Overheard

Our pastor's last name rhymes with a popular female name. I didn't realize this until I overheard a conversation that took place outside my office door yesterday. In this account I have changed the names to protect the innocent. For the sake of example, let's say that our pastor's name is Father Dooley. It's not. It's just an example.

A mother and daughter came into the office to get some Mass cards. On the way out, the mother commented to the secretary in broken English, "The pastor ... Father Julie... Father Julie?" having trouble with the correct pronunciation, as many parishioners do.

The secretary pronounced it carefully for the lady, "Father Dooley," at least twice to try to help her hear the difference.

The mother, thinking she had heard the difference in consonants, announced with a smile, "Ahh yes, Father Julie! She is a very nice priest. She very, very nice."

I snickered to myself as I heard the daughter say with some concern, "'HE,' Mother, 'HE!' HE is a nice priest!"

The secretary showed them to the door then walked past mine, and we both giggled. "She is a nice priest, isn't she?"