Father Richard Purcell was an openly gay Franciscan priest who died in 2011 of Lou Gehrig's disease.
He spent his last years in San Francisco where he ran a homeless shelter in the Mission District for men with AIDS.
Purcell was widely admired for his humor and spiritual insights, and he garnered much of his spirituality from his decades of work with Native Americans in Arizona. In a new book, Conversations with Richard Purcell: The Adventures and Reflections of a San Francisco Renegade Priest, Susan Casslan documents the life and death of a remarkable and courageous man.
"Casslan's excellent book tells the story of a fascinating and inspiring man," said Donal Godfrey, author of The Gays and the Grays. "Purcell lived life as a man of contradictions: Catholic, gay, charismatic Franciscan, unorthodox priest, radical, maverick, Irish American, caregiver, spiritual guide, and so much more. In these pages I enjoyed getting to know a man who was at times exasperating, yet saintly. Richard was a true follower of St. Francis, patron of San Francisco, and friend of the poor."
Sean Madison, co-producer of Out: The Glenn Burke Story, said that Burke, a gay baseball player who died of AIDS, "lived at Marty's Place with Richard Purcell. I met Richard while working on a film about Burke, and Purcell's charisma and character were powerful. His illness was no match for his personality. The time with Richard wasn't just helpful to the film, it was personally enlightening. I am happy to know that Richard's legacy, especially his humor and words of wisdom will live on in this book."
The book is available through Meandering Trail Press in paperback and e-book form. Visit: www.meanderingtrailpress.com or contact: meanderingtrailpress@gmail.com . Also available in paperback form on Amazon.com and on Barnes & Noble websites.