a calling, or 2, or..
He was known as Father David to his parishioners, or Father Coons to those who didn't know him. Today, he is called David by his friends and family, and Mr. Coons by his students. HUH? What's up with that?
H?WUWT? caught up with a man who has had several callings in his life, and he's answered each one as only a dedicated person could do.
The first metier came when David started his career as a social studies teacher in 1978 at New Castle Chrysler High School. At the end of that school year, a second opportunity presented itself, and this time, providence was calling.
David entered St. Meinrad Seminary to study for the priesthood. Four years later, Father David was ordained at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.
Upon completion of his studies, Father David started his priestly duties at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Indianapolis and assisted at St. Agnes in Brown County, Indiana. In 1985, he combined both callings, teaching and the priesthood, when he was sent to Roncalli High School where he was the school chaplain and religion teacher. After a four year stay, Father David was appointed full-time pastor of St. Joe Hill Parish in Sellersburg, Indiana and chaplain to IUS Newman Center.
His longest stay in one place came when he was transferred to Chatard High School, where he was the chaplain, teacher, and Director of Campus Ministry from 1991 through 1999. It was at that time that Father David made a life-changing decision.
After 16 years as a priest, Father David decided to take a year off and ask for a leave of absence. He thought it was time to rest and reflect on his ministry as a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
By the time the year was over, a permanent change was on the horizon.
During his time away from the ministry, David had been hearing stories about pedophile priests. He told me, Frankly, I had second thoughts about returning to an environment of a Catholic school and as a priest chaplain. David went on to say, I just didn't feel comfortable, so I wrote a letter of resignation from active priesthood.
And, just as David returned to teaching as a full-time career, it seems another calling that was just as extraordinary as the priesthood loomed in the not so distant future.
While holding down a teaching position at a middle school, David went back to school and got his Special Education license in 2001. He went to work at Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis that same year and has worked with special needs students ever since.
David certainly has had his share of diversity. Just as he started his career in Special Education, he heard yet another calling! And, if he answered this one, there was a good chance David would be hearing wedding bells, but for the first time, not as an officiate.
Sammy and David had met when they attended the same grade school. He was an older man (8th grade) and Sammy was a year behind him. However, the two never dated in high school and each went their separate ways until they reconnected at a wedding in 1985.
After that initial chance meeting, the two crossed paths several more times at various functions up until 1999. Shortly after putting his clerical collar aside, David and Sammy started dating and were married in 2001. Today, the two share their home with five others!
Sammy and David are the proud parents of five....golden retrievers! It all started with Isabel, Magellan, Ferdinand, Columbus, Katie, and Annie. Of those originals, Katie, Annie, Max, Poppy, and Figiro now occupy the Coons' household. Sammy said, Both of us owned dogs when we were kids and we've always loved dogs.
David tells this story about Isabel when she was younger. It seems when they brought Ferdinand home, Izze was jealous of the newcomer and acted unfriendly towards what she viewed as a rival. That all changed when Ferdinand got his head stuck in a gate in the backyard of their home. David says, Izzy changed from that moment on and had been like a mother to Ferdinand. Both dogs are now deceased.
Maintaining Katie, Annie (Katie's daughter), Max, Poppy, and Figiro's good health requires almost monthly trips to the vet for checkups and shots. Sammy drives a van that contains five crates that fit in the back of the van to comfortably house the three females and two males. Barring any major issue, David says medical bills top out at about $500 a year.
Several years ago, the two decided they needed more space and began the process of looking at house plans and searching for the perfect piece of property.
The couple designed and built their new house about 45 minutes away from David's work. The home is spacious and includes all the amenities of today's modern living quarters....including a built-in kennel for five or more animals!
We really needed the space the kennel affords us and that's where I groom and maintain all five pets, said Sammy. In addition, Sammy works for a dog breeder and customers regularly bring their purchases to Sammy for grooming and boarding purposes.
David says they don't confuse any of their dog's identities as each is distinctive and has his or her own traits. He says, We can tell which dog is which by his or her bark, too. Identification is also made easier because two of the dogs are white and the rest are brown.
David estimates Katie and company consume 40 pounds of dog food each week.
The twosome have their 20th Anniversary coming up next year. It's been 21 years since David was a school chaplain or parish priest and he's approaching official retirement from education. There is no doubt Katie, Annie, Max, Poppy, and Figiro will keep the Coons' household busy and active.
Interestingly, besides history and philosophy, David is a movie trivia expert. He can describe scenes and dialogue from dozens of classics as well as tell you character names from movies 80 years ago or longer. In short, I would choose him to be on my side in any trivia contest at any bar in America. However, one time I asked him about an Elvis movie and he didn't know the answer. HUH? What's up with that?
