Pastor John Antony’s book raising money for schools

Fort Smith, Fayetteville Catholic schools will use proceeds for scholarship funds

Published: September 13, 2014

By Maryanne Meyerriecks
Fort Smith Correspondent

Maryanne Meyerriecks

Father John Antony signs a copy of his book for Immaculate Conception business manager Cindy McNally in his office Aug. 28.

Maryanne Meyerriecks

Father John Antony signs a copy of his book for Immaculate Conception business manager Cindy McNally in his office Aug. 28.

FORT SMITH — Kate Evertson, director of development at St. Joseph School in Fayetteville, and Father John Antony, her former pastor, used their mutual passion for Catholic education to publish a book of the priest’s best homilies.

Proceeds from “Oh, For the Love of God” will benefit the Tomorrow’s Promise Campaign at Father Antony’s former parish, St. Joseph, and his current parish, Immaculate Conception in Fort Smith.

“I’ve always had a passion for Catholic education,” Father Antony said. “I attended St. Theresa School and Catholic High School in Little Rock; Holy Trinity Seminary at the University of Dallas, and after my ordination, Catholic University of America. During my priesthood, a few parishioners suggested I publish a book of homilies, but Kate was especially insistent, saying that my message would reach many people.”

Two book signings are scheduled. The first one will be Sunday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Galvin Center at Immaculate Conception Parish; and the second will be Saturday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at the DeBriyn Family Life Center at St. Joseph Parish.

Father Antony is no stranger to raising money for schools. As pastor of the Fayetteville parish he participated in marathons in 2010 to 2012 and got pledges for each mile he ran.

In 2009, Father Antony began posting some of his homilies on Facebook, and in the next five years his audience grew to 4,470.

“I love his homilies,” Immaculate Conception parishioner Dorothy Sullivan said. “He even posts on weekdays, so we can turn to his page for our daily inspiration.”

When Evertson saw the impact his words had on social media, she thought that many people would also appreciate having a beautiful hardbound copy of his words.

Father Antony’s writing regimen includes lots of prayer.

“I pray, pray, pray to the Holy Spirit to tell me what to say as I think about the readings. I take the experiences of each week to help me write the homily. Each one is a fruit of how God is trying to lead me, and I hope that other people may find how God is working in their lives as I share how God is working in mine.”

When asked to give advice on how to preach to large, diverse parish communities, he said while he tries to say something custom-fit to every congregation, the biggest difference is between the English and Spanish speaking communities. “The point is generally the same,” he said. “If the theme is trusting in the Lord, for example, the experience in the English and Spanish speaking communities would be very unique, and some in the pews would almost be forced to trust in the Lord, like it or not.”

In addition to his experience as a pastor throughout the diocese, Father Antony brings his experiences as a former vocation director and diocesan tribunal judge to each homily and, more recently, his three-month period of reflection as he discerned a vocation to be a Carmelite priest.

As a pastor preaching primarily to families, his experience growing up in a happy Catholic family is an ever-present inspiration.

“My parents were the first ones who got a copy of the book,” Father Antony said. “They were in tears and liked it so much. When I see their love for each other and their family, I realize that that’s what a priest does as the father of a spiritual family. I hope I can be half the parent they were.”

Although Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle wrote the foreword and Father Antony’s friends have shared glowing reviews on the dust jacket, he cherishes his father’s review the most: “It’s not just a book; it’s a blessing from God.”

“My dad got it absolutely right,” Father Antony said.

The book is available from Immaculate Conception Church, St. Joseph Church or Amazon.com.