Having read various comments on this subject I feel I am qualified to add to the debate as our Parish Priest is married with four sons. In the last decade some 239 Anglican priests have been ordained into the Catholic Church after the Church of England decision to ordain women in1992. Of this number some 110 were married. In deciding to be received into the Catholic Church was a momentous decision for all. Unlike their celibate counterparts, they risked not only their own livlihood but that of every member of their family, not knowing whether they would ever be allowed to enter the Catholic priesthood. All were aware that their decision would cost them the very roof over their heads, their job, financial security and their very identity as Anglican-Catholic priests.Yet they all did this without knowing whether anything awaited them on the other side. Many were helped out by the St Barnabas Society. For many the Soiciety's gifts meant the difference between financial survival and ruin. For the wives of former Anglican priests there was the gradual process of being accepted into Catholic parish life. Our priest's wife (Kate) said that she was filled with trepidation when she and her husband (Fr David) moved into the presbytery. The parish had never had a family in the presbytery before and she did not know what to expect. She could not envisage what the reaction would be - whether her husband would get a strange reaction and people would boycott the parish or whether they would be ok with her husband but not with her. The news that our new incoming priest was married with children awakened our congregation from its long slumber and long debates followed. There was only one dissenter and people did not pass judgement. As the due day approached, there was a mixture of excitement and stepping into the unknown. I well remember my first meeting with our new priest at the Saturday evening Mass. I politely informed him how things had been carried out in the past (eg collections, lay Ministers and other minute matters) and that if he wished to change anything he should let all concerned know. His response was that he intended to fall in line with current practices. Shortly after the Mass had ended a 92 year old parishioner commented that she had seen everything now but really liked what she saw. This was the seal of approval all were after. It is now just over 10 years since our priest was ordained a Catholic priest and a few weeks ago we celebrated this occasion with a wonderful mass and celebration and many fine words from other priests. Even his wife said a few words. The church was packed to the rafters. The real highlight of the evening was when he approached his wife and gave her a big hug and kiss. The congregation was longing him to do so and had he failed he would have been in trouble. Its not often you see a priest kissing a woman in church. How have we taken to Fr David and Kate. Well the recent announcemet by our Bishop that he was not intending to move them on brought a standing ovation from the congregation. We would not swap them for the world. I could go on for ages about the positive benefits a married priests bring to a Parish but I will not. Trust me there are no negatives. Our church is called the Holy Family and all Saints and we really do have a family atmosphere from priest to congregation. By the way our church was once a Protestant church. The congregation fell away and it was abandoned. We took it over - ours was too small - and turned it into a wonderful place of worship but this is another story. I well remember having a serious conversation with a previous Priest who said that being a priest can be a very lonely life. He said that although he had thousand of acquaintances he had few close friends. When he closed his door at night his only company was his dog. Here in England we are experiencing a shortage of priests and we feel so lucky that so many Anglican priests have come along to fill the void. They say that God works in mysterious ways. All I would say to any doubters out there is give it a go. We did and it has been a wonderful experience. Pat Delaney

Remarkable Story, Pat, I really appreciate your sharing it with us. Nan in Chicago where my old Catholic parish was standing room only (1400 capacity I think) growing up and now ghostly with maybe 50-60 people at Mass on Sunday. On Jul 12, 2007, at 3:19 PM, Pat Delaney wrote: > Having read various comments on this subject I feel I am qualified > to add to the debate as our Parish Priest is married with four sons. > > In the last decade some 239 Anglican priests have been ordained > into the Catholic Church after the Church of England decision to > ordain women in1992. Of this number some 110 were married. In > deciding to be received into the Catholic Church was a momentous > decision for all. Unlike their celibate counterparts, they risked > not only their own livlihood but that of every member of their > family, not knowing whether they would ever be allowed to enter the > Catholic priesthood. All were aware that their decision would cost > them the very roof over their heads, their job, financial security > and their very identity as Anglican-Catholic priests.Yet they all > did this without knowing whether anything awaited them on the other > side. Many were helped out by the St Barnabas Society. For many the > Soiciety's gifts meant the difference between financial survival > and ruin. > > For the wives of former Anglican priests there was the gradual > process of being accepted into Catholic parish life. Our priest's > wife (Kate) said that she was filled with trepidation when she and > her husband (Fr David) moved into the presbytery. The parish had > never had a family in the presbytery before and she did not know > what to expect. She could not envisage what the reaction would be - > whether her husband would get a strange reaction and people would > boycott the parish or whether they would be ok with her husband but > not with her. > > The news that our new incoming priest was married with children > awakened our congregation from its long slumber and long debates > followed. There was only one dissenter and people did not pass > judgement. As the due day approached, there was a mixture of > excitement and stepping into the unknown. > > I well remember my first meeting with our new priest at the > Saturday evening Mass. I politely informed him how things had been > carried out in the past (eg collections, lay Ministers and other > minute matters) and that if he wished to change anything he should > let all concerned know. His response was that he intended to fall > in line with current practices. Shortly after the Mass had ended a > 92 year old parishioner commented that she had seen everything now > but really liked what she saw. This was the seal of approval all > were after. > > It is now just over 10 years since our priest was ordained a > Catholic priest and a few weeks ago we celebrated this occasion > with a wonderful mass and celebration and many fine words from > other priests. Even his wife said a few words. The church was > packed to the rafters. The real highlight of the evening was when > he approached his wife and gave her a big hug and kiss. The > congregation was longing him to do so and had he failed he would > have been in trouble. Its not often you see a priest kissing a > woman in church. > > How have we taken to Fr David and Kate. Well the recent announcemet > by our Bishop that he was not intending to move them on brought a > standing ovation from the congregation. We would not swap them for > the world. I could go on for ages about the positive benefits a > married priests bring to a Parish but I will not. Trust me there > are no negatives. Our church is called the Holy Family and all > Saints and we really do have a family atmosphere from priest to > congregation. By the way our church was once a Protestant church. > The congregation fell away and it was abandoned. We took it over - > ours was too small - and turned it into a wonderful place of > worship but this is another story. > > I well remember having a serious conversation with a previous > Priest who said that being a priest can be a very lonely life. He > said that although he had thousand of acquaintances he had few > close friends. When he closed his door at night his only company > was his dog. > > Here in England we are experiencing a shortage of priests and we > feel so lucky that so many Anglican priests have come along to fill > the void. They say that God works in mysterious ways. > > All I would say to any doubters out there is give it a go. We did > and it has been a wonderful experience. > > > Pat Delaney > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-KERRY- > request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