He was known as Father David to his parishioners, or Father Coons to those who didn't know him. Today, he is called David by his friends and family, and Mr. Coons by his students. HUH? What's up with that?
H?WUWT? caught up with a man who has had several callings in his life, and he's answered each one as only a dedicated person could do.
The first metier came when David started his career as a social studies teacher in 1978 at New Castle Chrysler High School. At the end of that school year, a second opportunity presented itself, and this time, providence was calling.
David entered St. Meinrad Seminary to study for the priesthood. Four years later, Father David was ordained at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis.
Upon completion of his studies, Father David started his priestly duties at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Indianapolis and assisted at St. Agnes in Brown County, Indiana. In 1985, he combined both callings, teaching and the priesthood, when he was sent to Roncalli High School where he was the school chaplain and religion teacher. After a four year stay, Father David was appointed full-time pastor of St. Joe Hill Parish in Sellersburg, Indiana and chaplain to IUS Newman Center.
His longest stay in one place came when he was transferred to Chatard High School, where he was the chaplain, teacher, and Director of Campus Ministry from 1991 through 1999. It was at that time that Father David made a life-changing decision.
After 16 years as a priest, Father David decided to take a year off and ask for a leave of absence. He thought it was time to rest and reflect on his ministry as a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
By the time the year was over, a permanent change was on the horizon.
During his time away from the ministry, David had been hearing stories about pedophile priests. He told me, Frankly, I had second thoughts about returning to an environment of a Catholic school and as a priest chaplain. David went on to say, I just didn't feel comfortable, so I wrote a letter of resignation from active priesthood.
And, just as David returned to teaching as a full-time career, it seems another calling that was just as extraordinary as the priesthood loomed in the not so distant future.
While holding down a teaching position at a middle school, David went back to school and got his Special Education license in 2001. He went to work at Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis that same year and has worked with special needs students ever since.
David certainly has had his share of diversity. Just as he started his career in Special Education, he heard yet another calling! And, if he answered this one, there was a good chance David would be hearing wedding bells, but for the first time, not as an officiate.
Sammy and David had met when they attended the same grade school. He was an older man (8th grade) and Sammy was a year behind him. However, the two never dated in high school and each went their separate ways until they reconnected at a wedding in 1985.
After that initial chance meeting, the two crossed paths several more times at various functions up until 1999. Shortly after putting his clerical collar aside, David and Sammy started dating and were married in 2001. Today, the two share their home with five others!
Sammy and David are the proud parents of five....golden retrievers! It all started with Isabel, Magellan, Ferdinand, Columbus, Katie, and Annie. Of those originals, Katie, Annie, Max, Poppy, and Figiro now occupy the Coons' household. Sammy said, Both of us owned dogs when we were kids and we've always loved dogs.
David tells this story about Isabel when she was younger. It seems when they brought Ferdinand home, Izze was jealous of the newcomer and acted unfriendly towards what she viewed as a rival. That all changed when Ferdinand got his head stuck in a gate in the backyard of their home. David says, Izzy changed from that moment on and had been like a mother to Ferdinand. Both dogs are now deceased.
Maintaining Katie, Annie (Katie's daughter), Max, Poppy, and Figiro's good health requires almost monthly trips to the vet for checkups and shots. Sammy drives a van that contains five crates that fit in the back of the van to comfortably house the three females and two males. Barring any major issue, David says medical bills top out at about $500 a year.
Several years ago, the two decided they needed more space and began the process of looking at house plans and searching for the perfect piece of property.
The couple designed and built their new house about 45 minutes away from David's work. The home is spacious and includes all the amenities of today's modern living quarters....including a built-in kennel for five or more animals!
We really needed the space the kennel affords us and that's where I groom and maintain all five pets, said Sammy. In addition, Sammy works for a dog breeder and customers regularly bring their purchases to Sammy for grooming and boarding purposes.
David says they don't confuse any of their dog's identities as each is distinctive and has his or her own traits. He says, We can tell which dog is which by his or her bark, too. Identification is also made easier because two of the dogs are white and the rest are brown.
David estimates Katie and company consume 40 pounds of dog food each week.
The twosome have their 20th Anniversary coming up next year. It's been 21 years since David was a school chaplain or parish priest and he's approaching official retirement from education. There is no doubt Katie, Annie, Max, Poppy, and Figiro will keep the Coons' household busy and active.
Interestingly, besides history and philosophy, David is a movie trivia expert. He can describe scenes and dialogue from dozens of classics as well as tell you character names from movies 80 years ago or longer. In short, I would choose him to be on my side in any trivia contest at any bar in America. However, one time I asked him about an Elvis movie and he didn't know the answer. HUH? What's up with that?
Comments