Latest news with #poem
Times
4 days ago
- General
- Times
Priest calls out ‘entitled' parishioners in scathing poem
A priest has published a poem calling his parishioners 'entitled' and blaming their 'unlikeable' nature for his dwindling congregation. Father Pat Brennan wrote of 'the righteous, the clique, the worthy' who he says forced him out after nine years at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Coventry. The poem, titled Not I Lord Surely! and signed off as his 'parting gift', was shared in the church's newsletter, alongside a message saying he had been pushed out by 'those few who had been vocal in criticism in and outside the parish'. He also blamed them for putting new members off attending. 'Gossip flows from holy lips,' he wrote, blaming '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 also asked: '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.' • Melanie Phillips: Catholic church has new appeal for the young Maura Murray-Reeve, a parishioner, shared the poem in a residents' Facebook group, describing it as 'extremely disappointing' that Brennan felt pushed out. She said he had been the parish priest for almost ten years and was always very welcoming. She wrote in the Facebook post: 'His letter of 'goodbye' and poem, from the newsletter, are below. It's disgusting to think that he was treated so poorly by a very sad minority. They should be ashamed of themselves.' Murray-Reeve told BBC Coventry that she was 'embarrassed' to be part of the church that had treated Brennan wrongly and it was important for him to share his experience. 'This isn't the way we should be making a priest feel,' she said. Another churchgoer, Chantelle-Louise Beach, said Brennan was 'the most amazing warm welcoming priest'. Another, Tara Court, said he was 'so lovely and down to earth' when she had to organise her brother's funeral. Others attested to the unsavoury nature of some parishoners. Kat Smith wrote that one of the reasons she stopped going to church was that she did not like the way she 'was looked down on and judged'. Brennan said he had fond memories from his time as parish priest but 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'. • Pope Leo to take two-week holiday in break with 'pauperism' of Francis The Archbishop of Birmingham has appointed Father Charles Miller as the new parish priest, who will arrive at the end of July, according to the newsletter. 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.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Departing Coventry priest calls out 'entitled' parishioners in poem
A priest has called out the behaviour of some "entitled" parishioners by writing a poem in his final newsletter to the congregation as a "parting gift". Father Pat Brennan, the parish priest at Holy Family Catholic Church in Coventry, suggests dwindling numbers in the pews could have resulted from "the righteous, the clique, the worthy" as he confirmed he was leaving the post after nine poem describes "disdainful" looks given by some parishioners when someone had sat in "their seat" as well as "gossip flowing" and people "tutting for a living, whispering about you know who".The BBC has approached Father Brennan and the Diocese of Birmingham for comment. In his poem, entitled 'Not I Lord Surely!', he writes how words of love were "ignored" and suggests some people's "first instinct" at the sentiment "go in peace" was instead "time for war"."Then think again, ask am I the reason people flee, am I to blame, is it me?" the poem continues."Rejected… this is how for some it can feel."Yet each person who steps inside should be…Welcomed, accepted, loved, forgiven, this is the mark of the Lord's own seal." 'Fondest memories' Separately to the poem, the priest wrote in the newsletter that he had been "very happy" during his time at Holy Family Church and met some "wonderful people", but that those who had been "vocal in criticism in and outside the parish" had contributed to his decision to leave. "Despite those few, I will keep the fondest memories in my heart and am grateful to have been parish priest here," added Father Brennan, who said he was marking 33 years of priesthood at the weekend. Maura Murray-Reeves, who has ties with the church in Holbrooks, said after reading Father Brennan's words she wondered if others had endured similar experiences. "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," she said."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."She added that she 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-Reeves newsletter states the Archbishop of Birmingham has appointed Father Charles Miller as the new parish priest, who will arrive at the end of July. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
