South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 48, Ed. 1 Friday, May 2, 1980 Page: 1 of 16
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South Tfexas Catholic
Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Corpus Christi ^ ^
Vol. XV, No. 48 Price-lOcents Friday, Afw^gS, 1980
Fr. Marti Zubcr CLOWN PRIEST — Zubo the Clown (Fr. Marti Zuber) uses clown techniques
to teach the Gospel to a group of students. (Staff photo by Sister Janie Barrera)
Priest spreads Gospel by clowning around
Ily Joe Michael Feist
News Editor
FT) I \ Bl'R(i. TX Take one priest
intent on spreading the Gospel, add
some heavy make up, an orange wig,
and a baggv costume. Mix well. In an
instant vou have Zubo, the Clown Priest
ol the Rio Grande Valley.
Zubo. also known as Father Marti
Zuber, preaches and teaches using the
techniques and image of a clown. He is
one of the handful of priests in the
country engager! in this type of ministry.
The t hi 11 v vear old Fr. Zuber became
involved in clown ministry about three
vears ago I had an old man s mask and
I limited the difference it brought
about in people, how they would relate
to me differently. At the same time the
mask was a hit threatening. So 1 wanted
a different t haracter... And usually a
clown is a gentle individual, an
indiv idual you can trust ."
inside
A special feature on the Knights of
the Sanctuary............pgs. 8-9
Is celibacy an obstacle to priestly
vocations? .................pg. 4
Dale Francis looks at so-called
“repression ” in the Church ■ . . pg. 4
Spanish language articles.........
pgs. 12-13
TV feature reviews, programs of
note......................pg. 14
At first, Zubo visited schools and
hospitals. But. said Fr. Zuber. “I was
still lacking the ability to bring across
the Gospel message. So I went to a
couple of clown ministry seminars and
learned about mime, dance, and
downing techniques."
Fr. Zuber now does clown ministry
during retreats and or special occasions
such as the beginning of Lent or
Advent. He begins the service by
appearing at the altar as a priest, then
allows the congregation to watch as he
puts on his make-up and costume.
Making extensive use of props and
visual gags. Fr. Zuber then preaches
wit bout speaking.
"So often we use words to proclaim
the Gospel," he said. "But we don’t
always need words. When I speak what I
say is automatically defined by what your
hear. When I don’t speak but simply
act. there's a lot more interpretation
and I don’t think as much confusion."
Fr. Zuber believes that his clown
ministry and his priestly ministry are not
separate and distinct, but that one flows
from the other.
"1 don't mean to say that all priests
are clowns," he explained. "I do mean
to say that clowning in the Church
context and being priestly in the Church
context are at times similar. What I do
as a clown is preach non-verbally.
Thai's exactly what we do when we
come for the celebration of the
Eucharist."
One ot the most positive aspects of
down ministry. Fr. Zuber believes, isnts
newness. "T here is within the Gospel
always a newness, a freshness. I’m
hoping that this new way of preaching
brings a new life which we are all
striving for."
Although no one has objected to his
clowning, Fr. Zuber is aware of the fact
that not everyone will welcome his
ministry.
"There is the possibility of people
being turned off by clowning,” he said.
“I have never and will never bring any
type of scandal at all to Church. Then it
wouldn't he ministry. It would be
destruction of ministry."
While the message proclaimed in
clown ministrv is the same as in other
forms of ministry. Fr Zuber believes
that "clowning" may lead to a new
understanding of w orship.
"We’re on t he* threshold," he said, "of
recognizing humor as praise."
The Personnel Board
number under his jurisdiction. A special
problem to face is that of language. Not
long ago. a pastor stated that among his
ability ot the priest to handle one or
more mission chapels attached to a
particular parish, etc., etc.
By the Most Rev. Thomas J. Drury
The Second Vatican Council sought
to loosen some of the tight regulations in
which the Church was caught up for
centuries. To this end, it was agreed
that the local Ordinary or a Bishop in
charge of a Diocese would share some of
the responsibilities of his office with
members of the clergy, religious and
laity As a consequence of this, there has
been set up, in many dioceses, an
organization known as a "Personnel
Board" whose duty it is to recognize the
needs of clergy and of the laity whom
they serve.
Our Corpus Christi Diocesan
Personnel Board is headed by the
Bishop and has on it the Vicar General
and four other priests. Three of the
latter are elected; one is appointed by
the Bishop. Meetings take place when a
necessity arises.
In the care of souls in the 76 parishes
and 48 missions of our Diocese, the
Bishop endeavors to appoint pastors
and assistants from the available limited
flock were young people who did not
know a word of Spanish while at the
same Sunday Mass there were those who
knew and understood Spanish only. The
best this priest could do was bridge the
problem hy using one language in the
Liturgy of the Word and another in the
Liturgy of the Eucharist. Among the
clergy, there are those who do not know
Spanish while there are others who do
not know English.
Consideration must also be given to
the needs of our youth in a parish ; to the
needs of the elderly; to catechetics; to
parishes with parochial schools; to the
At their meetings, the members of the
Personnel Board confer about the
above-mentioned needs and problems
and then come to a recommendadon
which they give to the Bishop in order to
place clergy personnel in spots that will
be agreeable to themselves and to the
community they are to serve.
In our day, we are fortunte to have
the services of permanent deacons, of
special ministers of the Holy Eucharist,
of active participation by the religious
and of a devoted laity who see and
understand the problems that surface
(See BISHOP, pg. 16)
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Freeman, Robert E. South Texas Catholic (Corpus Christi, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 48, Ed. 1 Friday, May 2, 1980, newspaper, May 2, 1980; Corpus Christi, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth840493/m1/1/: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .