The Arts

Since our community’s founding in 1858, Paulist Fathers have been active in the arts: visual art, music, dramatic arts and more.

In our earliest days, Fr. George Deshon, one of the founding Paulist Fathers, led the design and decoration of our mother church, the Church of St. Paul the Apostle, in New York City. Another early Paulist Father, Alfred Young, worked to encourage congregational singing during Mass.

In the 20th century, Paulist Fr. William Finn founded and led the Paulist Choristers in both Chicago and New York. The Choristers filled churches around the world with Gregorian chant and medieval polyphony.

The Paulists also were known for Paulist Fr. Norman O’Connor, the “Jazz Priest,” as well as the “Roamin’ Collars,” a group of our seminarians who shared the Gospel message through folk music.

The 20th century also saw the birth of Paulist Productions, our Emmy Award-winning creator of innovative television programs like “Insight” and films such as “Romero” and “Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story.”

Today, this long tradition of participation in the arts continues through the ministries described here.

 

Openings is an interdisciplinary artists’ collective directed by Paulist Fr. Frank Sabatté. It seeks to connect creativity and transcendence.

Paulist Fr. Ricky Manalo composes liturgical music and conducts workshops around the world.

Paulist Fr. James DiLuzio's one-man show incorporates popular music with reflections on the meaning of scripture in modern life.