THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021 Page 3 ~ THE ADVOCATE ASKS ~ Saugus Catholics Collaborative’s new pastor discusses being “a priest in recovery from alcoholism,” his tattoo, his Boston terrier and first impressions of Saugus Editor’s Note: For this week’s interview, we sat down with Father Jason “Jay” Makos, who recently became the new pastor of Saugus Catholics Collaborative. He replaces Father Tim Kelleher, who retired after leading the clerical staff of the two Saugus churches – Blessed Sacrament Parish and St. Margaret of Antioch Parish – for the past seven years. Father Jay, as he prefers to be called, is a 44-yearold native of the East Bridgewater and Brockton area. He has been very public in sharing his personal struggles with alcoholism with his parishioners, calling himself “a grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous” who got sober in February of 2015. Father Jay insists it’s necessary to share that personal story because of his outspoken views that the Catholic Church locally and universally “must be radically transparent to move forward into the future with the vigor the Lord demands.” He says he beA PRIEST AND HIS DOG: Father Jason “Jay” Makos, the new pastor of Saugus Catholics Collaborative, enjoys a moment with his five-year-old Boston terrier, Thea. She is a special gift he received in February of 2016 – one that celebrated his 39th birthday and a year of sobriety. (Saugus Advocate photos by Mark E. Vogler) lieves that he can’t expect this type of transparency from the Church if he is not radically transparent about himself. Father Jay is a 1995 graduate of FREEDOM FROM FEAR: Father Jason “Jay” Makos said he always wanted to get a tattoo. But it wasn’t until after he achieved sobriety from an addiction treatment program for priests in Detroit that he got this one. It’s in Greek and it means “without fear.” East Bridgewater High School and began his college career at Massasoit Community College, where he obtained an associate in science degree. He grew up Greek Orthodox and a person with deep faith in God. A pilgrimage to Canada later influenced his decision to accept full communion with the Catholic Church at an Easter Vigil in 1996. While attending UMass Boston, he visited Saint Anthony Shrine on Arch Street in Boston frequently. After a semester at UMass Boston, he went to Boston College, where he studied psychology. Feeling a call to the priesthood, he entered Saint John’s Seminary College in Brighton in 1998. After three years, he completed a bachelor's degree in liberal arts at Saint John’s and received a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. In the summer of 2001, he went to Rome to the North American ColASKS | SEE PAGE 4 AN ADVOCATE FOR TRANSPARENCY: A key reason why Father Jason “Jay” Makos says he’s been very public about his past struggles with alcoholism is that he’s been advocating for more transparency by the Catholic Church, both locally and globally. He says he can’t take that bold stand without being transparent about himself, which means talking freely about his alcohol addiction.
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