AS SUNDAY MASS begins at St. Malachy Catholic church, the traditional incense wafts through the air. The scent would be familiar to Catholics everywhere.
The sound coming from the choir is an uplifting "Come By Here," the Gospel precursor to the famed "Kumbaya."
The North Philadelphia parish blends Catholic tradition and community roots in a service that speaks to the diversity of its parishoners. "Culture is the hook we hang our experience on," said the Rev. Monsignor Kevin Lawrence, known to parishoners as Father Kevin.
Who we are: St. Malachy is a 163-year-old parish founded by Irish-Catholic immigrants who were pushed to the outskirts of the city when they arrived in the 19th century.
In the 20th century, another wave of newcomers, African-Americans coming from the South, transformed the neighborhood and the parish.
Today, St. Malachy still draws parishoners of Irish heritage, many of whom travel in from the suburbs and New Jersey. In addition, the diverse congregation includes many African-Americans, Hispanics and recent immigrants from Africa. The church has about 300 member families.
Where we worship: The church, at 1429 N. 11th St., was built between 1851 and 1852 and originally called "the Church in the woods" for its location on the city's frontier. The building received extensive renovations in the early 20th century, including stained glass windows and elaborate ceiling paintings. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10 a.m.
What we believe: The church community "proclaims Christ through prayer, worship and evangelization," Father Kevin said, reading from a mission statement he and his staff spent a year drafting. "We are committed to sharing our gifts and resources through the works of charity and service, acts of peace and justice, and respect for the earth and all creation with special care for children and all those in need."
"Conversion through witness." That's the official church motto for St. Malachy's soft-touch approach to wooing non-Catholics.
Located in a predominantly non-Catholic community, the church at one time charged higher tuition for non-Catholic children at the parish school. Many had their children convert for the cheaper rates.
Now, instead of evangelizing assertively, Father Kevin said the congregation simply opens its doors to community members and hopes for converts to come to the faith through "internal experience."
The St. Malachy School student body is 98 percent non-Catholic.
Cherry-and-white connection: The Temple University Newman Center, a Catholic student center nearby on Broad Street, is officially part of the St. Malachy parish.
Father Kevin, however, said he chooses to let the center and its priest, Father Shaun Mahoney (who lives at the parish rectory), operate with autonomy.
Peacenik connection: St. Malachy is a member of the Catholic Peace Fellowship, which takes a stand against nuclear proliferation and the size of the United States' military budget.
Big moral issue we grapple with: Many congregants face street violence in their neighborhoods. In addition to global disarmament, the parish hopes to address handgun violence on a local level, although they're still in the thinking-about-it stage on how to proceed.
The Jägerstätter: A large wooden statue of the Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, stomping on a Nazi swastika, is on display at St. Malachy. It's a tribute to the Austrian martyr who chose beheading over joining the Third Reich.
The statue was carved by parishioner Robert McGovern in 1987 to honor the Jesuit peace activist Father Daniel Berrigan. St. Malachy dedicates Mass on the second Sunday of every month to Jägerstätter.
God moment: Father Kevin said he feels the presence of God most deeply when the congregation gathers for Sunday worship and for the Eucharist.
God is . . . "Here."