By ANTHONY BOTTAN
As the new bishop-appointed pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church, Drew said he hopes to draw on his 3 1/2 decades of experience and impart to his parishioners the same spiritual wisdom that helped shape his life.
Drew, who will turn 60 on July 26, grew up on his family-s farm in County Cork, and was ordained in 1974 at the All Hallows Seminary in Dublin. Eleven year earlier, his life had taken an unexpected turn one that led him to a life of service to God.
As an altar server at his local parish, Drew met a man who changed his life forever, the parish priest, Father Cashman. Cashman, Drew said, resembled Franklin Roosevelt, and Drew admired the priest for his pleasant, spiritual demeanor. Cashman walked with a limp, and during Mass, he would lean on Drew-s shoulder while walking up the stairs to the sanctuary. The two became close friends, and Cashman began inviting Drew to his home on Sunday nights to watch, of all things, The Flintstones.
One night in May of 1963, Drew rode his bike from his family farm to Cashman-s home two miles away, and as they watched the news, Cashman asked him if he had ever considered becoming a priest. I felt embarrassed, I blushed, Drew said. I was actually thinking of doing it, but I thought I was unworthy. But somehow, when he looked at me, I thought maybe I could.
Drew remembers leaving Cashman-s house at around 9:30 p.m., and even though he couldn-t see very well on the ride home, he recalls feeling like I was walking on a cloud. That was the last time he ever spoke to Cashman, who died later that same night. Drew was devastated, he said. He was the altar server at Cashman-s funeral, and he credits his mentor for making him the priest he is today.
In 1967, the bishop of Honolulu visited Drew-s high school in County Cork, in an effort to recruit priests to work for the Diocese of Honolulu. Drew had no idea where Hawaii was, but someone told him it was west of San Francisco. It-s as far west of San Francisco as Ireland is east of New York, he joked. A priest in his home diocese convinced him to go to Honolulu, where there was a shortage of priests. I knew nothing of the glamour of Hawaii, Drew said.
He worked as a pastor in Hawaii for six years, then took on assignments in California, Ireland and, eventually, Long Island in North Merrick, Port Washington, Huntington Station and, for the past five years, in Setaucket. Drew was appointed to a six-year term at St. Vincent de Paul on June 25.
The most important thing he must do as pastor, he said, is listen and learn. On his first Sunday in his new post, he felt welcomed by the warmth of his parishioners. Drew hopes to be supportive and responsive to the older members of the community, who built up the parish, he said, and to also invite younger families to be more involved with the church.
Comments on this story? ABottan@liherald.com or call (516) 569-4000 ext. 246.
