Toledo priest takes ministry on the road with the circus |
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Written by LAURIE STEVENS, Chronicle Writer
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Thursday, 01 May 2008 19:00 |
TOLEDO—It isn’t unusual for Father Richard Notter to go to the circus and know everyone in the show.
Serving as one of the chaplains in a national network of Catholic clergy and religious who minister to circus and traveling show workers, the pastor of Toledo SS. Peter & Paul spends much of his spare time sharing the faith under the big top.
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Father Richard Notter, a priest of the Diocese of Toledo who serves as
a circus chaplain in his free time, distributes the Eucharist to circus
workers traveling with a Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey show.
(Photo courtesy of Father Richard Notter) |
“One of the reasons for the ministry is that basically these folks have very little opportunity to be involved with church,” Fr. Notter explains. “They might be in Ohio today, and Texas tomorrow, and Japan two weeks from now — it just depends.”
The Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees, a division of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, oversees a variety of specialized ministries to keep such “people on the move” connected to their faith. The Web site for the office estimates 40 percent of circus and carnival workers are Catholic.
Fr. Notter’s involvement with the circus began 17 years ago in Ruskin, Fla., when he was ministering to migrant workers one winter and a retired performer asked him to baptize her grandchild at a circus traveling through Tampa.
“After the performance, we cleared out the center ring and set up a table and we had Mass and baptized the baby. And then had a big party afterwards — it was like Christmas midnight Mass,” he chuckles.
The religious sister coordinating special ministries to “people on the move” at that time with the national U.S. bishop’s conference heard about the baptism and began asking Fr. Notter to help with the circus ministry in other ways.
“One thing led to another, and so now I’m quite involved and known throughout the circus world as one of the chaplains,” he says with a laugh.
The priest says the ministry is about being present to people on the road and “responding to whatever their needs are.”
He points out planning a wedding is challenging for someone who will only be in town for two or three weeks — “which is a long time in the circus.”
He prepares couples for marriage long-distance and presides at weddings around the country, including a “double wedding” last December at St. Martha, the national circus church in Sarasota, Fla.
Fr. Notter also celebrates Masses and other sacraments for the circus workers, and offers blessings on their shows when they begin a season. Non-Catholics appreciate having a priest on the lot too, as the Mass might be the only religious service they can attend for some time.
Fr. Notter spent much of his priesthood ministering to migrant workers before he came to SS. Peter & Paul 14 years ago, and he observes many similarities between the migrant and circus communities.
“They’re people who are somewhat isolated from the general public, and kind of have a world and culture of their own,” he explains.
The chaplain estimates there are between 40 and 50 circuses in the country, including smaller family shows. Many show people come from Latin America or Europe, though some are also U.S.-born.
Families often work in the circus for generations, marrying and raising their children within the community. “It’s one of those places where you say you can’t talk about anybody because they might be somebody’s relative,” Fr. Notter jokes.
It is also common for the children to be part of the show, like the 11-year-old girl Fr. Notter recently saw performing on the flying trapeze with her mother, aunt and grandfather. Yet “they’re families like anybody else,” he adds.
Fr. Notter mostly visits circuses in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana, but he stays in touch with his circus parishioners when they travel farther away.
“The circus pretty much depends on cell phones these days,” he notes. “It’s the only permanent information that most circus people have.”
Circus chaplains gather annually at St. Martha with Father George “Jerry” Hogan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston who serves as the national circus chaplain. Fr. Notter is also the chaplain for the Circus Fans of America, a secular organization that supports circus workers.
After 45 years as a priest of the Diocese of Toledo, Fr. Notter plans to retire from SS. Peter & Paul this July but will continue serving his circus parishioners.
“One of my hopes is that, after retiring from the parish, that I’ll have more time to spend with the circus, and possibly travel with the show for an extended period of time,” he adds.
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Last Updated on Monday, 28 July 2008 08:46 |
