Father O'Malley rose from his bed one morning on a fine spring day in his new Texas mission parish. Peeking out of the window of his bedroom to get a deep breath of the fresh outside air, he noticed there was a jackass lying dead in the middle of the front lawn. He promptly called the local police station......

''Good morning," came the resonse, "This is Sergeant Jones. How might I help you?''

''The best of the day te yerself. This is Father O'Malley at St. Ann 's Catholic Church. There's a jackass lying dead in me front lawn."

Sergeant Jones, considering himself to be quite a wit, replied with a smirk, ''Well, now, Father, it was always my impression that you people took care of the last rites!''

After a moment of silence, Father O'Malley replied, "Aye, 'tis certainly true; but we are also obliged to notify the next of kin.''