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Father Darragh meets with Father Brennan, the Irish bishop of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Crown Heights, amid the cathedral’s grand, vaulted arches and stained glass windows, where the architectural beauty makes the spirit of God palpable. After a brief chat, the bishop arranges a meeting for him with John Bokun, the leader of the Westies, an Irish gang based in Hell’s Kitchen.
The meeting takes place in Rumours Bar & Grille, a cozy, old-school Irish pub that stays open late. John Bokun, a solidly built man with the physique of a boxer, specializes in loans and the marijuana trade. He sits confidently in a booth, accompanied by a beautiful blonde woman, elegantly dressed in a black evening dress, with a noticeable scar running across her face.
"Order what you want, Father. It’s on me."
"Excellent. I’ll have Irish pork sausages with gravy, and a few Guinness."
The food is delicious, making for a pleasant meal. Their conversation drifts through their shared Irish ancestry and the ongoing feud between the Kinahan and Hutch families back in Ireland.
"You’re nice and all, Father, but tell me, how can I trust you?"
"Jesus said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also.’ But have you ever seen anyone who actually has the gift of healing?"
"Of course not," the mobster responds. "That kind of thing only happens in movies."
"The young lady here, if I heal her scar, will you trust me?"
The mobster scoffs. "Father, I think you’ve had too many Guinness. But sure, if you can do that, I’ll definitely believe you."
Father Darragh stands and moves beside the lady. "Ma’am, if I may."
He lays his hands near her face, reciting the Pater Noster several times, his voice filled with conviction. After a few moments, a light blue energy begins to emanate from his palms, slowly enveloping the woman's face. As the energy flows, the scar starts to fade, the skin knitting itself back together. When he finally removes his hands, it is clear that her skin has healed and the scar is completely gone. The mobster, unable to contain his shock, spits out his beer, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I was excommunicated from the church for heresy because I rejected the Old Testament as false Jewish Scriptures. On the very day I fully rejected those Scriptures, without any doubt in my heart, I suddenly felt closer to Jesus. That’s when the Spirit bestowed the gift of healing upon me. This is a true miracle, performed only by the true followers of Jesus Christ. It came at the cost of my status and reputation."
The woman checks herself in her pocket mirror and exclaims, "John, it’s true. My face! What the hell!"
"This is not the work of hell, but of heaven," the priest responds. "Now, as for what I wanted from you. It is not much. Only to buy weaponry at a fair price, to help in my crusade against the Jewish devils"
