Grandpa Celebrates 1st Father's Day as Priest
Former journalist, environmental lawyer also ordained
Updated 4:15 PM EDT, Sun, Jun 21, 2009
Washington -- Here's one way to get around the celibacy issue -- at least before you actually have to start abstaining: have sex before you go into the priesthood!
That's what 63-year-old Alain Colliou, who celebrated his first Father's Day as a priest Sunday, did. (The man is, after all, a father and grandfather, so we're just sayin'...)
A French native and former World Bank executive, Colliou was married for 34 years and has a son, who has two daughters, making Colliou a dad and a grandpa. The Potomac resident decided to enter the priesthood after his wife's death five years ago.
Colliou was ordained Saturday along with six other men, including a former journalist and environmental lawyer.
Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Gibbs says Colliou's 37-year-old son and two granddaughters attended the ceremony at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Potomac, Md.
Gibbs says that while Colliou is older than the average new priest, his faith and commitment is "exceptional."
She says Colliou was assigned to St. Peter's Church in Waldorf, Md.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Washington
First Published: Jun 21, 2009 2:55 PM EDT
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