Saint Monica's Church is the local church of Rivet City, derived from Christianity. It is run by Father Clifford and his acolyte Diego in 2277.
Background[]
What is known of the Church's theology is based on Catholicism, through the sermons of Father Clifford. As of 2277, the father's sermons center around a warped retelling of the story of Saint Monica, the patron saint of lost children, who is popular amongst Rivet City's faithful. In their version of the story, Monica is the miraculous daughter of two ghouls who is enslaved with her son Ehren; Ehren eventually turns into a slaver himself, but through constant faith and love Monica leads Ehren to repent for his ways.[1][Non-game 1][2] Other values Clifford espouses in his sermons are tolerance and acceptance, in response to the tensions between the city's Upper Deck and Hangar Deck denizens.[3] Even though the church is empty every day but Sunday, Clifford will still preach to an empty house, as he believes that it is enough even if only God and Saint Monica hear his sermons.[4] Although popular, his sermons are also repetitive, and many attendees (including Diego)[5][6] struggle to stay awake during mass.[7][8][9] Oblivious to this,[10] he intends to make his next sermon on one of the seven deadly sins, though he hasn't decided which one.[11]
That being said, Father Clifford's regular audience do appreciate him for his services, which help strengthen their faith and comfort them.[12][13] especially Vera Weatherly, who even gives Father Clifford and Diego free meals as thanks.[14] Meanwhile, Clifford also engages in outreach all across the city, encouraging more people to attend church and providing counseling and aid to those in need; as he says, all of Rivet City is his flock.[2] These efforts vary somewhat in their effectiveness. For example, the church helps assuage Mei Wong's fears about slavers capturing her,[15] and reduce Mister Lopez's suicidal tendencies.[16][17][Non-game 1] On the other hand, efforts to boost church attendance see less success for various reasons. Some people, like Commander Danvers and Gary Staley, are too busy to change their schedules.[18][19] Others, like Ted Strayer and Doctor Preston, simply don't believe in the faith.[20][21] The staff and patrons of the The Muddy Rudder, such as Belle Bonny, Trinnie, Brock, and Sister, are particularly hostile to Clifford, as they consider him to be an unwanted and overly moralizing intrusion upon their lives.[22][23][24][25] Among their other community efforts, they regularly visit the Rivet City clinic to pray for Doctor Preston's patients.[21][26]
Father Clifford took in Diego after the latter's father abandoned him in Rivet City, and the pair have become like father and son. Diego has since become the church's acolyte, assisting Clifford in his outreach,[21] setting up for Sunday services,[27][28] and studying to succeed him in the priesthood.[29][Non-game 2] However, Diego has recently become caught between his relationship to the church and his relationship with Angela Staley, who is in love with him.[30][31][32] Father Clifford is well aware of these attempts, and has told Diego that Angela is his temptation before he can attain the priesthood.[33] As so many of Clifford's hopes for the Church lie in Diego, especially because there is no else in line for the priesthood, he consider it devastating for Diego to leave.[34][35] For his part, Diego has resisted all of Angela's advances so far.[36] Should Father Clifford die, Diego will take his place as priest of the Church.
At some point, Father Clifford met Marcella, a Christian missionary from the Abbey of the Road. She was delighted to find another person in the wasteland as passionate about religion as she was.[37]
Schedule[]
Father Clifford will deliver his sermons in the church every morning from 8 to 10 a.m., while Diego will always stand nearby beginning at 7 a.m. and lasting until 11 a.m. There will be no one else in attendance unless it is Sunday, in which case the regular audience of churchgoers will come at 7 a.m. and sit in the pews until 10 a.m. With the exception of Bannon, who always leaves halfway through the sermon, everyone else will stay for another hour and mingle with each other after the sermon ends, from 10-11 a.m. They are listed below:
¹ Only stays until 9 a.m. before leaving.
² If adopted by Vera Weatherly at the end of Those!
If Father Clifford has died for any reason, and Diego has not left or been kicked out of the church, then Diego will deliver sermons in his place, daily from 8 to 10 a.m.
At night, Father Clifford sleeps in the backroom from 10 PM to 6 a.m. Diego does the same, but wakes up an hour earlier and wanders around the church until sermons begin.
Layout[]
The church is located on the midship deck. It is a medium sized rectangular room with several rows of pews made from old benches and a podium at the front where Father Clifford gives his sermons. There is also a small room at the back of the church which serves as Father Clifford's personal quarters, and both he and Diego reside there. The door to this room is locked with a Very Easy lock.
Related quests[]
- The Replicated Man: Father Clifford is a member of the Railroad and has information regarding the escaped android A3-21.
- A Nice Day for a Right Wedding: Angela Staley has feelings for the acolyte Diego. However, he is too devoted to the church to reciprocate, unless outside intervention occurs. If it does, the church service for the newlyweds will happen here.
- Church Donations: The charity of strangers, a surprise to Father Clifford, is a welcome action... but only in the form of caps. Large donations are more preferable, and item donations are refused entirely.[38][39] The player receives +1 Karma per cap donated.
Notes[]
- As a member of the Railroad, Father Clifford helped A3-21 escape the Institute, sending the android to Horace Pinkerton. When representatives of the Institute arrived, Clifford and the others in the Railroad collectively shut down, concealing their operations by inaction. Clifford justifies his actions, viewing the android as "one of god's children."[40][41][42][43]
- Vera Weatherly does not charge Diego or Father Clifford for their meals out of respect for their service.[44]
- There is a whiskey bottle and a syringe of Med-X in his podium in the church.
- If the Lone Wanderer is caught attempting to break into the donation box Father Clifford and Diego will become hostile towards them.
- Although there is a donation box, Father Clifford holds donated caps on his person, and therefore they can be stolen back at the (disproportionate) Karma loss of a single instance of stealing, compared to the 100 Karma per 100 bottle caps donated. One can also still donate if their Karma is already positive 1,000.
- Non-player characters are scripted to come to this church every Sunday morning to hear Father Clifford's sermon. They do not come on other days, though Clifford will still preach.
Appearances[]
Saint Monica's Church appears only in Fallout 3.
Behind the scenes[]
"Saint" Monica and her son Ehren are based on the real Saint Monica and her son Augustine of Hippo.
References[]
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Non-game
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.72: "Father Clifford
Father Clifford, 40, spends most of his days in the church, but leaves for a couple hours every day to walk around the carrier. He's a nice guy and likes just about everyone he meets. He is especially fond of telling the story of Saint Monica, who went on a journey to be with her son and saved his soul. He counsels Mister Lopez during his frequent visits to the church. He's mildly envious of Doctor Preston; it doesn't help that Doctor Preston never attends church."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census) - ↑ Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition p.69: "Diego
Diego, 18, is Father Clifford's assistant. He came to Rivet City a few years ago with his father but was abandoned. Father Clifford took Diego in, and the two have become like father and son. Diego assists Father Clifford with his church work and wants to be a priest when he gets older. He has strong feelings for Angela and spends much of his free time with her. However, he is also a devoted Catholic. Because she is only 16, he does everything he can to keep his feelings secret, although Angela sees right through him."
(Fallout 3 Official Game Guide Game of the Year Edition Wasteland Census)
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