During the Manresa Group #29 retreat this past July, retreat master Deacon Bob Furlow periodically peppered his presentations with humor. Given the charisma and speaking skills of the talented deacon, retreatants were sometimes ‘suckered in’ to a joke - thinking at first that it was a factual tale - before being humorously hit by the punchline. What follows is the first such joke that Deacon Bob told on the retreat, after which he wondered aloud if he might be removed from his position by Father Ostini.
A Franciscan brother who was visiting a small town in south Louisiana walks into a barber shop to get a haircut. The barber cuts his hair, and when he’s done, the Franciscan compliments the barber on the nice job he has done and asks him how much he owes him. The barber says “No charge, I don’t charge clergy for my services.” The Franciscan thanks him, leaves the barber shop, and the next morning when the barber comes to work there are 12 loaves of fresh-baked bread sitting just outside his front door.
The next day, a Benedictine brother walks in and gets a haircut. The barber cuts his hair, and when he’s done, the Benedictine takes a look in the mirror. He is very impressed by the quality of the barber’s work and asks how much he owes him. The barber says “No charge, I don’t charge clergy for my services.” The Benedictine thanks him, and the following morning when the barber comes to work he is surprised to find 12 bottles of red wine on his front porch.
Then a few days later, a Jesuit comes in for a haircut. The barber does a superb job cutting the Jesuit’s hair, and when he’s done the Jesuit asks the barber how much he owes him. The barber says “No charge, I don’t charge clergy for my services.” The Jesuit thanks him, and when the barber comes to work the next day, he finds 12 Jesuits on his front porch.
