The village priest

The village had no priest until Father Francis arrived. Father Francis looked young and fresh-faced but the villagers were happy to have someone to minister to their spiritual needs and to conduct mass in the village church which had stood empty for decades.

Time passed and Father Francis grew older. Father Francis was well-loved and accepted by the whole village. In the fullness of time, he died. Villagers were downcast because they did not know if another priest would come to them.

There was consternation at the funeral parlour when they discovered the priest's real name was Frances.