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Last weekend I had the very great privilege of being able to attend the Golden Jubilee Mass for a dear old friend, Fr Francis Maple OFMCap. It was a wonderful, moving and well-attended event, but it was Fr Francis’ homily that made the deepest impression on me, and on everyone attending. His profoundly personal, and at times bittersweet, account of his journey to and through the priesthood touched us all, and expounded both the joys and often unspoken sacrifices that is the greatest of vocations.
Fr. Francis and I go back a very long way – when I first came to work in North Wales as an editor, one of my regular jobs on the local newspaper was to place the paper’s regular Thought for the Week column, which Fr Francis penned from his study at Pantasaph friary near Holywell. The column was brief, to the point and always contained something of great comfort and relevance to my readers. Francis has always had a particular ability to take deep theology and relate it to a widespread, general audience.
Francis was also something of a celebrity – he sang and played the guitar and had sold out at a number of major venues in the North West, including the prestigious 2,500 seater Liverpool Empire. In fact his street performances in Chester city centre had become so popular that the council at one time became concerned about crowd control. He is also a mean hand at crochet, and between his concerts and little woollen Franciscan friar figures, he raises tens of thousands of pounds for CAFOD.
His numerous CD releases are legendary, in particular his ABBA covers compilation! You’ll find him on YouTube singing everything from Elvis to Don McLean to the Monkees! He can also name Billy Connolly, Kevin Keegan and the actress Linda Carter (Wonderwoman) amongst his personal friends.
When I moved across to Manchester to edit The Universe Catholic newspaper in 1995, I made sure I took his Thoughts column with me, and it was incredibly well received by readers. One thing led to another and before we knew it myself, Fr Francis and CAFOD were in discussions about a ‘Fr Francis Live’ event – in no less a place than the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London’s West End! To be fair, no-one seemed quite sure how it was all going to work out, but every ticket sold, and quickly. On the night I could say there was a certain tension as Fr Francis, in robe and sandals, carrying his acoustic guitar with a little crocheted friar dangling from it, stepped onto the vast illuminated stage and came up to the microphone. He launched into his uniquely spiritual rendition of The Monkees 1966 Number One hit I’m a Believer and thus began one of the most unforgettable and inspiring musical nights I have ever attended!
That was some 25 years ago and both myself and Francis have been on very different, but at times remarkably parallel, journeys. After trekking nomadically around the UK I’ve been very blessed to find happiness, the love of my life, and a family here in North Wales; Fr Francis has similarly been moved by his religious order between various locations, some good some not so, but he has always found consolation in the memory of the love of his parents in India, and his profound devotion to our Blessed Lady.
It was to these two anchors that Fr Francis referred most affectionately during his Golden Jubilee homily. In particular he spoke emotionally and tearfully about his mother, whom he said was a ‘living saint’, and of his father, who had so encouraged and supported him on his journey towards the priesthood.
It’s a vocation that has countless rewards, but It was only when his father became seriously ill that Francis realised that there were also sacrifices to be made. There was a hushed silence in the church of St Francis of Assisi, Chester as he recounted receiving word that his father was dying. Twice he went to his superior and begged to be allowed to return home ‘for just one day’ to be with his dying father. “You know the rules, Francis. You may attend his funeral,” was the reply. On the third occasion he begged for permission from the Provincial and it was finally granted. Francis grabbed a bag, dashed home to Lahore, and was able to spend a final, precious hour talking with his father in the hospital, the day before he died.
To many of us, such rigours may seem harsh to say the least. In some respects Fr Francis’ experience with the death of his father was symptomatic of a culture of the time, the conviction that in rejecting all other worldly concerns, those taking to the religious life also needed to follow the biblical edict to reject familial relationships and follow Christ. After all, did not Jesus himself say: “If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters – even more than your own life!” (Luke 14:25-26)
Thankfully, Catholic theology and pastoral care has moved on somewhat since the tumultuous seminary days of the mid-20th century, and I’m sure that today Fr Francis would have received a somewhat different response. It does make the point, however, that as lay Catholics we depend heavily on the support and understanding of our priests and religious – after all these are the people we turn to when we are lost and in need of comfort. But who do they turn to? Of course to God, but there’s a human dimension too, and this we should always remember.
Across many religions the notion of disconnecting yourself from physicalities to connect more fully with the divine is one of the most commonplace of personal journeys, but it’s not one of the easiest, as Fr Francis recounted so movingly. Our clergy deserve our admiration for the sacrifices they make, but we should always remember and support their humanity too.
God Bless you, Fr Francis. Ad multos annos!
Fr Francis’ website: https://fatherfrancismaple.co.uk
Joseph Kelly is a Catholic writer and theologian