♪ >> HE'S BEEN CALLED THE RAPPING CHAPLAN.

♪ THE REF RAND NORMAN FISHER THE PARISH PRIEST IN LEXINGTON IS DELIVERING A TIMELESS MESSAGE AND A VERY CONTEMPORARY WAY TO REACH YOUNG PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF A MORE HIP EXPRESSION OF FAITH.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS YOUNG PARISH PRIEST, FATHER FISCHER NEXT ON "CONNECTIONS."

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY ON "CONNECTIONS," I'M RENEE SHAW.

TODAY'S POP AND HIP-HOP DRIVEN CULTURE, SOME ARE INFUSING THEIR SERVICES WITH THIS FLAVOR.

IT IS A TASK EASIER FOR A PARISH PRIEST WHO A PRODUCT OF THAT VERY CULTURE AND CAN TAKE A CHART TOPPING RAP AND CRUN WITH IT A SPIRITUAL TWIST.

WELL, HE'S DOING JUST WHAT COMES NATURAL, THAT IS MULTI-GENERATIONAL RACIALLY BLENDED CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LEXINGTON AND HE'S HERE TO RAP A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

THANK YOU, FATHER NORMAN WEIGHS CALL YOU.

>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU, RENAME IT IS AN HONOR TO BE ON YOUR SHOW.

>> IT IS GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I HAVE WATCHED BEHIND THE SCENES FOR A FEW YEARS AT AN ANNUAL GALA THAT YOU HAVE THAT BENEFITS THE NEW BUILDINGPROJECT.

AND I HAVE WATCHED YOU DANCE, ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND I HAVE SEEN YOU ON YOUTUBE RAPPING AND DOING A RENDITION OF MY GOD TO THE TUNE OF MY GIRL.

SO, YOU'RE A PRETTY UNCONVENTIONAL PRIEST.

WE WOULDN'T THINK TO SEE THAT ESPECIALLY IN SOMEONE SO YOUNG TOO.

>> I GUESS THAT I COME FROM A SMALL TOWN, AND WE JUST HAD A LOT OF COWS AND TOBACCO FIELDS SO YOU HAD TO MAKE SOME KIND OF FUN WITH IT ALL, AND MAKE SENSE OF BEING SORT OF AWAY FROM THE CITY, AND BEING OUT IN THE COUNTRY.

SO, I HAVE A LOT OF TIME ON MY HAPPENED TO BE IMAGINATIVE AND EVEN THE COWS -- >> I READ WHERE YOU SAID THAT YOU LIKE THE MUSIC OF YOU TUPAK SHAKUR.

NAME SOME OTHERS.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT STYLES.

YOU CAN TAKE THE OLD SCHOOL KIND OF -- YOU CAN TAKE SOME OF THE SOUNDS OF DRAKE, SOME OF THE SOUNDS OF EVEN LIKE BEBEYONCÉ OR FINDING THE MELODY.

I MEAN, YOU CAN EVEN SCRAPE THROUGH, EVEN JUST A MELODIES OF SOME OF THE EMINEM SONGS THAT KIDS LISTEN TO AND REDEEM WITH IT SOME LYRICS THAT WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE RATHER THAN WHAT THEIR MESSAGES WOULD SAY.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

AND, PEOPLE ARE THINKING, GOSH THIS GUY IS REALLY REALLY YOUNG.

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

>> WELL, THE DRUM ROLL, PLEASE.

37.

>> IN THIS SITUATION, IT IS APPROPO FOR SOME REASON.

WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO GO INTO THE MINISTRY AND BE A PRIEST?

>> WELL, IN SOME TRADITIONS, YOU WOULD PROBABLY THINK WHATEVER CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS THAT YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH, THE WORD OF GOD, AND YOU STARTED TO UNDERSTAND HIM, AND WHAT GOD WAS PERHAPS SAYING YOU TO AS YOU REFLECTED ON HIS WORD AND ALLOWED HIM TO SPEAK YOU TO.

