The Rev. James Christopher Enright prefers to be called just Jim - but most of his flock call him Father Jim. Presently, he is a priest without a pulpit, having retired two years ago. But for almost 30 years, Father Jim has been the unsung moral and spiritual backbone of this community.

He is shy and retiring, but his dossier suggests a man who has spent his career saving souls and saving lives. In addition to serving as parish priest, Father Jim has been the main chaplin for the Auburn Correctional Facility from 1978 to 2004. He has also served as chaplin of the Auburn Fire Department and Owasco Fire Department for most of the last 28 years.

His position at Auburn Correctional Facility placed him over all chaplins encompassing 17 religions. He found it difficult rationalizing the actions of some. A Muslim Cleric serving under him was prosecuted, in Syracuse, for funneling funds to Iraqi terrorists.

Father Jim's chosen occupation has placed him in the face of danger many times. One of his duties as prison chaplin was to aid in crisis intervention. He was a key figure in the negotiation of the Southport (Elmira) Correctional Facility prison riot 15 years ago and was able to secure the release of hostages and resolved the crisis without incident.

We admire him most for his ability to inspire from the pulpit. His message is always clear and concise. Of this he says, “Anyone can prepare a long sermon, but it takes more effort to boil it down to the essentials. Most who give sermons talk at the audience and don't read faces to see how it is being received. A priest should not be a cleric. Clerics tend to be all and know all. In generations past the priest was better educated than most of his parishioners but this is no longer true. Most of the audience is better educated than I am. My purpose is to open their minds and bring out their questions. It is wrong to preach the infallibility of the church. We are beyond that today.”

One of the measures of a priest is how the children relate. It is hard to fool kids, and they are not impressed with pomp and circumstance. Father Jim was always popular with the children. Ours always wanted to attend the mass that he was serving because they knew that the homily would not be over 20 minutes and that they could understand what he was talking about.

Of Father Jim's religious philosophy he says, “More have been killed in the name of religion than for any other reason. A cleric should improve life, not destroy it.” Of terrorism, suicide bombings and martyrdom, he says, “If a person loses their purpose for living, they will find a purpose for dying.”

It is not easy to deal with the stress of death, homicides, suicides and prison life, but Father Jim has weathered the storm. He says, “In spite of it all, it's been a good life.”

Now he is enjoying retirement. Having purchased a travel trailer, Father Jim is touring the country. He has visited Alaska, Texas, Florida and New Mexico.

I have a few heroes in life - people, who have saved my life, inspired it, shaped it and helped me cope. Father Jim Enright is one of them.

Harold Miller is a businessman and Auburn native. He may be reached at hmillermod@aol.com