Local storyteller creates forum for sharing art

By Tanya Connor
The Catholic Free Press

Once upon a time, there was a storyteller who had a dream. (This is a true story, not a fairy tale. And the dream is coming true.)
The storyteller is Anthony McCaffrey, creator of Dovetales, a collection of religious fables or fairy tales for children. He writes them, and tells them at his parish, St. Anne and St. Patrick in Sturbridge, among other places.
He once dreamed of forming an online community with other people who tell and/or write religious stories – to discuss the content of their stories and the spirituality of being a storyteller.
When that didn’t materialize, he broadened his dream to include all artists. This spring he started a group called Artisans of Jesus and launched the website artisansofjesus.org.
His story begins around 1995, when he was a Jesuit brother directing religious education at a Chicago parish. He started writing and telling stories for the parish and its elementary school, and later for a Jesuit radio show.
“I saw it as a good tool for religious education and with children’s Masses,” he explained. “A friend gave me a tape of Garrison Keillor (of “A Prairie Home Companion” radio show) and I was very impressed with oral storytelling that he did.” Mr. McCaffrey also studied fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen and started writing fairy tales himself, imitating Keillor’s style of performing. He said this “went over well” with the children and families.
Mr. McCaffrey said that when he left the Jesuits in 1999 he stopped writing and telling stories for awhile. He married Stephanie Sauers, then a campus minister at Assumption University, in 2001. From 2002-2005 he directed religious education at St. Joseph and St. Pius X parishes in Leicester.
He said he and his wife were open to children but had none of their own. They fostered one child and temporarily housed a college student. Also, children have drawn pictures or written endings for some of his stories. The website dovetales.club displays his stories, which are not fully illustrated or published as books.
About three years ago, Mr. McCaffrey said, he realized his spiritual and artistic side needed attention. He was pursuing a doctorate in cognitive psychology and teaching computer science at Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, his present job.
“It’s come back to me that (storytelling) is part of my vocation,” he said. He started writing again and sought places to tell his stories. (He can tell stories where asked to, free for religious venues, for a fee some other places.)
“Creating and working alone can be isolating, so I initially tried to find other storytellers and writers for youth” who wanted to communicate the Gospel and family values, Mr. McCaffrey said.     
Not finding interested storytellers, “it occurred to me to expand my horizons … (to) any artist or artisan,” he said. “I think of an artisan as a carpenter, furniture maker, baker, anyone who makes things with their hands.” He sought to bring together people who create things to “express Jesus and his vision.” By Jesus’ vision, he means the kingdom of God and Christ’s teachings about how we should treat one another.
On June 5, Mr. McCaffrey said, he launched Artisans of Jesus and its website. The name was inspired by the Jesuits’ full name: Society of Jesus. The motto, “Expressing God in all media,” springs from a Jesuit motto, “Finding God in all things.”
The website invites painters, game designers, influencers, glass blowers and more to “join us online to concretely help each other.”
Mr. McCaffrey said he advertised to recruit members – in the Jesuit magazine “America,” with “America Media,” and in the newsletter and on the website of the New York-based Catholic Artist Connection, which has some goals similar to his.
His group aims to support members by their participation in a community of like-minded people, access to the group’s chaplains (Jesuits who are artists) for spiritual conversation, and help in learning skills such as building websites and editing sound.
“We’re using the technological world to promote or produce (members’) art,” Mr. McCaffrey explained.
About 500 people looked at his website and about 10 responded, he said. He interviewed and accepted into the group the six that expressed interest.
As Catholics from five states and Canada, they won’t meet in person, but connect online. The whole group might meet via Zoom around December, after the initial recruitment phase, Mr. McCaffrey said.
“I am looking forward to building a world-wide community of music ministers,” commented member Patrice Metcalf, former music director at St. Anne’s in Sturbridge, who is transitioning to that ministry at St. Mary Parish, Wrentham. She expressed hope that group members can “encourage each other in our successes and support each other through our struggles.”
“It’s nice to find other artists that share the Catholic faith,” said Daniel Fernandes, a graphic designer and ceramic worker from Dallas, Texas.
“More often than not, any faith-based writing I do is in a vacuum,” commented David Goulet of Toronto, Canada. “It can be discouraging to not have like-minded artists to bounce ideas off. For example, when I was first putting together the thoughts for my anthology novel, Halos Rising, it was difficult to explain the concept (a book about future saints).” It was encouraging when Mr. McCaffrey “immediately got the concept,” he said; such support is critical for finishing projects.
Mr. Goulet said the group is about fellowship with others who seek to use their talents to craft “meaningful art that reveals the infinite wonders of our Creator.”
Jesuit Father Mark Scalese, 64, one of the group’s chaplains, is a former art teacher and filmmaker who now does photography, quilting and design work such as creating cards. A Chicago-based superior for Jesuits preparing for priesthood, he said he thought the opportunity to mentor artists in the spiritual life “would be cool.”

– Those seeking more information can email Mr. McCaffrey at:tony.curator.dovetales@gmail.com.