THAT HAPPENED AT AN EARLY AGE TOO IN TERMS OF LIKE, I WAS ATTRACTED TO READING FROM THE BOOK OF PSALM BUT THEN, IN THE TRADITION SOMETIMES YOU ARE PLAYING FIREMEN OR POLICEMEN AND WE PLAYED PRIEST.

WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE WAS TAKING YOUR BATH ROBE, GETTING SOME VANILLA WAFER COOKIES AND KOOL-AID AND PRAYING THE OUR FATHER.

AND MY SISTER MARIA WOULD PUT A NAPKIN ON HER HEAD AND SHE WOULD BE SISTER MARIA FOR THE MOMENT.

AND IT WAS SOMETHING VERY REINFORCED, THAT IT WAS COMMON THAT YOU COULD ACTUALLY GET YOUR -- BY IMITATING JUST PRAYER AND IMITATE WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN YOUR MIND IN TERMS OF THE GIFT OF COMMUNION.

>> WELL, THOSE OF US NOT FROM THE CATHOLIC TRADITION WHO ARE PROTESTANT, BAPTIST IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE HERE WE DON'T THINK OF CATHOLICS BEING OVERLY ASSERTIVE OR EC PRESENTATION IN THEIR FAITH AND CHARISMATIC BUT YOU'RE KIND OF BENDING THE RULES ON THAT QUITE A BIT.

WHAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSE BY THE PARISHIONERS AND ELSEWHERE FOR THAT FACT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CATHOLIC CHURCH?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT I'M ACTUALLY FINDING MY STHEAFL I'M PART OF A MOVEMENT THAT WAS IN THE 60S AT CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC MOVEMENT THAT REALLY CLAIMED THE SPIRITUAL GUESTS, AND ALLOWED THE GIFT OF PRAYER AND PRAISE TO BE A SPIRITUAL EXPRESSION AND ALSO, JUST BEING ABLE TO TAP INTO EXPRESSIVE PRAYER, AND SO, I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE THAT THE MOVEMENT EXISTED BUT, IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD, I WAS WANTING TO HANG OUT WITH EVERYONE, SO, WHEN I WENT TO CENTER COLLEGE, I WAS ABLE TO MINISTER AND BE A PART OF SMALL BIBLE SHARING GROUPS WHICH I WAS A TOKEN CATHOLIC, AND WHILE THE PENTECOSTALSES BROUGHT IN SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND THE BAPTISTS PERHAPS BROUGHT IN PREACHING AND IN MY OTHER FRIENDS, BROUGHT IN SOME, NON-DENOMINATIONAL FRIENDS, AND BROUGHT IN THE PRAISE AND WORSHIP WITH A GUITAR, I BROUGHT IN NEILING AND STANDING UP.

SO, I WAS ABLE TO, JUST ALLOW MYSELF TO BE OPEN TO DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS.

AND I HAVE BEEN NOTED AS BAPTIST WITH A COLLAR, JUST BY MY BEING ABLE TO JUST GENERATE GOD'S LOVE AND LET MY HEART SAY AMEN.

IT IS OKAY SO BIT, LET'S GO.

>> IT IS OKAY TO BE EXPRESSION.

AND HAPPY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I FIND THAT PEOPLE HAVE LARGELY BEEN RECEPTIVE.

I COULD SAY THAT, AS SOME OLDER FOLKS TOOK A WHILE TO SAY IS THAT ALL RIGHT?

CAN WE DO THAT?

YOU KNOW, AND I HAD TO GIVE THEM PERMISSION AND THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO DO, GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO LOVE GOD OUTWARDLY.

THAT'S OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SO I THINK THAT, CERTAINLY BY THE TIME THAT IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE IN TERMS OF HAVING A WORSHIP EXPERIENCE, THAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN WITH THE WAY GOD LOVES YOU AND MADE YOU.

SO YOU GET A CHANCE TO BY THE TIME WE'RE TOGETHER, AND BY THE TIME WE'RE ALL FELLOWSHIPPRAISING GOD, THAT WE ALL HAD THE SAME SPIRITED EXPERIENCE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DIFFERENT.

