A Priest was being honoured at his retirement dinner after 20 years in the parish. The local MP and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the
dinner. However, the MP was delayed, so Father Patrick decided to say his own few words while they waited:
“I got my first impression of the parish from the very first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a really terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen money from his old parents and told lies in court. He had made false expenses claims and misused confidential information for financial gain. He had an affair with a colleague's wife, got his neighbour's 16 year old daughter pregnant, and gave his sister-in-law VD. He employed an illegal immigrant on slave wages to look after his house, took illegal drugs, had been arrested for public nudity, and viewed pornography at work. He shouted abuse at his staff, got drunk, and went round clubs groping men and women. He committed driving offences and blackmailed other people into taking the points."
"I was appalled that one person could do so many awful things. But as the days went on, I learned that my flock were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people.”
Just as Father Patrick finished his talk, the MP arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk:
“I’ll never forget the first day our Father Patrick arrived in our parish” said the MP. “In fact, I had the honour of being the very first person to go to him for confession.”