘I play every morning in my church, and now I play for you,’” he told them. “No one moved.”
His next goodbye will be to his parish of 18 years. Father Perry retires July 1 with continued residence at St. Sebastian.
“At a time when there is a priest shortage, Father Paul’s response to need has never been, ‘I am too busy,’ but rather, ‘How can I help?’” said Father Mike Quinn, pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Sausalito. “We are blessed to have this wonderful man and priest in our midst.”