>> SO PERHAPS YOU STAY A LITTLE LONGER THAN -- THAN THE BAPTISTS, THEY GO IN 11:00 AND COME OUT AROUND TWO:00.

IS THAT HOW IT IS AT -- OR MORE TIMELY.

>> WE HAVE TO SPLIT THAT UP BECAUSE WE GO ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF WHICH IS REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS, OF COURSE BUT YOU HAVE TO BLEND THIS THAT FELLOWSHIP WITH THE SPALDING DOUGHNUTS AFTERWARD.

>> THAT'S A TRADITION THAT I COULD LATCH ON TO.

>> THAT'S UNIQUE ON THE KOSHER OF 4TH AND JEFFERSON.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO OBVIOUSLY, THE CHURCH IS GROWING BECAUSE AS I ALLUDED TO EARLIER, THIS MASSIVE BUILDINGPROJECT IN THE BEGINNING YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE ABOUT WHEN YOU DID YOU COME OUT FULL THROTTLE WITH THE RAPPING AND ALL OF THAT, LET THEM KNOW WITHOUT ANY KIND OF HESITATION, THIS IS WHO YOU ARE AND THIS IS WHO YOU'LL BE.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT BEING YOUNGER I SORT OF FELT LIKE I CAN'T -- I HAVE TO ADDRESS EVERYONE AND SO I HAVE TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE IN AND WELCOMING TO EVERY SINGLE PERSON AND SAW THAT, THE HEADS OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE STARTED NODDING AND IT WEAN BECAUSE THEY WERE BOWING AND I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW THERE IS WAYS THAT MUSIC IS INSPIRATIONAL WHICH ALWAYS PLUGGED IN YOU HAVE AN iPOD AND MP3.

YOUR CELL PHONE DOES MANY THINGS AND I FOUND THAT MUSIC WAS THE COMMON EXPERIENCES OUTSIDE OF MASS, THAT EVERYONE WAS PROBABLY HAVING, YOU COULDN'T NECESSARILY BRING IT INTO CHURCH.

AND SO YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT BROUGHT IN THE SOUND AND MADE IT CONTEMPORARY BUT I TAKE THE CONTEMPORARY AND MAKE IT CHURCHY.

WHETHER IT IS A JASON MIRAZ SONG OR A TRAIN SONG.

JUST SORT OF GIVING IT IN ANOTHER AIR.

>> AND THE MISSION STATEMENT OF St. PETER CLAYBERG IS THAT IT IS ACCEPTING OF ALL DIFFERENT GENERATIONS AND RACES AND ETHNICITIES BUT IT HAS AN AFROZEN TRICK APPEAL TO IT THAT THIS IS PAYING HOMAGE TO THE AFRICAN ANCESTRY BUT YOU'RE BLENDING THE NAMES, ENTERTAINER JASON MRAZ, THOSE ARE ON THE OTHER END OF THE SPECTRUM.

SO DO THE PEOPLE THINK, OKAY WHO IS THE.

>> I'M A MUSICAL PERSON, AND I WAS IN THE BAND WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND I LOVED ANY KIND OF -- I HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR ALL COYFNEDS GENRES AND SO YOU HAVE TO PICK WHICH ONE WOULD SOUND RIGHT EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW THE ARTIST PER SE AND SOMETIMES IT WORKS, AND SOMETIMES THAT WAS ALL RIGHT.

>> YES!

>> MOVING ONLY AMEN COMES QUICK DURING THAT ONE, RIGHT.

>> THAT'S A QUICK AMEN.

>> DO THEY SAY I WASN'T WITH YOU ON THAT ONE, FATHER NOR SNAN.

>> THERE PROBABLY HAS BEEN A MOMENT OR TWO WHEN I THOUGHT WE'LL TRY AGAIN.

BUT WHAT I LOVE IS I GO THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND I'M A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER, PRESENTER, REVIVALIST AND OFFER RETREATS FOR YOUTH IN PARISHES AND I GET TO EXPLORE, AND SO TO SEE WHAT'S WORKING AND I COULD TWEAK OR MAYBE TRY THIS OUT AND, IT IS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE THEY'RE NOT GOING HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE SO I'LL SHARE IT GENEROUSLY BUT THEN I'LL GENEROUSLY RECEIVE WITH IT HUMILITY IF IT DOESN'T WORK.

>> WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE, THIS IS AN ORIGINAL COME POSITION.

>> THIS IS AN ORIGINAL SONG.

AND THIS IS TAME NOW.

THIS IS NOT THE SPECTRUM THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH YOU RAPPING, WE HOPE YOU'LL DO THAT, FREE HANDED.

THIS IS THE EMOTIONAL I THINK HEART.

>> RIGHT.

>> CLEAN.

ING SONG.

TELL US ABOUT I BEFORE WE SEE IT.

>> THIS CAME TO ME AS A MEL DO I DO REMIND US THAT GOD'S LOVE IS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU.

AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS SONG, IT HAS ONE MOMENT WHERE IT IS VERY, YOU KNOW, CONTEMPORARY BUT THEN IT HAS A LITTLE FUSION WITH SOME REGEE WHICH MY GOOD FRIEND MY PRODUCER REALLY GIFTED WITH THAT SO WE BLENDED THIS SONG TOGETHER.

BUT HE'S THERE WITH YOU ALWAYS.

>> AND THAT'S THE NAME OF THE SONG.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND HERE IS FATHER NORMAN FISHER.

♪ WHEN YOU'RE FEELING DOWN AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHY, BE STILL HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ AND IF YOUR HEAD IS HUNG LOW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO ♪ BE STILL HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS.

THROUGH THE NIGHT, IT WILL ALL FADE AWAY.

BE STILL, HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS.

THROUGH THE NIGHT THERE IS PAIN AND IT WILL ALL FADE AWAY.

RIGHT NOW HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ RAISE YOUR HAPPENED AND LIFT YOUR HEART BECAUSE HE'LL GIVE YOU A BRAND NEW START RIGHT NOW, HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ BE NOT AFRAID NOW STAND IN THE LIGHT NOW HE'S HE'LL MAKE EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT RIGHT NOW NOTE HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ TAKE HIS HAND AND HE'S GOT TO PLAN AND KNOW THAT HE UNDERSTANDS RIGHT NOW, HE IS THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ BE NOT AFRAID AND STAND IN THE LIGHT, NO, HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT ALL RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ TAKE HIS HAND AND HE'S GOT A PLAN NOW, KNOW THAT HE UNDERSTANDS RIGHT NOW, HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ WHEN YOU'RE FEELING DOWN AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHY, BE STILL, HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ IF YOUR HEAD IS HUNG LOW AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO ♪ BE STILL HE'S THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS ♪ >> WRITTEN IN ONE DAY, RIGHT, FATHER NORMAN?

>> YES.

>> THE INSPIRATION CAME TO YOU AND THE WORDS JUST FLOWED AND YOU WORKED WITH WITH YOUSH PRODUCER TO COME ONE THE MELODY.

SO, THIS IS PART OF A COMPILATION, ARE WE GOING TO SEE THIS?

IS.

>> I THINK SO, IT DEFINITELY EXCITED.

BEING IN THE BUILDING, YOU GET TO BE CREATIVE AND HAVING FUN AND RAISING FUNDS.

AND SO, I'LL ALLOW A LOT OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CD, HOPEFULLY TO PUT OUT NOVEMBERISH, AND TO BE PART OF A BLESSING THAT THE CHURCH IS GOING TO GO FOR.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUILDING CAMPAIGN.

>> IT HAS BEEN THE SAME BUILDING HAS BEEN IN EXIST SENTENCE.

>> WE HAVE NOW THE CHURCH, THE FIRST ORIGINAL BUILDING, WAS SET UP AS A SCHOOL, ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS, THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON.

AND EVENTUALLY, THERE WAS A PARISH PLACED ON THE UPSTAIRS CALLED St. PETER CLAY?

