
Throughout this story it’s the church that supports Eilis
and many more immigrants. There are scenes of the Latin Mass, of course, but
also parish dances and serving holiday meals to the older Irish men who dug the
tunnels and built the bridges that connect Manhattan to the rest of the world.
Not much difference than the undocumented laborers today visiting church food
pantries or soup kitchens.
This is a believable story inspired by the novel of the same
name authored by Colm Toibin. We think so because the Catholic Church in the
‘50s was a big support to us but in different ways. We both grew up about 90
miles apart in Southern California. We weren’t immigrants from another country
but we might as well have been; we both came from Nebraska. The church offered
dances (or mixers), outings, and other family activities. It was a community
center as well as a sacramental one.
‘Brooklyn’ is a love story with many moving parts. Filmgoers
can see why Eilis is enamored with Tony (Emory Cohen). Cohen has a charismatic
screen presence that easily captures the audience. Father Flood is gently
played by Jim Broadbent.

But the thread running through all these characters is a church that sees a role of meeting the needs of the communities it serves. There’s a lesson for those who ask why can’t we be like the church we grew up in? Just figure out how to serve those around you; be an indispensable community asset. That’s how your church will thrive.
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