In January, 2011, Jim Lovejoy began considering how to create an "anthology or collection of the unique journeys" of resigned/married priests. With the blessing of Judy Lorenz of CITI Ministries, he emailed those on a listing of 75 resigned/married priests on the CITI website with a proposal:

Dear Brother Priests,

Like it or not, our numbers are dwindling, especially for those of us who were ordained prior to the Second Vatican Council. I have felt for some time that we need to somehow preserve the thoughts and experiences of so many of us who were once canonically active, but have since left the clerical state, and married or chose to remain single, either continuing in ministry or not.

Now, at 83 and in failing health, my ministry is limited to officiating at marriages and other spiritual needs for those laity who come to me when the Institutional Church cannot or will not assist them. Thanks to CITI Ministries/ Rentapriest, a way is now open for me and all of you to serve once again.

As some of you know, I worked all last year to produce the stories of wives of married priests. These women have been our “life-line” and through their love and support have enabled us to be better servants to Catholics, former Catholics and others who have been unjustly scandalized by the leadership of the Church. When I could not find a news organ to publish this work, Louise did not hesitate to include these stories in Rentapriest’s Spring and Summer issues of our Newsletter.

Now, I need your help in publishing an anthology or collection of your unique journeys to the Priesthood, and ultimately to marriage or the single state. I have wrestled with this effort for months and have welcomed some suggestions from others as to how to go about making it happen.

THIS IS MY PROPOSAL:

I am asking for your stories, limited to a thousand words, highlighting your thoughts on the priesthood and your experience as a canonical priest; your decision to leave the active ministry, your transition, your choice to marry or remain single, and how this has affected your life and the lives of others around you. It would also be helpful if you would submit photos along with the written texts. If we could capture through photographs the transition from ordination to marriage or the single state, and for those who choose to marry, to family life and ministry, it will help tell the whole story. For me, having a loving wife, three grown children, seven grandchildren and the opportunity for ministry has provided a completion to my life that is very rewarding. I am sure that this has been true also for many of you.

I know that a few have written books, as I have, about our decisions. But there are so many who have not had the time or encouragement to do so. Your stories are all unique and would add significantly to an understanding of our mission to help reform the Church of our times. I look at it as our collective legacy for the future of Christ’s Church among us.

Both Louise, our founder and her successor, Judy Lorenz have endorsed this effort and encouraged me to pursue it. Now I request your participation . My desired deadline for reception of narratives is the end of the year. I want you to have ample time to think through what you believe is most important.

We are all one! jameslovejoy@att.net

Jim Lovejoy, married priest

By December 2011, the first twelve responses gave Jim hope. Originally he considered publishing the stories in book form. But after some consideration and consultation with others, he opted for the more economical and more easily accessible choice of creating a website and settled on Shutterfly as the platform for the stories. But then, recognizing his need for some technological expertise, he had to bring his learning curve up a bit. His daughter Jennifer put together some instructions to help Jim add the various elements to the website.

The next step of the process is described in Background