BURG BUT THEN IT GOT -- HAD TO GET RELOCATE BECAUSE THERE WILL BE OTHER FOLKS LIVING IN THE BUILDING AND THE THE RECOLLECTRY AND THEY BUILT THE CHURCH WHICH WE ARE NOW, ON THE CORNER, FOURTH AND JEFFERSON, 1948.

SO, IT IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT IS SIDE TO SIDE.

>> THE PLANS NOW ARE WHAT?

>> WE HAVE TWO PHASES.

THE FIRST PHASE IS TO BUILD A PARISH LIFE CENTER WHICH RIGHT NOW WE'RE VERY ACTIVE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE A SMALL PARISH WE HOST AA MEETINGS AND WE HAVE A CLOTHING BANK THAT'S FREE FOR THE HOMELESS IN THAT AREA.

WE HAVE A SENIOR CITIZENS LUNCHEON, AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PARISH TO GET TOGETHER, OUR CURRENT SPACE IS JUST OUTDATED AND VERY OLD AND NOT EVEN HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE AND WE CAN MAXIMIZE OUR PARISH LIFE CENTER WHICH IS THE FIRST PHASE AND MEETING ROOMS AND CLASSROOMS AND THEN, SECOND PHASE, OF COURSE WORK BO B TO BUILD THE NEW SANCTUARY.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE EXPERIENCING OVERFLOWING CAPACITY AND DEFINITELY WOULD BE NOT THE BEST SITUATION IN TERMS OF FIRE CODE TO KEEP ON EXISTING AS WE ARE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, WHAT ARE YOUR NUMBERS?

>> WE HAVE ABOUT A SPACE FOR 160 FAMILIES BUT UP TO 180, 200, AND UPSTAIRS AND THEN WE HAVE A T.V.

AREA, AND DOWNSTAIRS, FOR THE SPILLOVER RELATIVE HUMIDITIES.

>> >> YOU HAVE THIS GALA EVERY YEAR AND YOU CONTRIBUTE SOME BEAUTIFUL ART WORK FOR THAT CAUSE.

AND IT BRINGS IN PRETTY GOOD BUCKS NOW, FATHER NORMAN.

>> BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, RENEE.

>> IT IS VERY PRETTY.

TELL US ABOUT THE KIND OF THAT IS RIGHT DO YOU.

>> WELL, I'M SORT OF AN END EXPRESSIONIST ARTIST.

I DOUBLE MAJORED IN ART, I WAS THINKING ABOUT ART THERAPY AS WELL AS THE PRIESTHOOD.

NOW I USE ART, HAVE AN ANNUAL ARTIST RETREAT FOR ALL FOLKS THAT COME AND HAVE A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE, CREATIVE PROCESS, BUT, I LIKE TO DO SPIRITUAL EXPRESSIONS OF ART WORK, WHETHER IT IS THE GIFT OF THE MO MADONNA, DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS OF HIS LOVE, CRUCIFIXION OR, MOMENTS OF THE ENDERNESS LIKE MOTHER AND CHILD, OR FATHER AND SON, OR, PRODIGAL SON.

I DO A LOT OF EXPRESSIONISTIC PAINTINGS LIKE THAT, AND SOMETIMES I GO REALISTIC AND SOMETIMES A LITTLE ABSTRACT.

BUT, I ALSO LIKE TO DO CULTURAL RENDITIONS, AND AFRICAN MASKS AND THAT SPEAKS A LOT TO ME RIGHT NOW.

>> YES, AND A FRIEND OF MINE OWNS ONE OF YOUR PAINTINGS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA THAT YOU DID.

AND SO IT WAS A NICE TOUCH THERE.

SO, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, ALL KINDS OF ART EXPRESSIONS, YOU SEEM TO BE ABOUT, AS YOU MENTIONED, IN THE ART FORM OF PAINTING, AND IN THE POETIC WAY THAT GETS YOU RAP AND PREACH MINISTER.

THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DO THAT NOT JUST FOR YOUR PARISHIONERS BUT ALSO BECAUSE YOU'RE A CHAPLAN AT LEXINGTON CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL.

