Priestdaddy summary

Exploring the Quirky Life in a Rectory

In Priestdaddy, Patricia Lockwood invites us into her unusual world as the daughter of a Catholic priest. She paints a quirky picture of her father, Father Greg, who is a priest, but also a husband and a father to five children. The Lockwood family live in a rectory, where their home is connected to the church. This set-up, with its unique blend of sacred and domestic, gives us a glimpse into a world that is both strange and familiar.

Lockwood describes her father as a complicated, larger-than-life figure. He is a conservative Catholic, a gun-toting Republican, and an autodidact who is equally comfortable discussing theology and watching action movies. Yet, he is also a loving father, who supports his daughter's unconventional career as a poet, despite his disapproval of her lifestyle choices.

Life in the Rectory

The heart of Priestdaddy lies in the exploration of life in the rectory. Lockwood takes us through the daily routine of her family, which includes attending church services, home-schooling, and navigating the challenges of living in close proximity to their parishioners. She shares amusing anecdotes, like the time when her father's pet rabbit got loose in the church, or the time when her mother had to deal with a particularly persistent church mouse.

Yet, the rectory is also a place of conflict and tension. Lockwood's mother, who converted to Catholicism to marry her father, struggles with the stifling expectations placed on her as a priest's wife. Lockwood herself grapples with the contradictions of her father's faith and the rigid gender roles it enforces. She is simultaneously drawn to and repelled by the patriarchal system that governs her father's life.

Coming to Terms with the Past

As Lockwood grows older, she moves away from her family's conservative beliefs and embraces a more liberal, feminist worldview. She confronts the trauma of her past, including a harrowing incident of sexual abuse by a fellow church member. She also reflects on the ways in which her father's religion has shaped her own identity, for better or for worse.

Despite their differences, Lockwood maintains a deep affection for her father. She acknowledges his flaws but also recognizes his genuine commitment to his faith and his family. In a poignant moment, she describes how her father, who is dying of cancer, asks her to baptize him. It is a testament to the enduring power of their complicated, father-daughter bond.

A Unique Memoir of Faith and Family

In Priestdaddy, Patricia Lockwood offers us a refreshingly honest and irreverent take on faith, family, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. Her writing is marked by its sharp wit, vivid imagery, and unflinching honesty. She doesn't shy away from the messiness of life, but instead embraces it, finding beauty in the most unexpected places.

Ultimately, Priestdaddy is a celebration of the complexities of human relationships. It is a tribute to the power of love and forgiveness, even in the face of profound disagreements. Through her unique lens, Lockwood reminds us that our families, like our faith, may be flawed, but they are also the source of our deepest connections and our most enduring truths.