The Retirement Dinner

A priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years inthe parish. A leading local politician and member of the congregationwas chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at thedinner. He was delayed, so the priest decided to say his own few wordswhile they waited.

"I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession Iheard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The veryfirst person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen atelevision set and, when questioned by the police, was able to lie hisway out of it. He had stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his employer, had an affair with his boss' wife, taken illegal drugs, andgave VD to his sister. I was appalled. But as the days went on I knew that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fineparish full of good and loving people.".....

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full ofapologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and gave his talk. "I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first one to go to him in confession."

Moral: DON'T EVER BE LATE.