HOW DID THEY RESPOND TO FATHER NORMAN FISCHER WHO COMES IN WITH THIS KIND OF FRESH PERSPECTIVE.

>> I'M VERY HONOR TOED TO BE THE CHAPLAN ALEXING ON THE CATHOLIC, AND I'M MOST ALIVE WITH THE STUDENTS DOWN THE HALLWAYS FIST BUMPING AND GIVING THEM ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGHOUT AND BEING THERE FOR THEM IN SOME TOUGH SITUATIONS AT TIMES.

BUT, CERTAINLY, MONTHLY WE GET TOGETHER AND WE HAVE OUR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE AND THEY ARE VERY, VERY OPEN, NOT ONLY DO MUSICAL RENDITIONS THAT ARE PROBABLY CONTEMPORARY FOR THEM I ALSO DO DRAMAIZATION AND SKITS AND THEY LOVE GETTING INVOLVED WITH THESE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS OF WHAT FAITH CAN MEAN THROUGH DRAMA.

AND IT CAN BE A LOT OF FUN.

SO JUST TRYING TO RAISE THE LEADERSHIP, I THINK IF ANYTHING, I TRY TO BE THERE TO REMIND THEM TO GIVE YOUR TALENT, SERVE WITH THE GIFTS THAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR LIFE, BUT THIS IS JUST ONE LIFE.

AND MAKE IT THE BEST OF IT AND WE'RE ALL TOGETHER WHEN YOU SUFFER, WHEN YOU GO THROUGH GOOD TIMES OR BAD TIMES, WE'RE ALL A FAMILY, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY OUR BISHOP TO BE THERE AND THE KIDS HAVE RESPONDED QUITE AMAZINGLY.

>> YEAH, IT IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE I JUST READ THERE WAS A STUDY DONE, A BOOK COMING OUT ABOUT WHAT THEY CALL THE FAKE TABLE CHRISTIAN.

THAT LOOKING TO GOD TO BE THIS PERSON WHO COULD JUST GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANTED, AND THAT THERE WAS NOT ACCOUNTABILITY TO WITNESS, JUST SOMEONE, A WATERED DOWN FAITH THAT HE'S THERE TO SERVE YOU, AS OPPOSED TO YOU SERVING HIM.

IS THERE AN UNDERSTANDING WITH YOUNG FOLKS.

>> IF ANYTHING I CAME OUT OF A RETREAT WHERE MY STUDENTS FROM LEXINGTON CATHOLIC HELPED TO INTERFACE WITH STUDENTS STUDENTE SCHOOL ON A RETREAT, AND, OUR KIDS WERE ABLE TO BE REAL, AND THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE ALLOWING THEMSELVES, AND PREPARING FOR THAT EXPERIENCE, TO KNOW THEY CAN BE REAL, AND EXPRESSING AND ARTICULATING THE FAITH JOURNEYS AND ALSO TRIUMPHS AND OVERCOMING THE MOMENT OF DOUBT WITH FAITH, THEY SAID YOU WERE SO REAL AND TOLD US THINGS THAT I NEEDED TO HEAR BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN SAYING.

BUT I HAVE BEEN THINKING AND FEELING AND I'M VERY GLAD THAT THEY CAME AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT I AM NOT OUT THERE IN LEFT FIELD TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK BY MYSELF.

PARENTS PROBABLY ARE DOING THEIR JOB, OBVIOUSLY, AND I WOULD HOPE.

SO BUT CERTAINLY KIDS ARE THEY WANT TO GRAB ON THE THE MESSAGE OF CONVENIENCE FOR THEMSELVES AND, YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN FOR IT ME IF I DO THIS WHAT DO I GET.

AND, RIGHT NOW, IT IS A TIME IN THEIR LIFE WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET WHAT CAN SO THEY CAN -- THEIR SELF ES STEE.

IT IS BASED ON WHO THEY HAVE AND KNOW.

A LOT OF DECEPTIONS, SO WHAT YOU DO IS, YOU SIMPLY SAY THAT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU HAPPY, AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE YOU HAPPY AND WORK WITH DEBUNKING THOSE DISILLUSIONMENTS, AND WHAT YOU REALLY FIND IS THAT, THEY HAVE THE SAME NEEDS.

