Your Chicago: Holy Angels Parish

(CBS) – His name is Father Andrew Smith. He is the pastor of Holy Angels parish in Bronzeville, and his ascension to the pulpit there is anything but ordinary.

CBS 2's Rob Johnson brings you his unique story, in honor of Black History Month.

The choir is loud, the sermon is lively -- just a typical Sunday for Smith and his flock of 300 at Holy Angels Catholic Church.

But his journey is anything but typical. He was a police officer for 10 years in Englewood before receiving the call to preach. It took three years to earn master's degree of theology in Atlanta, and then he had another five years at seminary.

"I struggled," he says. "Funds were very low and limited. ... But I knew this was my calling."

After his ordination, Father Smith started at St. Albie at 90th and Harper. He next went to work at a South Side institution – St. Sabina -- under iconic pastor Father Michael Pfleger.

Eventually he got his own parish, Holy Angels.

"It was good. That experience helped me to understand the virtue of patience, because you're dealing with people on so many levels," he says.

He has dreams of turning the old school building next door to the church into an all-purpose community center.

"It think it's going to unify us. We'll get new members, and it will be good for the community," Smith says.

For more information about the parish, click here.