Fr. George G. ("Jerry") Hogan
Fr. Hogan is the chaplain for traveling circuses across America. Often known as the "Circus Priest," Fr. Jerry celebrated his silver jubilee in 1999.
Fr. Jerry fell in love with the circus as a boy when his father took him to a Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey show at the old Boston Garden. Though he followed the circus from afar during his days as a Vietnam war-protesting seminarian, and later as a college chaplain, he rekindled his passion in 1990, when he joined the Circus Fans Association of America. He started corresponding with then circus chaplain Jack Toner who asked Hogan to pinch-hit for him on occasion. When heart trouble forced toner to retire in 1993, he recommended Fr. Jerry as his replacement.
Fr. Jerry works under the auspices of the US. Catholic Conference, which sponsors similar missions for seamen, migrant farm-workers, carnival employees and race-car drives. The job of circus chaplain has been held by a Roman Catholic priest ever since Fr. Ed Sullivan founded the ministry in the mid-1920's.
"Some people believe you have to 'God talk' to be religious. I don't believe that. Part of my role is taking the misinformation that holiness is only something we do in Church and making it a real-life encounter. It's a ministry of presence. Circus performers are taking the gifts God has given them,,, whether it's comedy or tumbling and celebrating them. They share their gifts and skills and relieve pain."
