He was ordained with two other priests, one of whom has since left the priesthood. That priest left because the psychological burden he felt was too great. That's always a temptation, because there are always parishioners who don't think you're doing enough. Arriving at St. Denis in Harrisville, Duston carefully removes his vestments from the back of his station wagon. St. Denis is a small parish of just 80 families in the center of Harrisville.
Parishioners wait outside, mingling and exchanging pleasantries.
The small, wood-frame church sits on a hillside. It is packed with about 75 people, and its simplicity seems a stark contrast from the grandeur of the Catholic Church, especially on this Pentecostal Sunday, said to be the historic beginning of the church, the day when the Holy Spirit entered Christ's disciples. It also is First Communion Sunday here, with three young people set to witness what is called transubstantiation, the process of bread and wine becoming the body and blood of Christ. The sanctity of the moment is belied by the nervous laughter of the children. In his homily, Duston addresses the mystery of the Holy Spirit.