David Jones (Letters, 18 October) asks: “What role is there for the wife of a Catholic parish priest? Every parish and person is different, but I can say something of my own experience.In July 1998 my husband, Fr Bernard Shackleton, became a (de facto) parish priest and the local newspaper ran a front-page headline: “RC priest arrives – with wife!” That certainly broke the ice; I didn’t have to do any explaining. A week or so later, I answered the telephone with my usual, “The presbytery”. The voice at the other end enquired: “To whom am I speaking?” On answering “The priest’s wife”, there was a short silence, then, “I have never talked to one of those before.” That sort of surprised reaction soon disappea