Last weekend's final performances of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus prompted us to reach back 20 years into the archives for an October 20, 1996 episode of our previous program, The Catholic Connection. Father Jerry Hogan was - and still is - national circus chaplain, joining us by telephone ahead of a then upcoming visit of the circus to the brand new Marine Midland Arena, now known at the KeyBank Center. It was the first family event (ie. non-sporting or concert event) booked into the new arena and also the 125th edition of the famous circus.
The USCCB actually has an official Circus and Traveling Show Apostolate which falls under the Subcommittee on the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers, an arm of their Committee on Cultural Diversity within the Church. Father Jerry has served in this ministry for nearly 25 years. In this article you can read more about Father Jerry's ministry to the performers and other employees of the Circus in its final days.For more podcasts be sure to visit our radio page.