Paulist Fathers president visits Horseshoe Bay

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

Members of St. Paul the Apostle Chapel in Horseshoe Bay welcomed the president of the Paulist Fathers, a Roman Catholic society of missionary priests, Tuesday evening, Jan. 27 at the Finn Family Life Center.

Father Eric Andrews, C.S.P. spoke to members of the congregation and visited with representatives of Horseshoe Bay leadership, including Mayor Steve Jordan, Councilman Craig Haydon, and City Manager Stan Farmer.

Andrews, who is newly-elected as president of the society, said he has been visiting Texas churches around the Austin area, including preaching to University of Texas students.

Andrews has an eclectic biography, including working with Jim Henson and the Muppets for three years prior to entering the priesthood and visiting with the Dalai Lama last October.

His work with the Muppets seemed to segue into the priesthood.

“The Paulist Fathers remind me a little of the Muppets: fun, creative and a little crazy sometimes,” Andrews said.

Although he liked working with the Muppets, he lacked business acumen, he said.

“I’ve always loved working with creative people, it was the business part that was challenging,” Andrews said. “But deal-making was not my specialty.”

Andrews visited St. Paul’s just as the Finn Family Life Center was started a few years ago, and he wanted to see the outcome. “It’s a marvelous finished product,” he said.

The priesthood became appealing because he was raised in a service-oriented family. A campus minister in college called him to the priesthood, Andrews said.

Andrews works out of New York, one of the Paulist Fathers headquarters.

The Paulist Fathers are a society of Roman Catholic priests known for a missionary emphasis, charisma and humor.

Claudia Haydon and K.K. Rice co-chaired the reception.