By ARTHUR JONES
NCR Staff

At Corpus Christi Church at 80 Prince St., 400 kids take religious education classes and there are 50 marriages and 110 baptisms a year. RCIA -- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults -- classes pull in 9 or 10 people who will join the church at Eastertime.

A gospel choir -- seven percent of the congregation is black -- and a Spanish choir are directed by Jody Graves, who has a doctorate from the Eastman School of Music. The parish art flanking the altar, two huge depictions of the parish's multicultural makeup, is the work of parishioner Charlotte Barnard.

What the parish does from a core of 2,000 Sunday churchgoers (one-third non-Catholic) at five Sunday Masses (one Spanish) and a Thursday night liturgy, includes:

• Corpus Christi Center (1977): One hundred volunteers including physicians, nurses, dentists, chiropractors and therapists provide free health care. The facility is used for AA and NA meetings, neighborhood and counseling sessions. Director: Eileen Hurley.
• Demetria House (1980): Home for homeless. Includes food distribution program, winter shelter and drop-in. Director: Christopher Tillman.
• Recovery House (1986): Supportive living for men in recovery. Director: Sr. Marjorie Henninger.
• Corpus Christi Child Care (1980): Five day, all day care for children 18 months to 5 years "in a loving faith environment." Director: Linda Hagerty.
• Rogers House (1980): Parish home for ex-offenders adjusting to life outside prison. Director: James M. Smith.
• Rogers House Restaurant (1987): Job training for ex-offenders. Open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Sunday. Director: Jennifer Deas.
• Isaiah House (1987): Hospice-like home for the dying, providing a peaceful, loving atmosphere for people in their last three months (NCR, Jan. 24). Director: Kathleen Quinlan.
• Matthew's Closet (1991): Quality clothing free or low-priced in a boutique-like atmosphere. Open Monday through Saturday. Director: Maureen Domaratz.

National Catholic Reporter, February 28, 1997

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