Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, February 12, 2007

FORT GOOD HOPE - It's not often that an event in the Northwest Territories must get a personal go-ahead from the Pope.

But that's the case with the upcoming ordination of Don Flumerfelt as a Roman Catholic priest.

Flumerfelt, a former Anglican minister for six years in Yellowknife, will become the first married Roman Catholic priest in the NWT.

"It's an exception. The church doesn't do this as a rule," said Bishop Denis Croteau of the Diocese of Mackenzie.

During a trip to Rome in October, Croteau met Pope Benedict XVI in a private audience and received permission to ordain Flumerfelt.

However, the bishop noted it's not the first time the church has ordained a married man to the priesthood. "I think it has happened hundreds of times in the course of history."

Flumerfelt, 59, was an Anglican priest for 29 years, until he and his wife, Julia, became Roman Catholics in 2004 and he started studying to become a priest in his new church.

"Essentially, I describe it as a journey towards full communion," he said, explaining that means becoming one with Jesus Christ, one with the Pope and one with all the people around the world.

Flumerfelt noted, at the time, he and his wife were dealing with illness in their families, and their pain was lessened with support of both Anglicans and Catholics.

"It was a time we had to reassess where things were going," said the father of three grown children.

Flumerfelt said he felt a calling to join the Roman Catholic Church. "It's a call to ministry."

The new priest will serve the Sahtu communities of Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope, Tulita, Deline and Colville Lake.

Flumerfelt, who was reached in Fort Good Hope, has been conducting church services in several Sahtu communities as a layperson since last year.

The Sahtu's former priest, Father Emmet Crough, died of a heart attack in January 2006.

Flumerfelt said there has been a mixed response by people -- both Anglicans and Catholics -- to his decision to become a Catholic priest. For more traditional Catholics, it's very different to think of a married priest, he explained.

For instance, he noted that, when people go to confession, they trust it is strictly private.

However, some may wonder if a married priest would talk with his wife about what he has heard, he said. "That's not going to happen."

Flumerfelt believes people will also simply be curious about a married priest. "My wife and I have a sense that we're going to be observed very closely."

However, he said that is just part of being leaders in any community. "Leaders in the community are under a lot of pressure."

As for Anglicans, he said there is some sadness about his decision. "But they recognize there is a calling in our lives."

Flumerfelt added he and his wife also feel a sadness about leaving a congregation of people they love. Some Anglicans are also disappointed his ordination in their church is not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church and that he has to be re-ordained.

For the past two years, Flumerfelt and his wife have studied at Newman College, a seminary in St. Albert, Alta. "In my view, it was a good time to go over everything," he said.

Flumerfelt was ordained as a deacon on Feb. 11 in Fort Good Hope, and will be ordained a priest on Feb. 18 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Yellowknife.

Bishop Croteau said some Catholics, especially priests, wonder why the church will accept a married man to the priesthood, but not allow current priests to marry. "They find it strange." However, Croteau said it is because of vows. "The Catholic priest has promised to stay celibate for the rest of his life."

However, Protestant ministers, like Flumerfelt, didn't break any vow by marrying, Croteau said, adding that, if such a married priest should ever become a widower, he cannot remarry.

The bishop doesn't think there will be any problem with Flumerfelt being accepted in his new role, noting he personally accepts him.

However, Croteau said there may be a little bit of a surprise factor among some Catholics. "When it's a first, people have to take a little bit of time to get used to it."

The fact the Catholic Church in the North is short of priests will also help people accept a married priest, the bishop added.

With Flumerfelt, there will be nine priests in the NWT, which Croteau noted is enough to cover all regions, even though every community does not have a permanent priest.