Conversations with Richard Purcell

Author Susan Casslan reads from "Conversations with Richard Purcell: The Adventures and Reflections of a San Francisco Renegade Priest"

Wednesday, Feb 15th: 7pm

Modern Times Bookstore Collective
2919 24th St @ Alabama
San Francisco

Richard Purcell was an openly gay Franciscan priest who died in 2011 of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Although he had irreverent views of the Catholic Church, Purcell was widely known for his spiritual insights and his service to the poor. He lived as a true Franciscan, who garnered much of his spirituality from his two decades of work with Native Americans in Arizona. Richard’s final years were spent in San Francisco, where he ran a homeless shelter for men with AIDS.　

Although Purcell eventually became completely paralyzed, the peace and joy he exhibited throughout his illness were highly contagious. People stood in line to be near him, and hopefully, through this book and other stories, the inspiration and legacy of this remarkable man will continue to endure.

In this book, Susan Casslan, one of Purcell's caregivers in his final years, documents his journey. The book touches on healing from grief, the reconciling of sexuality with spirituality, and gives an insider's view San Francisco history and culture, especially of the Inner Mission District where Purcell lived.

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