For
decades, he kept God’s house in order
By NADIA MARIA SMITH
CS&T Staff Writer
All it took was an invitation.
Robert Smith, just-turned-25, was sitting in church one day when his pastor
approached him and asked whether he’d like to work for his parish.
At the time, Smith was in the seminary, discerning whether he had a vocation
to the priesthood.
He decided to leave the seminary — but that conversation with his
pastor set him on a lifelong course of service to his Church, as the sacristan
at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Philadelphia. It was a position he thrived
in for 42 years, until his retirement in early November.
“The Church has been very central in my life,” Smith said
recently. “It was always important for me to be near God. It was
a fulfilling and beautiful job.”
For years, Smith’s service in his parish, known as Holy Child Parish
before a 1993 consolidation, was behind the scenes.
He prepared the church for daily and Sunday Masses, opening the doors
and laying out the vestments for each priest. He decorated the church
at Christmas, Easter, and other liturgical celebrations, including funerals,
weddings, baptisms, confirmations, Quinceañeras and sweet sixteen
Masses.
He cleaned the church on a weekly basis, maintained the Holy Child shrine,
and opened and closed the grade school every day.
When the parish became Our Lady of Hope, his position was restructured
and expanded. Smith was made sacristan for two churches — the former
Holy Child Church on Broad Street, and the former Our Lady of the Holy
Souls Church at 19th and Tioga streets.
He also became the maintenance person for the grade school.
Meanwhile, along with his work and worship there, the parish became the
center of his personal life. It was there that he reconnected with an
old acquaintance, who became Mrs. Sarah Smith — where they married,
where his six children were baptized, and where the Smiths celebrated
their 25th wedding anniversary Mass. (Next June they’ll celebrate
their 40th anniversary.)
Through the decades, Smith has become a familiar face and a trusted parishioner.
He retired on Nov. 5 because the parish could no longer afford to pay
his salary, he said.
“The priests have been good to me and helped me out when I needed
it most,” Smith said. “ … I promised God I wouldn’t
quit until someone asked me to leave.”
Of course, he added, “I will miss setting up for Mass, and the people.
They were good to me.”
Meanwhile, Smith, who is 67, is looking for another sacristan position.
As long as he can keep working, that’s what he’d like to do.
To commemorate his years of service, Smith’s parish is celebrating
with Mass at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29. Everyone who has known him
throughout the years is invited to attend.
Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church is located at 5200 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19141.
CS&T staff writer Nadia Maria Smith can be reached at npozo@adphila.org
or (215) 965-4614.