Monsignor John Barry has a losing streak that is so uncommonly unlucky, it’s almost lucky.
Barry, the legendarily dulcet-toned, charming and charmed Irish priest, has presided over his parish for 33 years. He’s never won the drawing.
“Never one thing,” Barry said, not without a note of pride. “Not a nickel.”
In fairness to the luck of the Irish, it’s unclear if Barry has actually ever entered the drawing himself, but the innumerable tickets he’s bought for others have steadfastly proven to be duds.
“They don’t win, either!” Barry exclaimed.
Barry’s streak was broken last year when a friend won $100, but he still feels his streak is alive in spirit.
“Ah, a hundred bucks. It was nothing,” he said, waving a hand dismissively.
This year’s Lucky 21 drawing, so named because entrants have a 1 in 21 chance of winning, features a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle convertible, as subtle and sensible as Pope Francis’s famed little Fiat, but with beachy open-air flair, as well as a $5,000 cash prize, many smaller cash prizes, gas cards and more. The fair also includes a food court (featuring the fish tacos beloved by parishioners) and dozens of games for kids.
Ultimately, Barry said, the fair isn’t about the money — the prizes or the fact that it’s the parish’s primary fundraiser — so much as it is about the parishioners.
“It’s a huge community builder,” Barry said. “It brings together folks from all across our city, the parish and beyond.”
“There’s something for everyone,” said Molly Jahn, co-chair of the Lucky 21 drawing.
Publicity co-chair Kristen Keenan said that her kids anticipate the event almost as much as Christmas.
“They asked me last week, ‘Is it this weekend?’” she said. “When I told them no, it’s next weekend, they asked, ‘How many more days is that?’ They just can’t wait.”
The American Martyrs 45th Annual Parish Fair is Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the parish ball field. The event also benefits sister parish St. Lawrence of Brindisi and other local charitable organizations. See AmericanMartyrs.org for more information.