I, too believe that priests should be able to marry, although I don't see it happening any time soon. But, isn't a decline in parishioners also a big problem? I know in western Massachusetts, where I live, we have had many churches close and merge with another local church. There weren't enough parishioners to sustain two churches, even though there is an increase in local population. (Of course, that doesn't mean the newer residents were all Catholic). Patsy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Pat Delaney" <pat.delaney@virgin.net> To: <irl-kerry@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2007 4:19 PM Subject: [IRL-KERRY] Married Priests Having read various comments on this subject I feel I am qualified to add to the debate as our Parish Priest is married with four sons. In the last decade some 239 Anglican priests have been ordained into the Catholic Church after the Church of England decision to ordain women in1992. Of this number some 110 were married. In deciding to be received into the Catholic Church was a momentous decision for all. Unlike their celibate counterparts, they risked not only their own livlihood but that of every member of their family, not knowing whether they would ever be allowed to enter the Catholic priesthood. All were aware that their decision would cost them the very roof over their heads, their job, financial security and their very identity as Anglican-Catholic priests.Yet they all did this without knowing whether anything awaited them on the other side. Many were helped out by the St Barnabas Society. For many the Soiciety's gifts meant the difference between financial survival and ruin. For the wives of former Anglican priests there was the gradual process of being accepted into Catholic parish life. Our priest's wife (Kate) said that she was filled with trepidation when she and her husband (Fr David) moved into the presbytery. The parish had never had a family in the presbytery before and she did not know what to expect. She could not envisage what the reaction would be - whether her husband would get a strange reaction and people would boycott the parish or whether they would be ok with her husband but not with her. The news that our new incoming priest was married with children awakened our congregation from its long slumber and long debates followed. There was only one dissenter and people did not pass judgement. As the due day approached, there was a mixture of excitement and stepping into the unknown. I well remember my first meeting with our new priest at the Saturday evening Mass. I politely informed him how things had been carried out in the past (eg collections, lay Ministers and other minute matters) and that if he wished to change anything he should let all concerned know. His response was that he intended to fall in line with current practices. Shortly after the Mass had ended a 92 year old parishioner commented that she had seen everything now but really liked what she saw. This was the seal of approval all were after. It is now just over 10 years since our priest was ordained a Catholic priest and a few weeks ago we celebrated this occasion with a wonderful mass and celebration and many fine words from other priests. Even his wife said a few words. The church was packed to the rafters. The real highlight of the evening was when he approached his wife and gave her a big hug and kiss. The congregation was longing him to do so and had he failed he would have been in trouble. Its not often you see a priest kissing a woman in church. How have we taken to Fr David and Kate. Well the recent announcemet by our Bishop that he was not intending to move them on brought a standing ovation from the congregation. We would not swap them for the world. I could go on for ages about the positive benefits a married priests bring to a Parish but I will not. Trust me there are no negatives. Our church is called the Holy Family and all Saints and we really do have a family atmosphere from priest to congregation. By the way our church was once a Protestant church. The congregation fell away and it was abandoned. We took it over - ours was too small - and turned it into a wonderful place of worship but this is another story. I well remember having a serious conversation with a previous Priest who said that being a priest can be a very lonely life. He said that although he had thousand of acquaintances he had few close friends. When he closed his door at night his only company was his dog. Here in England we are experiencing a shortage of priests and we feel so lucky that so many Anglican priests have come along to fill the void. They say that God works in mysterious ways. All I would say to any doubters out there is give it a go. We did and it has been a wonderful experience. Pat Delaney

I know it's Summer and it's slow, but I think that we have gone as far on this issue as we need to. Genealogy is our game; I consider history, culture, recipes, goats, and the like, part of genealogy. Religion is an important part of Irish History, but we're veering into Theology. Sadly, theology has been huge problem in Irish History. Unless if furthers our interest in Irish History, let's call it a day on this issue. Ray Marshall Semi-official Kerry List watchdog with plastic choppers