A CONFESSION

A PRIEST WAS BEING HONOURED AT HIS

RETIREMENT DINNER AFTER 25 YEARS

IN THE PARISH.

A LEADING LOCAL POLITICIAN,

WHO WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE

CONGREGATION, WAS CHOSEN TO MAKE

THE PRESENTATION AND GIVE A LITTLE

LEAVING SPEECH AT THE DINNER.

HE WAS DELAYED SO THE PRIEST DECIDED

TO SAY HIS OWN FEW WORDS

WHILE THEY WAITED.

“I GOT MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE

PARISH FROM THE FIRST CONFESSION

I HEARD HERE.

I THOUGHT I HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO

A TERRIBLE PLACE.

THE VERY FIRST PERSON WHO ENTERED

MY CONFESSIONAL TOLD ME HE HAD

STOLEN A TELEVISION SET AND WHEN

STOPPED BY THE POLICE,

HAD ALMOST MURDERED THE OFFICER.

HE HAD STOLEN MONEY FROM HIS PARENTS,

EMBEZZLED FROM HIS PLACE OF BUSINESS,

HAD AN AFFAIR WITH HIS BOSS'S WIFE,

TAKEN ILLEGAL DRUGS”.

“I WAS APPALLED.

BUT AS THE DAYS WENT ON I KNEW

THAT MY PEOPLE WERE NOT ALL LIKE

THAT AND I HAD, INDEED,

COME TO A FINE PARISH

FULL OF GOOD AND LOVING PEOPLE.”

JUST AS THE PRIEST FINISHED HIS TALK

THE POLITICIAN ARRIVED FULL OF

APOLOGIES AT BEING LATE.

HE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MAKE

THE PRESENTATION AND GIVE HIS SPEECH.

“I'LL NEVER FORGET THE FIRST DAY

OUR PARISH PRIEST ARRIVED,”

SAID THE POLITICIAN.

“IN FACT, I HAD THE HONOUR OF

BEING THE FIRST ONE TO GO

TO HIM IN CONFESSION.”