Over the years, countless people have taken oaths on the Fourth of July to become American citizens — and it turns out more than a few of them have been Catholic priests:

Growing up in Ireland, Father Frank McNamee always saw America as a symbol of freedom, he said. The pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church in Roswell, Ga., reflected on the similar histories of his homeland and his adopted country. He recently noted his one-year anniversary of becoming a U.S. citizen.

“In Ireland, we fought for the right to religion and for Catholics to own their own land – and people sacrificed their lives for that,” he said. He saw that same hunger for freedom in America’s history.

While information about the branches of the U.S. government and names of presidents are part of the basic “test” to become a U.S. citizen, Father McNamee was amused by one question in particular.

“I had to answer – what is July 4 for?”

“I think the guy who tested me was Catholic – there was a calendar of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit on his wall,” he said with a laugh. His answer?

“Independence.”

Although he still visits relatives in Galway, Ireland, Father McNamee said his U.S. citizenship makes it much easier for him to pass through immigration. But he’s not staying overseas too long.

“Georgia is my home, Atlanta is my home – I’m not going to retire in Ireland,” he said. “I appreciate the freedom of this country. America has a short history (in comparison to Ireland’s), but they have sacrificed much for their freedom.”

Bless ’em all.

Often, the most devout Catholics are converts. And perhaps the most devoted Americans are converts of another kind, too.

Photo: Matt Rourke, AP