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Now You Know Jack:
An Interview with Rev. Jack O'Hara

Parochial Vicar (Associate Pastor) of St. Charles Since September 2004

By Gretchen Pierce

OCTOBER 30, 2004 - From Falls Church to Fallingwater, from the Marshall Plan to Marine Corps Marathon, Fr. Jack O'Hara is a man of many interests. An eagle-eyed parishioner spotted a class picture with Fr. Jack in the halls of Bishop O'Connell High School and we learn that he is a Northern Virginia "local." He also has crossed paths many times with Fr. Creedon, "but this is the first time we are working together," he notes, "and I am delighted." The St. Charles Web Tteam recently sat down with Fr. Jack to learn more about our newest associate pastor.

We met with him on the eve of this year's Marine Corps Marathon and in his office hangs a bib number from that marathon.

Are you a runner?
I ran the marathon here in D.C. in 1985. It wasn't pretty, but I did finish. I tell people that I am a 'retired runner.'

We understand your family is from this area?
Yes, I grew up in Falls Church. My parents were both originally from New York, but moved here before the war. My father worked for the Department of Agriculture. In our family there are 8 kids. I'm in the middle and I have a twin brother who came just after me, so we're numbers 4 and 5. It's 6 boys and 2 girls total. My twin brother is now retired from the Post Office.

Can you share with us how you came to your vocation and what your interests were in seminary?
I would say my vocation came from two factors. I had two uncles on my mother's side who were priests and we were very close to them. Second, we lived across the street from St. James and my family was very active there. I went to seminary in Washington, where Fr. Creedon also took a degree, and I would say that Scripture was my greatest interest.

Where did you first work as a priest?
I was ordained almost 25 years ago. It will be 25 years this coming spring. I spent many years on the eastern side, serving in Groveton, Arlandria and Crystal City. I spent 12 years in those places and then spent five years at St. Thomas More Cathedral. I also worked for ten years at Catholic Charities. I succeeded Father Creedon when he left in 1988. I'd actually met Father Creedon earlier through a friend. His first assignment was in Alexandria and I lived in Falls Church, so there was a lot of visiting between us. Later Fr. Creedon and I both did social work at Catholic University through our involvement in Catholic Charities.

Fr. Creedon then founded our mission in the Dominican Republic in 1991. He was there four years and then I went down in 2000.

Tell us about your life in the Dominican Republic.
It's fascinating, really. It's one small island that two nations share, somewhat uneasily. One side colonized by Spain and the other by France, so there are different cultures, languages and traditions. Our mission in Banica is right on the border, so it was very interesting to be in the mix. Banica was probably a trading post between the two colonies, so still twice a week Haitians are allowed to come across the river to Banica.

While I was there, the DR went through a major economic crisis and Haiti had its political crisis, and later a hurricane. It's just amazing the strength of the people there.

What did your mission work include in the Dominican Republic?
In addition to the sacramental work, one thing we worked on was providing housing. There's nothing like having a home of your own and we were fortunate to pull together the funds and materials to build a number of homes there. I also started a reading program for the children -LEER ES CRECER (to read is to grow). We began with eight students and by the time I left, we were working more than 80 children. This summer we studied the Ten Commandments, the beatitudes and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We understand that reading is one of your hobbies?
Yes, I love to read. I'm a history buff and I enjoy reading about 20th century American, Russian and European history. I also love classical music, art and architecture. I am a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright. Fallingwater is one of the most beautiful homes in our country, along with Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. I love to see a beautiful building that it's appropriate to its site.

Speaking of architecture, I had the privilege of assisting Father Bob Cilinski and others in planning the St. Robert Bellarmine Chapel at George Mason University. It's a beautiful chapel. There's a window there that's in memory of our parents; the scene is the Visitation.

What are some of your other interests?
I really enjoy helping people and probably most of my leisure time is spent trying to help others. I'm still thinking about DR and Haiti.

