Father Nick Armentieri of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church Juggles pins in the church.

They say a magician never reveals his secrets, but the Rev. Nick Argentieri is more than happy to explain his tricks.

Argentieri, 30, uses magic tricks and juggling routines to convey religious teachings and spread the gospel message.

"In the magic world, there's a part called gospel magic," said Argentieri, parochial vicar at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church on North McKean Street. "Through my magic, I can spread the good news of Jesus."

Argentieri has practiced magic since he was a child, but did not incorporate a spiritual theme until he was in seminary.

"I looked back at all the tricks I'd learned and reworked them with a gospel theme," said Argentieri, who said he finds inspiration through prayer.

Examples of Argentieri's gospel magic include a card trick in which loaves and fishes appear to multiply.

Argentieri's juggling routine also has a religious theme, as he demonstrated recently at the church when he juggled three balls in one hand.

"This one represents the Holy Trinity, the mystery of three people and one God," he said.

With rapidly moving hands, he moved on to the next trick.

"This one takes a lot of imagination," he said as he tossed the balls up and down, with one ball cutting between the others. "It's Moses parting the Red Sea."

Trading the balls for clubs, he threw them high above his head without skipping a beat.

"It puts a whole new spin on life with Jesus," he quipped as he flung three neon colored pins into the air.

Growing up south of Pittsburgh in Carrick, Argentieri first became interested in magic when he was 7 years old.

His father learned a magic trick from a friend and first showed it to Argentieri's older brother, Dominic, who was mildly amused.

"Then my dad showed it to me and my eyes lit up," Argentieri said.

By reading books, watching other magicians and taking lessons at a magic store in Pittsburgh, he mastered numerous tricks and juggling maneuvers.

Since childhood, he has shown off his skills at church functions, school events and gatherings like Holy Communion parties.

Now, the performances serve as a teaching tool, said Argentieri, who always tries to have a magic trick with him when he visits children at Butler Catholic School or St. Wendelin School."It catches their attention and uses the element of surprise so they're more likely to remember the message," he said.He also provides entertainment on visits to those who are homebound, hospitalized or in nursing homes."It puts a smile in my heart," he said. "I receive a lot of joy, probably more than I send out. It's very rewarding."Argentieri was ordained in June 2008. He graduated from Baldwin High School and Allegheny College before entering St. Paul Seminary in Crafton. At the same time, he completed his master's degree in philosophy at Duquesne University.He studied theology for five years in Rome, then spent three months at St. Kilian Roman Catholic Church in Mars before returning to Rome for one more year.He has been at St. Paul since July."It has been a huge, warm welcome here and the parish has embraced me with open arms," he said. "Just meeting the families and working with Father Steve (Neff) has been a blessing."One particular trick has remained with church member Bill Kane of Butler, who has seen Argentieri perform at a number of events."One morning, he had three cups and the first was filled with water. He poured it from the first to the second, then second to the third," explained Kane. "He held up the biggest cup, where you'd think the water would be, and it was empty."Argentieri's magic tricks encourage parishioners to reflect more deeply on the church's teachings, Kane said."It shows that what we think, what we see and what we think we know isn't always true," Kane said. "It leaves a nice impression on the children and I think we're really fortunate to have him."Argentieri said he is inspired by St. John Bosco, a priest who lived in Italy in the late 1800s. To aid impoverished children living on the street, St. John Bosco founded an orphanage where children would be taught Christian morals and a trade."To encourage the children to come to the orphanage, he would often juggle and perform magic for them," Argentieri said.

"St. John Bosco then founded an order of priests called the Salesians, whose vocation was to care for orphans through the founding and running of Catholic schools and orphanages."Current gospel magicians often pray to St. John Bosco as the founder of gospel magic, Argentieri said.Whether he is tossing up clubs or concentrating on the minuscule movements of a magic trick, Argentieri said he is always focused on something larger than himself."The most important gift I preside at every day as a priest is not magic, but is the central mystery of our Catholic faith, when bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist," he said."That's not magic. That is the grace of the Holy Spirit passed down from Jesus, to the apostles, and down through the generations to our current bishops."

The Rev. Nick Argentieri of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church on North McKean Street shows his juggling skills. Argentieri, 30, has practiced magic since he was a child and says it helps him spread God's word. While growing up in Carrick in Allegheny County, Argentieri was impressed at age 7 when his father showed him a magic trick.

The Rev. Nick Argentieri shows off his magic cards. Argentieri uses magic tricks and juggling routines to convey religious teachings. In one of his card tricks, loaves and fishes seem to multiply.