In 1956, a struggling Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey
Circus made a shift in venues from tents to arenas that gave
new life and popularity to “The Greatest Show on Earth.” Even
today with competition from cable TV and the Internet, the
show is still a draw.
Moving three touring units (Red, Blue and Gold) around the
country can be a logistical nightmare that involves hundreds
of performers, staff and animals, plus setting up, and
tearing down tons of equipment.
Performers and their families live on the trains that
transport them from town to town. It can be a difficult life,
but one that performers enjoy. Circus people say it’s a
community, and a religious and spiritual life is part of any
healthy community.
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Blue Tour
came to Fairfax in April with 16 performances at the George
Mason University Patriot Center. There was a three-day lull
between blocks of performances, so an April 14 Mass was
celebrated that included baptisms, confirmations and first
Communions for the children of performers. The celebrants
were Fathers Jerry Hogan and Frank Cancro, both longtime
ministers to the circus.
The Mass and sacraments
Father Hogan is known as the “circus priest” and his
chasuble, resplendent with elephants, lions, zebras and
clowns with a large patch on the back proclaiming “The
Greatest Show on Earth,” is a testament to his attachment to
the circus. His position is an official U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops appointment.
Father Hogan has a hectic schedule, having spent 146 days
last year with the circus ministry. When asked why he keeps
up this pace, he said he fell in love with the circus when he
was young. He’s loved it ever since.
Father Hogan has been doing this for 22 years. He is the
fourth chaplain to serve the circus since 1928. For many
years he served at parishes in the Archdiocese of Boston, but
when he’s not on the road, he lives and serves at St. Martha
Church in Sarasota, Fla. – the “circus church.”
Father Cancro’s attire was a bit muted with only an elephant
embroidered at the bottom of his stole. Father Cancro, a
former circus clown, is now the pastor of Queen of Apostles
Church in Belmont, N.C. He tries to visit circuses and
minister to circus people whenever he can.
The Patriot Center is an unusual setting for a Mass. It’s
known more for basketball and concerts. Guy wires
crisscrossed the ceiling of the arena and were anchored to
the floor, keeping speakers, scaffolds and powerful arc
lights steady and safe. The altar was set up in the center
ring in preparation for Mass, and seats were arranged for
family and friends.
A trumpet announced the beginning of Mass as the candidates
for baptism, confirmation and first Communion, processed from
behind a large, red curtain bordered with gold and silver
stars with “The Greatest Show on Earth” written on top.
“Today is a celebration of God’s love in the center ring,”
said Father Hogan. “This arena is your temple.”
He told them that they were part of a special community of
circus people.
After the homily, Fathers Hogan and Cancro invited sponsors
and babies up to the altar for the baptism. Confirmation
candidates where next, then recipients of first Communion.
All told, there were five baptisms, four confirmations and
three first Communions.
“Let’s thank God for this great day and all these great
people,” Father Hogan said at the conclusion of Mass.
Like after any sacramental ceremony, proud parents posed for
photos with their children and their sponsors.
Daniel Equino held his 6-month-old godchild, Naomi Escobar
Chimal, in his arms after the ceremony. Equino rides a
motorcycle in a circular steel cage for the circus. He rides
at high speed around the cage with other cyclists narrowly
avoiding disastrous collisions.
“It’s so beautiful, so comfortable,” he said about the
ceremony.
Sandor Eke is the Boss Clown for the tour. He’s been a circus
clown for 19 years and is responsible for all the clowns in
the show. His 10-month-old son, Michael Gabriel Sandor Eke
was baptized.
“It’s awesome,” said Sandor about the ceremony. “It’s
something different. We set up our own church in the ring.”
Circus ministry
This type of Mass is not uncommon. There are dozens of
circuses and carnivals that move around the country, and the
USCCB estimates that about 40 percent of the performers are
Catholic and they need a ministry. Sometimes local priests
help out.
These circuses are smaller than Ringling Brothers, with some
still performing in tents in small towns.
An arm of the USCCB, the Circus and Traveling Shows Ministry
is under the subcommittee on the Pastoral Care of Migrants,
Refugees and Travelers, and has the responsibility for caring
for the spiritual needs of traveling performers.
Assisting Father Hogan is Missionary Sister of the Most
Sacred Heart of Jesus Dorothy Fabritze, who has been in the
ministry since 2000. She has performed many circus jobs,
including selling tickets and souvenirs, and putting up and
taking down circus tents. She had to become a member of the
Teamsters Union to work.
“I wanted to find missionary work to people who were not
being reached,” she said. “I felt (circus people) were not
being reached.”
Sister Dorothy has been traveling with Ringling Brothers for
several months. Her main focus is caring for the spiritual
needs of Catholic performers.
Father Hogan will return to Sarasota, until he gets a call to
celebrate another Mass. Father Cancro will go back to his
duties as a pastor, until he can break free for a ministry he
loves.
Sister Dorothy works until she can set up a ministry that can
work on its own. She would like to get permanent deacons
assigned to circuses.
She no longer sets up tents, but concentrates on ministering
to performers and family.
The day after the Mass, Sister Dorothy had a new assignment.
She, and Sister Mary Siebert, packed up their personal items
and loaded them into a truck and trailer that they live in
most of the year, and traveled to meet up with the Kelly
Miller Circus to care for the spiritual needs of their circus
people.
Borowski can be reached at [email protected] or on
Twitter
@DBorowskiACH.
