How would address a priest?

Irish Stones · 07-08-2015 12:43PM #1

I'm going to write a letter or an email to a catholic parish priest in Ireland (I live in Italy, you know).
So how would you addrees a message to him?
Dear Father, Hi Father, or just Father? Or else?

I don't know him well, I just talked to him once for about 15 minutes.
Thanks!

kneemos · 07-08-2015 12:44PM

Dear..... if you know his first name.

Notorious97 · 07-08-2015 12:44PM

I am sure someone will be along any moment to abuse the church to no end, please stand by.

Personally I would just out Hi Father (insert name)?

Valetta · 07-08-2015 12:44PM

Father,

Nodin · 07-08-2015 12:45PM

Irish Stones wrote: »

I'm going to write a letter or an email to a catholic parish priest in Ireland (I live in Italy, you know).
So how would you addrees a message to him?
Dear Father, Hi Father, or just Father? Or else?

I don't know him well, I just talked to him once for about 15 minutes.
Thanks!

Len.

seamus · 07-08-2015 12:46PM

Dear <name> or Hi <name>

If you're catholic, you should probably address him as "Father".

07-08-2015 12:47PM

Dear Father Lastname.. would be fine,

a letter would be addressed to 'The Reverend Firstname Lastname'

FatherLen · 07-08-2015 12:47PM

Nodin wrote: »

Len.

What?

Kenjataimu · 07-08-2015 12:48PM

Nodin wrote: »

Len.

kylith · 07-08-2015 12:52PM

IDK, I haven't had to address a priest with more than 'hello' for years. I'd probably avoid addressing him as anything for as long as I could. I like to think that if forced to call him anything I'd say 'Mister ...' for 2 reasons: I already have a father, and the bible specifically says not to call any person 'father'. In my house growing up priests were referred to just by their surname.

But then, I'm a contrary bitch.

horgan_p · 07-08-2015 12:54PM

Token "The Defendant" comment

Tombi! · 07-08-2015 12:54PM

Whats the letter about? Professional or not?

Reiver · 07-08-2015 12:54PM

Nodin wrote: »

Len.

He said he's writing to a priest, not a bishop.

allthedoyles · 07-08-2015 12:55PM

Abbreviate the father and address him as Fr. followed by surname

suicide_circus · 07-08-2015 01:00PM

Father, I killed a man

kylith · 07-08-2015 01:08PM

Ah, it's a letter. Start it with "A Cara", it's good for every situation.

Dr_Bill · 07-08-2015 01:10PM

He's not my father so...

Dear Sir.

Regards

Luke Skywalker

07-08-2015 01:16PM

Father <last name> usually works. I guess it depends on the context. Some like being referred to by their first name.

I don't think it matters as such if you're a catholic or not. If I were addressing a Jewish Rabbi, I'd be referring to him as Rabbi. Same with whatever title carries for that Religion. It's just a sign of respect.

somesoldiers · 07-08-2015 01:33PM

Our local lad is Liam, so "Father Liam", come to think- I don't even know his surname

Reiver · 07-08-2015 01:37PM

kylith wrote: »

Ah, it's a letter. Start it with "A Cara", it's good for every situation.

Careful now. Vocative case, "A chara".

We must be the only people who's language changed names when you addressed them.

"Tá Seán ann. A Sheáin!"

I agree, it is good for every situation, not too formal or informal.

Lenin Skynard · 07-08-2015 01:38PM

Faader.

Kovu · 07-08-2015 01:40PM

I suppose it would depend on where he lived.

kylith · 07-08-2015 01:41PM

Reiver wrote: »

Careful now. Vocative case, "A chara".

We must be the only people who's language changed names when you addressed them.

"Tá Seán ann. A Sheáin!"

I agree, it is good for every situation, not too formal or informal.

I was getting confused with gender (which I only discovered Irish had in 4th year). I'd actually written 'chara' first; raging now!

Galway K9 · 07-08-2015 01:41PM

AM i the only one that addresses a priest by their first name without any title?

kneemos · 07-08-2015 01:44PM

Galway K9 wrote: »

AM i the only one that addresses a priest by their first name without any title?

It's what they prefer apparently.

Don't hear it very often,except maybe on radio or TV interviews.

Ocditsme · 07-08-2015 01:44PM

Like the good old days... kneel and kiss his ring.

Uriel. · 07-08-2015 01:44PM

If it is formal, then Dear Reverend Father. But only in terms of written correspondence... it's just Father if it's a spoken conversation

kneemos · 07-08-2015 01:47PM

Doubt they'll notice anyhoo

Diamond Doll · 07-08-2015 01:48PM

I'd begin a letter with "Dear Father *lastname*"
I'd begin an e-mail with just "Father *lastname*"

I definitely wouldn't use "Hi", especially when you don't know him well.

And I'd use the "Father" even though I'm not religious. It's like, say if I wanted to be called Ms, I wouldn't appreciate people going around calling me Miss. Father the general respectful title used for priests, so I'd use it unless I was specifically told otherwise.

Having said that, I've an uncle who was a priest, and I also found it so weird how all of his brothers and sisters, and even his own mother, called him Father. Imagine referring to your son as Father! Very religious family, though.

PLL · 07-08-2015 01:54PM

My huge culchie family know the local priest very well, his married / christened / buried most of them and he sits down and chats away to all of them like an old friend. They all call him Father <lastname>. To me it's just a sign of respect. So personally I would address a letter Dear Father <lastname>

roadrunner16 · 07-08-2015 01:57PM

Irish Stones wrote: »

I'm going to write a letter or an email to a catholic parish priest in Ireland (I live in Italy, you know).
So how would you addrees a message to him?
Dear Father, Hi Father, or just Father? Or else?

I don't know him well, I just talked to him once for about 15 minutes.
Thanks!

You address me by my proper title, you little bollocks! :mad:

How would address a priest?

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