I attended Mass (over the Summer) at a Maryland resort town. The priest mentioned his children and grandchildren during the Homily. You could see people looking at each other with the funniest looks. He had been widowed and decided to join the priesthood. Marshmallow.... I wish you could have been there to see some of the people’s faces. It was hysterical!
My Uncle did the same after his wife passed. 5 kids and 23 grandchildren attended his ordination.
As y’all are likely aware, in Eastern Orthodoxy, married men can be ordained but ordained men cannot then get married.
Pretty sure this is the case in the Latin church as well...for instance, Anglican/Episcopal convert clergy are accepted and ordained even if married
Celibacy is, however, required for elevation to the Episcopacy in Orthodoxy. The Bishop of New York in the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), H.G. +Michael (Dahulich) was married when he graduated seminary and was ordained to the priesthood. His wife was killed in a car accident shortly after they received their first parish assignment. They had no children. Bp. Michael was dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary until his nomination and elevation a couple years ago.