Retired deacon's new joke book provides humor for clergy

Published: 2005-07-22

CHESHIRE, Conn. (CNS) -- "Did you wake up grumpy this morning?" "No, I just let him sleep in." This is a favorite joke of a deacon who has compiled a book of jokes specifically designed for use by the clergy. But the word "grumpy" is definitely a little-used word in Deacon Don Lowe's vocabulary, unless it is included in the context of a joke. At age 91, the retired deacon from St. Bridget Parish in Cheshire, in the Hartford Archdiocese, said a sense of humor has certainly contributed to his longevity. In an interview with The Catholic Observer, newspaper of the neighboring Diocese of Springfield, Mass., the deacon said he was recovering from triple-bypass surgery when he decided to go through a boxful of jokes he collected over the years. At age 89, he bought a computer and used it to turn the collection into a book: "Deacon Jokes That a Pastor Can Tell -- Possibly Even a Bishop." It can be ordered from Amazon.com. Deacon Lowe wrote the book to give members of the clergy clean jokes and one-liners designed to raise spirits and open doors. All profits from the sales benefit the Hartford Archdiocese's diaconate program.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .