An Irish priest was transferred to Iola, Texas. He rose from his bed one spring morning in his new West Texas mission parish and walked over to the window in his bedroom to take a deep breath of the beautiful day outside and noticed there was a jackass lying dead on the front lawn.

He promptly called the local police station. “Good morning. This is Sergeant Jones. How might I help you?”

“And the best of the day to yourself. This is Father O’Malley at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. There’s a jackass lying dead on me front lawn and would ye be so kind as to send a couple of yer lads to take care of the matter.”

Sergeant Jones, considering himself to be quite a wit and recognizing the accent, thought he’d have a little fun with the good father and replied, “Well now, Father, it was always my impression that you people took care of the last rites!”

There was dead silence on the line for a long moment.

Then Father O’Malley replied, “Aye, ’tis certainly true; but we are also obliged to notify the next of kin first, which is the reason for me call.”