Love of the Irish: Monsignor John Barry
Mosignor John Barry celebrates his Jubilee Anniversary with an outdoor Mass at American Martyrs. Photo by Ciley Carrington Monsignor John Barry could read an instruction manual and hold his listeners spellbound. Maybe it’s the Irish lilt, or his innate skill as a storyteller, or maybe it’s the undertones of strength and gentleness in his voice. Whatever it is, he’s tapped the power of the spoken word to transform American Martyrs Catholic Church in Manhattan Beach from a sleepy seaside parish to a powerhouse, with thousands of members. You won’t hear fire and brimstone from this monsignor. His weekly homilies are filled with humor and emotion, with an emphasis on the human side of the God and Man relationship. In one Sunday sermon, Barry told of a Saturday evening stroll he took to downtown Manhattan Beach. His homily wasn’t coming together, so he had gone out to clear his head. Suddenly a group of boys recognized him and called him over for a group photo. They were on a scavenger hunt and needed to take a picture of a “nerdy guy.” “I was the nerdy guy,” he laughed. “They completely threw me under the bus.” He doesn’t preach where you should go, he simply invites you along for the…
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