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From the Desk of
Fr. John Madigan, O.M.I.

Oblate Profile

Why Do We...

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Annual Healing Novena

The Lives of Saints

Oblate Martyrs:
Making the Ultimate Sacrifice

Small National - Big Presence: Oblates in Lesotho

Donor Highlight

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Sometimes…art imitates life, and sometimes it’s the other way around. For Reverend Paul Hall, a permanent Deacon in the Episcopal Church, life works both ways.

As a child of the Depression growing up in northern Kentucky, Paul lost his mother when he was just a baby. The youngest of seven children, Paul was raised by his sister, who was forced to quit school at the age of 13 to care for Paul and her five other brothers.

The family lived on a small farm with a vegetable garden and cows. Paul’s father worked hard to provide for his family, but became partially disabled when his arm was cut off in a railroad accident.“We were dirt poor,” Paul recalls.

While they didn’t have much money, the family had what many other families of that era had – love and the will to survive difficult times. Part of that survival plan included Paul’s living away from home so he could receive an education. At the age of 15 Paul traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, to live at Boys Town, an organization founded by Fr. Edward Flanagan that has provided education and care for at-risk youth since 1917. When Paul arrived at Boys Town in 1941, the movie Men of Boys Town, starring Mickey Rooney and Spencer Tracy, had just been filmed. While the film’s storyline may not exactly reflect Paul’s experiences, one thing is certain: Paul’s life was changed because of Boys Town. Boys Town was established to meet the needs of young people like Paul. In turn, the movies Boys Town and Men of Boys Town provided an entertaining and inspirational portrayal of the lives of Boys Town residents.

“Boys Town was the making of me,” Paul says proudly. “It really influenced my life. I played on the football team and sang in the choir. I also served Mass for Fr. Flanagan. It was a real honor.”

Paul went on to become a teacher, specializing in teaching reading to students from primary grades all the way to college. At the age of 51 he was ordained a permanent Deacon in the Episcopal Church. Paul focused his ministry on the elderly, often visiting parishioners in hospitals and nursing homes.

Today, at the age of 82, Paul has been retired for five years and enjoys his title of Deacon Emeritus. He also enjoys the sunshine and fair weather of Florida’s east coast where he’s made his home for the past 51 years. “These days, I’m just trying to catch my breath and keep up with my health,” he laughs.

By making charitable gifts to organizations like the Missionary Oblates, however, Paul is doing much more than that. Through his charitable gifts and a will bequest, Paul will continue to help others for years to come. Influenced by the Great Depression as well as the kindness of others during his childhood, Paul values the combination of benefits he receives from the Missionary Oblates’ Charitable Gifts Annuity Program.

“For years I put my spare dollars in stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, and the like,” Paul says.“Some investments made a modest return, while others literally helped me lose my shirt. Then I learned about charitable gift annuities which are a great way to get a fantastic return on my investment dollar in a very simple manner. Best of all, my investment goes to further God’s plan. I can play a large part in educating Seminarians, feeding the hungry, and caring for the sick. You might say God is my banker!”

While Paul’s life story may not end up on the big screen, his generosity will influence many people whose needs are much like those of the young man who many years ago went to Boys Town.

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