Rev. John Curran is a former Roman Catholic priest, who left the priesthood to get married and have a family. He and his wife have two children. John ministers as a hospice chaplain.

A few years ago, John contracted liver cancer and spent several months in the hospital. One day the doctor came into his room and said, “We are not sure why you are still alive. Both your liver and kidneys have shut down and the remainder of your systems are in the process of failing.” This news was not particularly surprising to him. John had already planned his funeral, put his house in order and was prepared to die. 

Two days later he received a liver transplant and survived the cancer. Throughout the illness, John simply placed his fate in the hands of God. He said, “It is easier to put your life in the hands of God when you’re expecting to meet him or her soon.” It was through this “death and resurrection” experience that John felt called back into ministry. 

Initially he felt called to prison chaplaincy, so he entered the training to be a chaplain and worked for the Minnesota Department of Corrects at Stillwater Prison. It was there he met Rev. Marty Shanahan, a former schoolmate from theology. He introduced John to a Catholic denomination which allows for married clergy. This progressive church is known as The Old Catholic Church.

John was incardinated into the Holy Cross Diocese of Minnesota as an Old Catholic priest and has served as an Associate Pastor at Good Shephard Parish in White Bear Lake. He is currently in the process of opening Spirit of Christ, a new parish worshipping in the chapel of St. Christopher Episcopal Parish, located on the corner of Hamlin Avenue and Highway 36.

Pastor Curran believes that a church should provide four foundational opportunities to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and love our neighbor as our self. The first is communal prayer and worship. The second is spiritual and theological education, especially in Scripture. The third is the opportunity to service others. The fourth is having a vibrant community where people can connect with one other and experience the support of a loving Christian community.

John lives these four practices on a daily basis, and believes that individuals and a community can experience the inner harmony of happiness, peace, love and joy.