The priest with the familiar face reached behind the center door of the ornate confessional to get his nameplate, which he then placed into a slot above that door. It read Fr. Rutler. He then unlocked the side compartment and left that door ajar. After he re-entered the confessional, a light went on in his compartment and a green light was switched on above the side compartment, inviting all to the sacrament of Reconciliation, or what used to be known simply as Penance. I wondered if the congregation waiting for the 1:05 mass to begin knew that the priest waiting to absolve them of their sins, or simply to listen to them, has a towering reputation as an intellect and learned theologian.

George William Rutler is the pastor of the Church of Our Saviour, which was once viewed as the white elephant of Park Avenue. It had great debts, poor attendance, and unpaid bills, but then, shortly after September 11, Cardinal Egan assigned Father Rutler as its pastor. The Dartmouth graduate, author, personality on EWTN (the Catholic cable network), and former Episcopalian priest had big plans for rescuing the parish, and in just a few years, he has managed to transform it into a vibrant center of Catholicism that’s attracting many young parishioners.

A true renaissance man, Father Rutler, who is also a composer, writer, and artist, commissioned two artists to create a stunning 24-foot Christos Pantokrator on the wall behind the altar. This is an image of Christ in a typical iconic pose, and there is no way to describe its impact in a short column. It must be seen to be appreciated. Father Rutler’s dream is to turn his parish into an art center. “New York has so many talented young people trained in the fine arts, and yet there’s no place to showcase their work,” he said.

On Tuesday, a black-tie, black-and-white-attire-only event is scheduled to celebrate the golden anniversary of the Romanesque-style church, which was chartered in 1955 and was, Father Rutler believes, the last Catholic church building constructed in the city. While the Church of Our Saviour is a comparatively small church, it is now quite a jewel box, and, judging from the dinner guests expected to attend the affair at the Pierre Hotel, Father Rutler has friends in very high places who probably helped make that transformation happen.

I’m rather grateful for the black-and-white theme, which means I can wear the standard black uniform I keep handy for formal affairs. While it will be fun to hobnob with such stellar citizens as William and Pat Buckley, Avery Cardinal Dulles, Governor Carey, Mr. and Mrs. Wellington Mara, Margo and John Catsimatidis, and scores of other VIPs, the best selling point of the affair is that, Father Rutler has assured me, there will be no speeches.

Father Rutler’s parish is where President Bush attended an ecumenical prayer service before he went on to the convention last summer. Father Rutler said his parish was selected because its location, at 38th Street and Park Avenue, is not far from the convention hall. He also has had a longtime relationship with the Bush family, and in 1996, then-Governor Bush named the New York priest an honorary Texan.

I couldn’t resist asking Father Rutler about the president. “It’s not an act,” he told me. “He always prays before an important speech.” Father Rutler told me of a striking incident that I believe demonstrates the president’s humility. Father Rutler had worked with Mother Teresa for a dozen years in Rome and here in New York, and the president has expressed great interest in her and her work. During Mr. Bush’s visit here, Father Rutler offered the president a prayer card that Mother Teresa had given him, but the president declined the memorable gift, saying, “I’m not worthy.”

Father Rutler also commented that, at the ecumenical service, the new secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, also appeared to be a genuinely spiritual person.

When I asked Father Rutler why he converted to Catholicism, he answered: “I get asked that question a lot, so now I just tell them, ‘It’s the dental plan.’ ” He continued in a humorous vein, saying, “Over the years, I determined that Henry VIII had made a terrible mistake.”

Someone who knows Father Rutler rather well told me that this priest knows everybody and is good at everything he does. That may be, but I was most impressed by the simple parish priest who waited to hear the confession of anyone who entered the compartment with the inviting green light overhead.

He definitely has his priorities straight.