What happened to Fr. Francis (I think)—he was the host of “On the Rock” but not anymore…? I was non-practicing for a while and thus haven’t watched EWTN in a long time…
Father Francis left the priesthood to marry a particular woman he had met and fallen in love with. He was going to marry that woman. We never learned anything particular about her… or their relationship… other than what Father Francis actually said. It was a simple, serious statement that he had fallen in love with a particular woman and felt called to marry her… and so, unfortunately, would need to no longer live his life and practice as a priest. That, yes… there were definitely plans that the two of them would marry. But first, he had to take the steps to leave his ministry as a priest.
I don’t know, exactly, what the terms for that would be. It’s just that he was no longer, although his status as an ordained priest was part of who he IS because the Sacrament of Holy Orders is never “erased” from your soul… still… he was no longer going to “practice” his ordained priestly ministry.
I remember the last episode of “Life On the Rock” where Father Francis made this announcement on TV to all of us who were not members of Mother’s order at EWTN… or EWTN employees… or members of his own family and personal friends whom he had already told.
As usual for every episode of “Life On the Rock,” Father Anthony was sitting next to him during that “LIfe On the Rock” episode. Clearly, Father Anthony was solemn and sad while still, somehow, silently expressing his love for Father Francis. And Father Anthony did actually say out loud that all of them loved Father Francis and would continue to pray for his happiness.
