Latest news with #parishioners
Telegraph
16-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Priest hits out at ‘unlikeable, entitled' parishioners in poem
A priest has written a scathing poem blaming his 'unlikeable, entitled' parishioners for dwindling congregation numbers. Father Pat Brennan, the parish priest at Holy Family Catholic Church in Coventry, announced in the church newsletter that he was leaving his post after nine years because of 'vocal criticism' from a few parishioners. In a poem that he described as a 'parting gift', Father Brennan asked: 'What makes people not come to church?' The answer, he suggested, was 'the righteous, the clique, the worthy' who offer a 'disdainful look', and complain when others sit in their seat and 'gossip'. These 'unfriendly' few he described as 'a mix of disgruntled, unlikeable, entitled offended … tutting for a living, whispering about you know who'. The priest asked in the poem, entitled Not I Lord Surely, whether prospective churchgoers may be put off by 'the cold indifference and quiet disdain of those who already go'. 'You can't please all the people' Father Brennan, who was ordained as a priest in St Dunstan's Kings Heath, Birmingham, in July 1992, said he would leave the parish with many fond memories, adding: 'I was very happy at Holy Family and had the privilege of meeting so many wonderful people.' However, he said: 'You can't please all the people and those few who have been vocal in criticism in and outside of the parish, have contributed to my leaving. Despite those few, I will keep the fondest memories in my heart and am grateful to have been parish priest here at Holy Family.' He added that priesthood was 'not an easy vocation' but the 'prayers, love and support' from parishioners act as great encouragement. Father Brennan ended his not by saying: 'Please pray for your priests.' A spokesman for the Diocese of Birmingham said that 'Father Pat is an experienced and much valued member of the clergy', adding that he would continue as parish priest at Bulkington and Bedworth. 'They should be ashamed of themselves' Maura Murray-Reeves, who has ties to the parish, shared the poem in a residents Facebook group, and said she was 'extremely disappointed' to hear that Father Brennan felt shunned. She said: 'Father Pat has been the parish priest for almost 10 years and he has always been very welcoming. It is disgusting to think that he was treated so poorly by a sad minority. They should be ashamed of themselves.' Ms Murray-Reeves later told the BBC: 'Being at Holy Family for 40-odd years we've had other priests and there's always been some [questions] as to why have they left. 'I can't imagine a priest is going to say something like that or vocalise that if it wasn't true – he'd have no reason to. This isn't the way we should be making a priest feel.'
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Outgoing priest writes scathing poem to 'entitled' parishioners blaming them for dwindling congregation
A Catholic priest has launched a scathing attack on his parishioners with a farewell poem slamming their 'entitled' and 'righteous' behavior. In his 'parting gift' Father Pat Brennan blamed the unwelcoming demeanor of some of his congregation for dwindling numbers on the pews, slating the 'gossips' and 'those who tut for a living'. In the blistering parting salvo, he describes them as 'the righteous, the clique, the worthy' and the reason behind his decision to leave Holy Family Catholic Church in Coventry after nine years. The poem was published in the church's newsletter, alongside a message explaining 'those few who had been vocal in criticism in and outside the parish' had pushed him out. Father Brennan said that while he was happy at Holy Family and proud of the church restoration work carried out while he was at the helm, he was aware 'you can't please all the people'. In the poem titled, 'Not I Lord Surely' he writes: 'What makes people not come to church? Could it be the people who already go? The righteous, the clique, the worthy, 'The disdainful look given, the thought 'you're in my seat'. The unfriendly, so that the stranger remains always so.' The priest goes on to blast 'gossip' that 'flows from holy lips' describing the perpetrators as 'a mix of disgruntled, unlikeable, entitled offended, who don't want to know.' 'Better than you, holier too, tutting for a living, whispering about you know who,' he added. He said the behaviour can leave people feeling 'rejected' instead of welcomed and loved. Maura Murray-Reeve, who has ties with the church in Holbrooks and shared the poem in a local residents Facebook group, said she was 'extremely disappointed' to see Father Brennan felt 'pushed out'. She said: 'Father Pat has been the parish priest for almost 10 years and he has always been very welcoming. 'It is disgusting to think that he was treated so poorly by a sad minority. They should be ashamed of themselves.' She told the BBC she was was 'embarrassed' to be part of the church that had treated Father Brennan wrongly and it was important for him to share his experience. 'This isn't the way we should be making a priest feel,' Ms Murray-Reeve said. Pauline Browne Spelman wrote on Facebook: 'It's so sad but true, I know people who go to church and act holier than thou but are really unkind to others and leave them out so this doesn't surprise me at all'. Victoria Marie added: 'Such a shame, Fr Pat is such a lovely and welcoming priest'. The newsletter states the Archbishop of Birmingham has appointed Father Charles Miller as the new parish priest, who will arrive at the end of July. The Archdiocese of Birmingham said in a statement: 'Fr Pat is an experienced and much valued member of the clergy. 'He has been running three parishes for several years, which is a large workload. 'As part of new parish clustering, Fr Pat will continue as parish priest at Bulkington and Bedworth and a new parish priest has been appointed to Holy Family.' Father Brennan, a priest for 33 years, did not respond to request for comment.
Washington Post
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
California bishop suspends Mass obligation due to immigration fears
San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas, who leads more than 1.5 million Catholics in Southern California, has formally excused parishioners from their weekly obligation to attend Mass following immigration detentions on two parish properties in the diocese. The dispensation is a move usually reserved for extenuating circumstances, like the height of the COVID-19 pandemic . But Rojas says it is necessary because of the fear of being apprehended and possibly deported that has gripped communities, including Catholic churches.
NHK
24-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
3D image data of Buddhist statue in Japan to be provided to S. Korea
NHK has learned a temple in Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, will provide South Korea with three-dimensional imagery data of its Buddhist statue so that a replica can be made of it. The statue, once stolen and taken to South Korea, was returned to the temple in May. The statue was stolen from Kannonji Temple on Tsushima Island in 2012. It became the subject of a legal dispute over its ownership after it was found at Busuksa Temple in South Korea. It was returned to Japan after South Korea's Supreme Court ruled that it belonged to the Japanese temple. The statue is currently kept at a museum in Tsushima City due to security concerns. Officials of the temple and the city said they decided to provide the statue's 3D data after Busuksa Temple said it wanted to create a replica. They said the data will be taken this month. The city and the prefecture will also consider making a replica for Kannonji Temple in line with requests from the temple's parishioners. Former Kannonji priest Tanaka Sekko said he hopes a replica will help the supporters of the South Korean temple feel the presence of Buddha.
CTV News
23-06-2025
- CTV News
Gunman opens fire outside Michigan church, parishioners hit him with vehicle then shoot him
Gunman opens fire outside Michigan church, parishioners hit him with vehicle then shoot him Parishioners hit a gunman who opened fire outside Michigan church with a vehicle, and then shot and killed him.
