by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
From an entertainment perspective, they’ve been known to fly, kick the habit and climb every mountain. But whether it is Sally Field, Whoopi Goldberg or Julie Andrews playing the part of a nun, none of the characterizations really match reality.
Former Jacksonville Bar Association president Michael Prendergast wants to change that.
Prendergast, a life-long Catholic, has teamed with an old classmate to write an anecdotal account of growing up Catholic, “Don’t Chew Jesus: A Collection of Memorable Nun Stories.”
“Catholics believe in the actual presence of Jesus in the Eucharist,” he said. “When we receive communion we believe we’re actually receiving the body and blood of Christ, not just symbols. The nuns would say, ‘Don’t chew Jesus.’”
The idea hatched when Danielle Schaaf, who attended the same parochial school as Prendergast, saw him at their 25th high school reunion. Schaaf, a Houston businesswoman with a public relations background, teaches catechism (faith-based lessons) at her church.
The two childhood friends began soliciting stories of Catholic schools and the nuns who taught there. The response has been overwhelming.
Meant to be more amusing than poignant, Prendergast hopes to memorialize the practice of nuns teaching lessons before it becomes a thing of the past.
“Few nuns teach in Catholic schools now,” he said. “There’s just not that many nuns anymore. Those left are mostly elderly women going into retirement soon. There’s a whole generation that may never have even met a nun.”
Schaaf and Prendergast are accepting short stories from anyone who has an experience to relate about their time in Catholic school. Prendergast has already amassed two dozen anecdotes and he plans to publish the book sometime next year.
“We just wanted to give people the chance to tell their stories,” he said.
“It’s amazing how similar the stories are from school to school and diocese to diocese over the same time frame. I started [Catholic school] in the pre-Vatican II days. By the time I graduated, they were playing guitars during the services.”
According to Prendergast, before sweeping changes were made in the church, there was no such thing as an altar girl, women could not serve as lectors during mass and the priest conducted services entirely in Latin.
Obviously, those with comparable backgrounds to the authors would have a greater interest in the book than other folks but Prendergast isn’t necessarily narrowing his target market.
“It’s something I want to share with non-Catholics as well but those that would relate the most are those that went to Catholic school,” he said.
Another objective of the book is to cast the Catholic faith in a favorable light, considering the current scandals involving Catholic priests.
“This is not meant to be sacrilegious,” said Prendergast. “I’m still a proud, practicing Catholic. I thought I received a very good education, was taught good values and made good friends. Unlike private schools, they catered to kids from all economic backgrounds.”
The book is Prendergast’s first professional writing endeavor. He is also a member of the Catholic Lawyers Guild.