SPIRITOFST.FRANCIS | FOLLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS
By Patrick Carolan
ur spiritual paths are hardly straight lines. Rather, the many twists and turns along the way are evidence of our stumbling toward the life God is calling us to. Jim Hodska can attest to that. Jim grew up as part of the post-World War II generation in Stratford, Connecticut, a suburb of Bridgeport. His early life was typical of a White middle-class Catholic family. Going to church was more about fulfilling certain obligations, such as attending Mass every Sunday, going to confession, and receiving the sacraments. As Jim got older, he began to feel an uneasiness about his faith. “I have always struggled with my place in the Catholic Church,” he says. “For years, I felt that my faith should be foundational to the way I live my life, yet I was not getting that from the Church.” The joys and challenges of raising a family and building a career put Jim’s spiritual struggles on the back burner for some time. But still, the yearnings were there. DRAWN TO SERVICE
His career in sales and marketing took him to various parts of the country until he eventually came home and settled down in Stratford. Jim married the love of his life, Andrea, 56 years ago. They bought a house and raised four children in the Catholic faith. If Jim’s story ended there, he would have been described as a good Catholic family man who cared about others, someone who wouldn’t hesitate to reach out and help a friend in need. But the notion lingered in Jim’s mind that there was more to being a person of faith than attending church on Sunday and receiving the sacraments. When Jim retired he could have chosen to live out his life in comfort, spending time with his growing family of grandchildren, traveling around the country with Andrea, and taking up golf. Instead, he began a period of self-reflection and study on Catholic social teaching. Jim has also always
Jim Hodska (foreground) leads a group of volunteers in prayer before going to the Bridge, an outreach ministry of St. James Parish in Stratford, Connecticut. 12 • December 2021/January 2022 | StAnthonyMessenger.org
been drawn to St. Francis and the Franciscan charism. “St. Francis showed that giving to the poor is not enough,” Jim says. “We must progress from sympathy to empathy and compassion, which will lead to transformation. We have to be with the poor.” He began to understand that the Church is not only in a building but also out in the world, especially where there is suffering. Father Tom Lynch, a friend for over 60 years and Jim’s pastor for more than 30 years, describes Jim as “always having a passion for life and part of that was to continually deepen his faith. He was always committed to charitable giving, but through the years I watched him begin to build relationships with the poor and marginalized. Listening to their stories, Jim became a voice for social justice. He really strives to live the radical demands of the Gospel.” BUILDING BRIDGES
At his parish, St. James in Stratford, Jim helped found a ministry called the Bridge. The idea is centered on the concept that on one side are people with resources and on the other are people with needs. Jim and his team of volunteers would go to nearby Bridgeport and bring food, clothing, and
At the Bridge, volunteers from St. James Parish bring food, clothing, and personal-care items to those in need in Bridgeport, Connecticut. What started as a small group now numbers around 50 volunteers.
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM HODSKA
O
The Long and Winding Road of Faith
