"Diary of a City Priest" is a quiet, slow-paced film about a Catholic priest in an inner-city church. More a portrait than
a story, it paints a picture of Father John McNamee (David Morse), who has preached sermons and ministered to the poor at St. Malachy's Church for 24 years and who is very near burnt out. Father Mac, as they call him, isn't harried by major catastrophes; it's the day-to-day things, like the endless parade of street folks who ask him for food, and having to help the repairman fix the church's furnace, and all the adminstrative work that goes into running a parish. Like George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life," Father Mac has time and love for everyone else, while he keeps having to push his own desires aside. He is lonely (which he expected when he accepted the call) and sad (which he did not expect). Buoying him up every now and then are visits from various saints. Their words of encouragement ring a little hollow to him, but it's a nice thought, anyway.
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