THEY WANT TO BE LOVE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN LOVE OTHERS AND THEY WANT TO KNOW THAT WHAT THEY HAVE IS GOOD AND THEY ARE GOOD.

AND ONCE YOU GO INTO, YOU KNOW, PEEL AWAY THE VENEER THESE KIDS ARE EXPERIENCING WHICH THEY ARE, AND YOU DEAL WITH WHERE THEY ARE WHICH IS, I NEED TO KNOW THAT I'M OKAY, AND I'M LOVED.

>> AND GETTING TO THE THE CONSTRUCTS OF THE REAL ISSUES, THE CRUX, THE THINGS THEY DEAL WITH UNFORTUNATELY AT SUCH YOUNG AGES.

>> A LOT OF PEER PRESSURE.

>> AND ALL REALMS WITH RELATIONSHIPS AND DRUG ABUSE OR ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

YOU REAL WITH THEM BUT ARE THEY REAL WITH YOU IN CONFESSING THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, AND ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, THIS IS A PART OF MY TEENAGED LIFE?

>> YES, WELL, CERTAINLY WITH BEING THE PRIEST WE GET THAT CHANCE OF CONFESSION, I CAN'T SAY TOO MUCH BECAUSE IT IS A CONFESSION.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> BUT IT IS TRUE.

THEY REALLY DO LET GO.

AND THERE IS TIMES IN OUR SCHOOL YEAR, WHERE THEY GET A CHANCE TO JUST DUMB AND THIS IS WHERE I WAS GOING AND THAT WAS, I NEEDED TO DO A YOU-TURN BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW AND SO HERE IS WHERE I'M AT.

AND, THEN YOU JUST SAY, WOW, YOU KNOW, GOD'S LOVE IS BIGGER THAN THAT.

AND LET'S KEEP ON GOING AND KNOW GOD'S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS AND KEEP ON MOVING.

>> IN THESE DAYS AND TIMES FATHER NORMAN, ABOUT HOW THE POVERTY LEVEL WE HEARD WHEN WE WERE TAPING THIS PROGRAM THE POFL LEVEL IN THIS NATION WAS HIGHER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN SOME TIME AND SO MANY KIDS IF OUR STATE LIFE IN POVERTY, AND SO MANY PEOPLE WERE HURTING JUST IN GENERAL, NOT JUST ECONOMICALLY BUT ALL KINDS OF WAYS.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE CHURCHNOT JUST CATHOLIC OR PROTESTANT.

BUT WHAT SHOULD THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH BE DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES?

>> I THINK THAT IF ANYTHING, THE CHURCH SHOULD CONTINUE TO FIND HOW AS WE CONSIDER OURSELVES AS HOPEFULLY A BEACON OF HOPE AND A BEACON OF LIGHT, TO DRAW RESOURCES TOGETHER, TO ALLOW THOSE WHO CAN'T AFFORD TO FIND A WAY TO RECEIVE.

I KNOW FROM MY PARISH, ALREADY SOME FOLKS HAVE SAID, I WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO, IF THEY FEEL CALLED BY GOD TO GET A CATHOLIC EDUCATION, THEN I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A CHANCE TO DO THAT AND IT IS POWERFUL TO SEE THAT WE ALL HAVE SOME ASPECT OF TEACHING OR SOME INSTRUCTION WE CAN GIVE, WHETHER IT IS IN SCHOOL OR OUT TO THESE YOUNGER GENERATIONS, AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES, WE EXPECT OTHER PEOPLE TO DO IT AND BACK THE DAYS, IF YOU GOT IN TROUBLE DOWN THE STREET, EVERYBODY'S MOMMA WAS OUT ON THE PORCH SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO GET IT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET CHASTIZED BY ME AND BY THE MOMMA DOWN THE STREET.

AND WE ALL WERE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND WE WERE ABLE TO KNOW THAT AS A COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU HAVE IS NOT YOUR OWN.

