Patrick McCollum

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name = Patrick McCollum
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writings = "Courting the Lady"
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After a profound near death experience in 1965, Patrick McCollum became involved in Wicca and eventually became a priest. [http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_no.html?a=usca&id=12002] . In 1997, after the settlement of a case involving a Wiccan inmate, the California Attorney General's Office asked McCollum to serve as a Wiccan chaplain. [http://courtingthelady.com/pages/1/index.htm] . Subsequently, he has served as a statewide correctional chaplain for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

McCollum is now an expert on chaplaincy in general and, in that capacity, provides chaplaincy workshops to chaplains of all faiths and is an advisor to various government agencies regarding chaplaincy and religious practices. McCollum is a member of the American Correctional Chaplain Association; the Program Chair for the National Correctional Chaplaincy Directors Association; and the Chaplaincy Liaison for the American Academy of Religion. He is also National Coordinator for the Lady Liberty League; the National Chaplaincy Affairs Coordinator for Circle Sanctuary in Wisconsin; and Director of Chaplaincy at the Cherry Hill Seminary.

McCollum also is an author and a professional jeweler, as well as an [Irish American] . His book on Wicca, entitled "Courting the Lady: A Wiccan Journey, Book One: The Sacred Path" teaches the "Old Religion" in the old way -- by walking nature's path and learning from nature's wisdom. As a jeweler, McCollum does custom designs and his work has appeared in many high-end stores, such as Fred Segal, Barneys New York, Ice Beverly, Rodeo Drive, and the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace. McCollum has also designed for a number of movie stars, including, Larry Hagman, Meg Ryan, and Russell Crowe. As such, McCollum had the honor of designing a United States Presidential Belt Buckle for President Ronald Reagan.

Bibliography

*"Courting The Lady, A Wiccan Journey, Book One: The Sacred Path" (Our Lady of the Wells Press, 2006).