Sunday, July 20, 2008

De Smet priest can stay in U.S.

An Irish priest who formerly served in De Smet learned Friday he won't have to leave the country and will be granted permanent residency in the United States.

The Rev. Cathal Gallagher, 58, said he heard the news through several messages left by Sen. Tim Johnson's office stating that his application for permanent residency was approved Wednesday.

Gallagher said he will have his green card in a couple of weeks.

"I was a happy man when I heard it," he said. "Putting things in perspective, it means the world to me."

Gallagher had been a Roman Catholic priest at parishes in De Smet, Arlington and Iroquois for more than a decade until he learned he would have to leave the country. He ended up being relieved of his duties July 1.

The Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese had applied for Gallagher's permanent residency in 2001. While the application was approved in 2003, it was rejected in 2006 because of a technical error.

In the meantime, Gallagher has been staying at a house owned by priests in Tyler, Minn. He plans to stay there until he hears from the diocese.

Jerry Klein, spokesman for the diocese, said he was happy to hear the news about Gallagher and thanked the state's congressional delegation for their assistance.

"It's been the culmination of what we were working toward for a long time," he said.

Sens. Johnson and John Thune and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin sent a letter June 7 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service in Lincoln, Neb., on the priest's behalf.

"The senators and I were overwhelmed with expressions of support from people in the De Smet community and beyond," Herseth Sandlin said. "That support was undoubtedly compelling to CIS, just as it was to us."

Klein noted the delegation's involvement was unusual for the diocese in securing a green card for its foreign-born priests.

"Most of them come on a R-1 visa and are here for a temporary time," he said, referring to a religious worker visa.

Bishop Paul Swain, the priest personnel board and Gallagher will meet to discuss his options at some point, Klein said.

Tim Aughenbaugh, a St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church member in De Smet, created the Web site helpfather.com to draw attention to Gallagher's plight and allow anyone to share their thoughts and experiences with the priest.

Aughenbaugh said he and his fellow supporters were overjoyed for their former priest.

"It couldn't happen to a better guy," he said. "He is what most Americans should be like. He is 100 percent giving of himself, and he is always there when someone is in need."

After the Web site's creation in May, more than 300 comments were posted in two weeks, Aughenbaugh said. All comments were submitted to CIS.

While Gallagher still is sad he had to leave his church, home and friends in Kingsbury County, he said he now can look forward and is willing to serve anywhere in the diocese.

"I can stay in this country. I can be amongst the people. I can serve them as their priest," he said. "I feel hopeful and optimistic. It's a good day."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Disclaimer

No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.

The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

Sotto Voce