Brian McGhen is well-known to his fellow parishioners at Saint Patrick’s Parish in McKeesport. Outgoing and helpful, Brian is a regular at Mass, an altar server who is always offering to fill in.
He’s also an inspiration, demonstrating the true meaning of sacrificial giving.
Brian, who is 24 years old and has Down syndrome, learned that his mother Kathleen was volunteering for Our Campaign for the Church Alive! He wanted to help.
He immediately emptied his four piggybanks of $84.49 that he had been saving for an excursion to New York City to see a Broadway musical. Brian thought it was more important to donate the money to the Campaign. His mom began to cry because she knows how much that trip means to him.
Brian told his pastor, Father Vincent Velas, that he wanted to give his savings to the church and brought it to the parish in a coffee can. Father Velas spoke at Masses of Brian’s sacrifice. After that, donations to the Campaign at Saint Patrick’s rose significantly.
“When I shared Brian’s story, the congregation began clapping,” Father Velas said. “Clearly he touched their hearts and they responded generously.
“Brian shows us instinctively that we want to do good things, even if there’s considerable sacrifice involved.”
In the Campaign video being shown across our Diocese, Bishop David Zubik describes sacrificial giving.
“Whenever we talk about inviting people to be sacrificial givers to the Campaign, what it means is foregoing something that I might like to do for myself, so that I might be able to give it rather for the benefit of somebody else, in this case, to use it for the benefits of the work of the Church,” Bishop Zubik said.
“There’s a joy that comes in giving to others that is the definition of Christ’s love.”
Brian’s mother was touched by his selfless act, but not entirely surprised.
“Brian also volunteers at the food bank and has always been very people-oriented and concerned with their feelings. He seems to have a keen knowledge of what God can do, and understands that he’s part of a larger church family,” she said. “He also prays to Mary for guidance.”
Saint Patrick’s has received about $600,000 on a campaign target of $385,000. With its share of the funds, the parish plans to paint the church interior, refurbish pews, repair the heating and air conditioning system, improve energy efficiency, fix the church organ and pipes, install a stair lift on the vestibule steps, and replace windows and carpets in the CCD building.
The Parish Case Statement notes that Saint Patrick’s is “striving to carry out our mission through our recently adopted Pastoral Plan. Through it, we are working to meet the needs of our people through worship, ministry and loving service. The faithful of our parish are encouraged to offer their time, talent, and treasure…in advancing the greater glory of God and the salvation of the world.”
Brian continues to save his money and fill his coffee can, and that’s fine with his mother.
“I am inspired by Brian. He loves to help people; he gives it no second thought. Brian knows he is different than others, but that’s okay. Like a blind or a deaf person, he has another sense that is super-developed,” she said. “In this case, it’s his sensitivity and compassion.”