AND WHAT YOU DO YOUR NAME, IT REFLECTS BIG TIME ON YOUR FAMILY.

>> ARE RERETURNING TO THAT THOUGH, TO THAT KIND OF IT TAKES A VILLAGE CONCEPT AND WE HAVE GOTTEN AWAY FROM THAT WHERE YOU CAN DISCIPLINE THE CHILD WHO WASN'T YOURS, AND NOT FEAR RETRIBUTION BY THE OR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

ARE WE ATHROUGHING MORE OF A COMMUNITY SPIRIT TO PREVAIL WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING CHILDREN ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILDREN AND ESPECIALLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS.

>> I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT, THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF PROGRAMS, THERE IS ALL KIND OF PROGRAMS THAT ARE MANIFESTING RIGHT NOW AND BEING CREATIVE AND DEVELOPED BY A LOT OF URBAN MINISTRIES, TO REALLY NOT RUN AWAY FROM OUR KID BUT RUN TO OUR KIDS AND EMBRACE THEM AND EMPOWER THEM, BECAUSE, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THE COMMUNITY IS NOT GOING BE A REFLECTION OF GOOD VALUES, AND GOOD CHOICES, AND SO THERE WILL BE PITFALLS THAT ARE GOING TO BE, IN PLACE, BUT, WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE THE BRIDGES TO GETTING THOSE RESOURCES AND GETTING KID MOTIVATED TO BE, TO STAND ARE WITH COURAGE AND FAITH AGAIN.

>> BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT ATTENDEES OF CHURCH THEY SAY WE SEE ALL OF THESE GREAT MAGNIFICENT BUILDING POPPING UP ALL OVER.

LEXINGTON IS IN THAT NUMBER WITH YOU WHAT'S THE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> RIGHT.

>> THROUGH ALL OF THAT MEGAMILLION DOLLAR CHURCH.

IS IT BEING ENHANCED INWAY.

AND CERTAINLY, YOU THINK THAT ST. PETER CLAYBURN WILL BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW TO DO THAT RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THAT IF ANYTHING, WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A MIND TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY, AND CERTAINLY WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE GROWING YOU HAVE TO SOMETIMES EXPAND, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, DEAL WITH THE SPIRITUAL CHURCH, THE CHURCH OF THE HUMAN FAMILY WHICH DOESN'T TAKE A BUILDING TO BE REMINDED OF LIKE ST. PAUL SAYS WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT MEMBERS BUT ONE BODY SO WHEN YOU DEAL WITH THE COMMUNITY, WHEN YOU DEAL WITH ANY KIND OF CHURCH SETTING, AND ESPECIALLY THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO ALLOW THOSE RESOURCES TO BE SHARED GENEROUSLY.

>> WELL, I ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT.

AND I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE HOOK HERE.

I WANTED TO DO SOME KIND OF LITTLE OFF-THE-CUFF RENDITION OF SOMETHING TO TAKE US OUT.

WHETHER THAT IS "MY GOD" OR WHATEVER IT IS.

>> HOW ABOUT A LITTLE JASON MRAZ.

>> OKAY, VERY GOOD.

>> ♪ WELL YOU CAME TO GET BLESSED AND I BET THAT YOU FELT IT ♪ YOU MAY HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS BUT YOU JUST HELPED YOU GET BACK NOTE BEFORE THE COOL DONE RUN, NOTHING CAN HELP YOU EXCEPT DIVINE INTERVENTION NOTE I RECKON IT IS AGAIN OUR TURN TO LOVE SOME AND SERVE SOME NOTE ♪ AND I WON'T HESITATE NO MORE, NO MORE THIS IS OUR FAITH, I'M YOURS ♪ THERE IS NO NEED TO COMPLICATE OUR TIME IS SHORT, THIS IS OUR FAITH ♪ I'M YOURS ♪ >> FATHER NORMAN FISCHER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> GOD BLESS YOU, RENEE.

>> GOD BLESS YOU.

THAT'S ALL FOR "CONNECTIONS" THIS TIME I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE CARE AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.