I also enjoy traveling. I've really been blessed in that I've been able to travel a lot. I've been to Europe, Japan, the Philippines - I had a classmate who was there, it was a wonderful trip. I've also seen most of Central America and some of South America.

Of course one of my most favorite places to go is Ireland. It's beautiful. My mother's father was born in the south, in Cork, fairly close to where Fr. Creedon is from, and her mother was from Cobh, a very beautiful coastal town. I got to take our mom there before she died to the home were her mom was born. It was a trip of a lifetime!!

Do you have any mentors?
In my early life, I'd say Monsignor Heller who was our pastor at St. James for 24 years. I loved him dearly. I would also say Father Creedon too. He's one of the great pastors.

How do you keep spiritually refreshed/focused?
I would say that would be through the Holy Eucharist. I always quote what the Second Vatican said, that it's the 'summit and the source of Christian life.' To be centered on the Eucharist, to celebrate Mass, to listen to the Scripture.

What qualities do you think a parish priest needs to be effective in serving the community?
It really depends on the community, but I would say overall, a priest needs to have flexibility, patience, high-energy, and a sense of humor.

What can ordained/lay people do to keep people in church and attract more members to church?
St. Charles is great at that, through all the many ministries and how active the parish is. Going back to the notion of architecture - access is an architectural principle, but it's also an attitude. We need to make our parish life accessible to everyone. To say, "come, join us" in a non-judgmental, open way. When new people come, welcome them.

We understand that for Mass you prefer shorter homilies?
Our challenge is to preach clearly and succinctly and in a way that touches people. We need to be good communicators. So if I have 3 or 4 ideas, I'm probably going to save a couple of them. We need to make sure what we're saying is illustrative, not exhaustive or comprehensive. But I don't always follow that. We had a Scripture professor, Father Reed, an Irishman, who said if you have all these things you want to say and not enough time to say them, you have an 'embarrassment of riches.'

Do you have a story or anecdote from a colleague or parishioner that was particularly insightful?
I had the privilege of helping a young man from Haiti. His name is Junior and he fell from a tree when he was 16 and was paralyzed. Because of lack of medical facilities, he was brought to us after two years and we helped him for about a year. His condition is irreversible: he's paraplegic. We were able to contact some American surgeons who were visiting the DR and they worked with him and helped him so much. They had to amputate one leg and operate on the other hip to get him wheelchair-ready. We were then able to contact some friends here in Virginia and we were able to help him move back to Haiti. With the help of lots of folks we were able to build a house for him and his Mom and to enroll him in a catholic high school in his town.

His own positive outlook on life, his "joie de vivre," is extremely inspiring. He's an artist and draws and paints beautifully. (In Fr. O'Hara's office hang some of his pieces). I've told him that he can make a profession out of his art. My thoughts are often with him and his mom, if they're safe and have what they need. At this moment, that's one of the things that's touched me most deeply and inspired me. If I'm having a rough day, I think about what he's overcome already.

I'm completely uplifted by the people I serve and other priests I've served with, as well as the good work of our church and the good work of our country. I always say we live in best country the world. Why do I say that? The example I give is the Marshall plan. What other country do you know after having been successful in war went back and helped the people they had defeated to rebuild their countries, to feed their children? The generosity of the American people is unbelievable, unparalleled. We see that in the DR and Haiti the thousands that come down every year bringing medicine and supplies and helping people survive.

You've been noted as having a very calm demeanor. How do you stay so calm?
I remember working in Catholic Charities and on one of our difficult days; a staff member said, "I just want to say that Father O'Hara is one of the calmest people I've met in my life." I've just found that if I stay calm, it's better for me and better for people I serve, especially in the liturgies. I'm not always so calm, I have my moments, but I can go for long times without even saying a word, just listening or observing. When you say Fallingwater, that's a perfect metaphor. To have a beautiful simple place near a stream and to respect what God created - nature.

Photos by Gretchen Pierce