Rick Prashaw, a former priest in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, has published Father Rick, Roamin’ Catholic, his “crooked, straight” faith memoir of ministry years and then proud Dad to his trans son.
His storytelling mixes joy, mischief, and biting commentary on the troubles in the Catholic Church and other religions.
Prashaw lands in Elliot Lake at the Masonic Hall on Saturday, June 25, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Those unable to attend can still swing by early after 1 p.m. for a signed book.
“The eyes of some friends gloss over at the mention of faith,” laughs Prashaw about his writing of the time he was a priest from 1980 to 1991 in North Bay, Sudbury, Garden River and Batchewana Bay, as well as studies in Rome. “Then they dive into the stories, enjoying the irreverence, miracles, good works and good people like Father Brian McKee, Father Don MacLellan and Greg Humbert, alongside the sobering commentary.”
“Father Rick, Roamin’ Catholic “ is described as an eye-opening memoir shining a light on faith, religion, and the little-known life of priests,” the book’s back cover states. “My faith was now more Roamin’ than Roman Catholic, a God bigger than any catechism taught me. Be who we are. Love who we love. A believer, still standing.”
He last spoke in Elliot Lake as part of the launch of his book about his trans son, Adam. Previously he has talked about the ups and downs of having a trans son and the trial and tribulations of his son’s life. Titled “Soar, Adam, Soar” the book describes Adam’s life based on many of the posts he put up on Facebook. The 2019 meet and greet was hosted by Elliot Lake Pride. Adam died in a freak accident in 2016.
The former priest’s latest book is described as an intriguing memoir that keeps in mind all Catholics—devout, practicing, conservative, liberal, lapsed, recovering, cultural etc. He scorches a “God Bless America” religion that, instead of asking for genuine divine blessing, has wrapped country flags and political, and corporate agendas around God.
It is an unflinching criticism of clergy abuse, residential schools, and what Prashaw labels as religion’s wrong judgment of LGBTQ folk and a submissive, second-class citizenship for women.
To make a 70-year story contemporary, Prashaw used a COVID-19 isolation after a Mexico writing trip to tell his faith journey in the book to a niece.
This storytelling technique allowed him to address current subjects like the pandemic, the papal apology for residential schools, Black Lives Matter issues, declining religious affiliation and church attendance, and the polarized Joe Biden-Donald Trump “uncivil wars”
Prashaw is excited to return to Elliot Lake and looks forward to talking with local people and he’ll have books for sale and to sign.
Father Rick, Roamin’ Catholic (Friesen Press, February 2022) is also available or can be ordered in paperback, hardcover, and e-book editions at indie, Indigo, Coles, Amazon, and the Friesen, Press bookstore.