Draft:Circus Ministry
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The Circus and Traveling Show Ministries, also known as the Circus Ministries, are Christian ministries that support Catholic circus and carnival workers in the United States of America.
History
[edit]In 1927, the Catholic priest Charles Elslander moved to Sarasota, Florida, and began preaching to the congregation which later became St. Martha Catholic Church.[1] In the same year, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus moved their winter headquarters to the city from Connecticut.[1] Over the next several years, a relationship between the congregation and the circus developed: Elslander blessed the circus's trains as they left the city each year and began performing Mass and the sacraments for its members.[2] While Ringling Bros. left the city for nearby Venice in 1960,[3] St. Martha has remained an important building to the Catholic circus community as the National Circus Parish and the site of its sacramental records.[4]
Modern day
[edit]While priests may have regular pastoral responsibilities which restrict them to only visiting circuses when required,[4] some members of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC) have chosen to travel alongside them and have even worked within their shows.[5] Two members of the MSC, sisters Dorothy Fabritze and Bernard Overkamp, travelled for over ten years since the 2000s with various circuses and founded the Show People's Evangelization of Catechists (SPEC) to help develop lay leaders within the circus population.[6]
In 2011, the ministries represented around 4,500 people working in 41 travelling circuses.[7]
Organization
[edit]The Circus Ministries operate under the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).[4]
According to Frank Cancro, the Catholic Church is the only denomination which has had an ongoing ministry within the American circus industry.[4]
Leadership
[edit]From the 1940s until his death in 1970, Edward S. Sullivan served as National Chaplain of the Circus Fans Association of America.[8]
From 1990, the position was filled by George "Jerry" Hogan,[9] a parish priest in Massachusetts who travelled with Ringling Bros during the 1990s.[10] Hogan remained in the position until his death in May 2021.[9]
After meeting Dorothy Fabritze in 2009, Frank Cancro began his involvement with circus ministry following decades as a pastor. He later became National Circus Chaplain for the Circus and Travelling Show Ministries.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b LaHurd, Jeff (October 19, 2015). "Sarasota history: The priest, the church and the circus". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ Ohlheiser, Abby (July 20, 2015). "The surprising history of the Catholic Church's circus priests". Washington Post. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "Venice Okays Land Lease for Ringling". Tampa Bay Times. January 27, 1960. 13B. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Flynn, JD (February 3, 2022). "The circus priest". The Pillar. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ Hillard, Gloria (December 31, 2017). "This Sister Act Brings Serenity To Circus Life". NPR. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "Sisters help circus community find faith center ring". The Catholic Telegraph. March 30, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "Circus ministry is a high-wire act of faith for chaplain". Anglican Journal. October 18, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "Circus Chaplain at Waban". The Boston Globe. February 13, 1947. p. 17. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ a b Reddy, Bob (May 19, 2021). "Circus Chaplain dies at 75". Diocese of Venice. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ Seeman, Bruce Taylor (January 19, 1998). "A high-wire calling: Circus priest finds his flock beneath the big top". The Miami Herald. B3. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
External links
[edit]Sources
[edit]- Engaged spirituality : social change and American religion