Papa John Scratch and Company

About this episode

Fr. Lawrence R. Farley reflects on the contributions of Fr. John Scratch and worker priests during the 1988 All-American Council of the OCA.

It was during the 1988 All-American Council of the OCA that I overheard Fr. Daniel Donlick (then Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary) comment to a group of worker priests (i.e. clergy who supported themselves and their families by working at secular jobs while serving parishes) “We must bow low before you worker priests for your dedication and the work that you do.” It was the kind and generous acknowledgment of a great and humble man. In like spirit, I would also like to bow low before Fr. John Scratch (inset above) at the twentieth anniversary of his repose on January 15 for his dedication and the work that he did— him and others like him in his generation.

People in this episode

Host: Fr. Lawrence R. Farley

Topics covered

• worker priests
• dedication
• humility
• clergy
• OCA history

Keywords

• Fr. John Scratch
• worker priests
• OCA
• Fr. Daniel Donlick
• 1988 All-American Council

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: OCA

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