4 PRIESTS AND A NUN WALK INTO A RESTAURANT
Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, no? But the only joke is that my friend, Sr. Bern, didn’t walk into a restaurant with us…ha ha.
I know that the news has had terrible scandals with many priests (and other teachers, coaches, and people in positions of trust.) It’s disgusting and so sad.
But Terry and I have had the very good fortune of knowing many many good priests in our time, a blessing …and even Terry considered becoming one…. and myself considered becoming a nun at one point.
We remain friends with these wonderful folks after all these years so when we came to Windsor we made plans to meet with 4 of our closest priest friends.
Fr. John Comiskey, (above left) drove 2 1/2 hours to meet up with us for lunch at Kelsey’s one day. We haven’t seen him for about 3 years so it was really nice to catch up with him and for all of us to share our stories of faith, work, and family life.
John told us that he knew he was going to be a priest ever since he was in grade one! One of 10 children, Fr. John Comiskey is also an author and I read his heady book : My Heart's Best Wishes for You: A Biography of Archbishop John Walsh.
He works in the Diocese of London, Ontario. Comiskey is Moderator of the Curia and Bishop's Delegate, and assistant professor of historical theology and a former Vice-Rector at St. Peter's Seminary.
Towards the end of our stay we had the pleasure of meeting with Fr. Tom Tarantino ( above right) whom we met at the Marian Centre in Edmonton years ago when he was the priest in residence there. Now he lives in the ‘Devonshire’ , a senior’s residence in downtown Windsor. Fr. Tom always said, “Look for the grace” and he certainly lives his life looking at the positive sides of every situation.
It’s been a bit of a tough transition for him to leave the community life he served in for years and come into a lockdown situation during the pandemic in his wee, apartment where he lives alone. He never complained once in our conversation about his new home but looked for the graces in his new home life. We visited for about an hour or so and it was lovely.
We were invited to visit with Fr. Bob Champagne (above left) and Fr. Gary Goyeau (above right) ….and met ‘Peanut’ for the first time while we were home.
They kindly gave us a tour of their home( which they themselves completely cleaned and had renovated…a story for another time) and I loved all of the stained glass and the beautiful altar room. They are both finally retired and have been through several severe health scares which almost took their lives. But they are both recovering very well and they looked great!
My friendship with these guys goes way back to high school ! I joined a youth group called “Youth Corps” led by my dear friend, Rosemary, and our friend, Fr. Bob, would join us in prayer and frivolity at some of our meetings in the church basement. At the time he had brown, curly hair and glasses. I also met Fr. Gary around that time and Gary actually married Terry and I 40 years ago next month.
He always mentions that he joined us on our honeymoon because we had only just returned from our honeymoon in Bermuda when he showed up to stay with us at our new apartment in Calgary, Alberta, for a week.
My new husband was also a new lawyer and since it was Terry’s birthday when Gary was visiting us I talked him into dressing up as a clown with me and surprising Terry at his new job!
I had all the costume stuff because I used to be an actress but Gary was reticent because he was worried that someone would notice him and he had to be a respectful priest. I told him to remember that he was in a city far from eastern Canada, would be in full makeup and a clown costume, so WHO could possibly know it was him?
So, off we went through the downtown walking mall when what should we hear but a very loud…, “ FR. GARY!!!!!! Is that YOU?????”
You should have seen the look he gave me! Crazily enough, another couple from our former parish ( and 2 people I actually went to grade school with) just happened to be on holidays in Calgary and they DID recognize him! HA HA HA.
Terry was also very surprised indeed (can’t remember what his co-workers thought… ha ha) and Gary had the photo of us from that day framed and in his bedroom. And check out Fr. Bob in his younger days….and when he was a nun….ha ha ha. Silly stuff but we had and have lots of laughs.
It is always so wonderful to meet up with our old friends….at a restaurant….or ….anywhere!
