Massachusetts

Scenes From a Parish Premiering Tonight on Independent Lens

“[Scenes From a Parish] unfolds in a series of incredibly diverse personal stories as both O’Brien and his fractious flock struggle to hold fast to their faith in the face of dire circumstances.”
- Chicago Tribune

When a young, irreverent priest arrives at Saint Patrick Parish in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he discovers the unexpected––boiling ethnic tensions in a changing working-class community. Filmed over four years, the film follows the diverse personal stories of Father Paul O’Brien and his unruly flock as they struggle to hold onto faith in the face of desperate circumstances.