Father Jerry Hogan is not just a circus priest -- he is THE circus priest. The man who serves the thousands of clowns, acrobats, stuntmen and women, musicians, directors, animal trainers, and costumers of the greatest shows on earth. He is the man who, for 14 years, has listened to their confessions, counsels generations of families, and is there for some of the most significant days of their lives -- weddings, baptisms, and funerals.

It felt like a bit of luck and strategy to catch up with him this week because Father Jerry is a man on the move. Wednesday morning he was in Florida for the funeral of a circus owner who had died of cancer, by early afternoon he was on a plane to Dulles, and at 5:30 he stood under the big white tent of the Big Apple Circus in Dulles to perform the annual show blessing before the season opener of the 30th year celebration, which is today.

Once inside the gates, Father Jerry couldn't go two feet without someone stopping to touch him, hug him, shake his hand, or say hello. In this world he is a rock star. (It would take a paragraph to quote the many people who actually told me that.) One man had his picture taken with him and said, "This is an honor," as they smiled for the camera.

Members of Circus Fans Association of America even know his name and seek him out at events. Mardi and John Wells, who publish a fan magazine, were among the group who came for the opening and will report details of the new show to other circus fans.

Sister Priscilla, Sister Francisca, and Sister Ann Dolores join Father Jerry for the Big Apple Circus blessing before dress rehersal.

"I'm the fourth priest in about 87 years now, the first was in the 1920s," said Father Jerry." Ironically he was from Boston, Father Ed Sullivan, I knew him as a kid." "We work with people on the move -- there's a priest that does race cars, another does carnivals. I have nuns that work with me too," he said.

Some of those nuns were on site. The Little Sisters of Jesus are nuns who specialize in working with migrant communities, like circuses and carnivals. The three Sisters in Dulles were given tours of wardrobe since they had jobs in costuming back in the day. Sister Priscilla, a native of Switzerland, began her work with the circus in 1953 in France. She came to the states in 1978 where she taught circus children for many years. (The Big Apple has an entire trailer dedicated to a school and the young students who are part of the traveling families.)

The head of concessions, Jim, came by to talk sports and said, "Father cheats at golf," with a hearty laugh. The two play often back in Boston where Father Jerry has a home parish in North Andover. He's there every weekend to minister to the 5,000-family church. Of course his 37 years as a season ticket holder for the Patriots and ten-game package to the Red Sox are a big draw too.

Circus manager Don Covington explained that Father Jerry brings a bit of the outside life and perspective to the circus community. "Father Jerry does a lot for all of us," he said.

One of the significant contributions is the season opening blessing - the reason Father Jerry came to Dulles in the first place. "This is an intense time for them," Father Jerry said. "A prayer service calms them down; this is the first time they've changed the show (in a year) and they'll perform it for the public, so they're nervous."

The Big Apple has its own traditions, including a tent blessing and a candle lighting ceremony with prayers to keep everyone safe, and for healing and appreciation of the work of each staff member. The circus even includes the patrons -- "that they are able to leave their pain and sorrow outside."

Though Father Jerry is a Catholic priest, his role in the community is ecumenical. "We've been doing this so long, you become chaplain for all faiths," he said. Wednesday night's service included prayers to "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Yahweh, Mohammed, Buddha, and Jesus." He'll be in New York this winter to do a Hanukkah and Advent services for the circus.

In the meantime, he is available to the thousands of circus staff, from Big Apple, Ringling Bros., Universal Soul, and all the small shows around the county, who have his cell number and email address. "They live together 24/7, and my role, I'm their conduit for confidentiality, "said Father Jerry. "I do a lot of counseling, a lot of counseling. Everyone knows that everything they say stays with me."