A Priest Forever
GREENSBORO — Father Bob Ferris officially retired in 2014. Yet this former pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory is still going strong, now serving the Church near his home in the Triad.
“I put 6,500 miles on my car before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Father Ferris says.
He regularly celebrates Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church, St. Pius X Church and other parishes in the Triad. Most recently he filled in at St. Paul the Apostle Church when the pastor, Father Joseph Mack, was on medical leave.
Father Ferris, 83, whose email handle is “padredad,” was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte 20 years ago by then-Bishop William G. Curlin.
A late-in-life vocation, he entered the seminary at 59, many years after his beloved wife Mary Kay passed away. He has six grown children, four of whom are now married, and 10 grandchildren.
In a 2014 interview with the Catholic News Herald about his retirement, Father Ferris acknowledged his late vocation was unusual, but his family has always supported his desire to serve the Church. And, he jokes, “my kids call me ‘Father Father’ or ‘Father Squared.’”
Now retired for seven years, Father Ferris says he can devote more time to his family and his new hobby of woodworking.
“I am busy, but I have time to do other things. Now I have more time to get to know my kids,” he explains. “It was a hard decision to go away from the kids and go to seminary (all those years ago).”
Now that he owns a home in Greensboro, near most of his adult children and their families, he is making the most of retired life with his family.
Father Ferris says they also get to benefit from his woodworking hobby. “I always loved carpentry. I make tables and furniture in my spare time for my kids and myself.”
Lest you think this retired priest spends hours among the wood shavings, he runs through a list of all of the wonderful things he has been called to do even after his official retirement – such as providing spiritual direction, leading mini-retreats at parishes, giving talks to men’s clubs, assisting at Cursillo retreats, making monthly house calls to bring homebound parishioners Holy Communion and hear confessions, and occasionally celebrating Mass at the Pennybyrn at Maryfield retirement community and assisted living center in High Point.
“I’m still doing priestly ministry, but not with the administration,” he explains. “It’s my choice (to remain so active), no one forces me to do that. I do it because God calls me. He’s given me good health. I enjoy it!”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Sept. 25-26 collection funds priests’ retirement and benefits
CHARLOTTE — The annual diocesan collection to fund the Priests’ Retirement and Benefits Plan will be taken up in all parishes the weekend of Sept. 25-26.
This collection provides for the future pension and retiree health benefits of the 108 priests from our diocese, other dioceses and religious order priests serving the Church in western North Carolina. An additional 25 retired priests benefit from this collection.
“The Diocese of Charlotte provides health care and other assistance that helps our retired priests so they may continue to live their vocations serving in the 92 parishes and missions throughout our diocese,” said Bishop Peter Jugis in his annual letter announcing the collection.
“These 25 retired priests, who each average more than 40 years of priestly ministry, can still be found visiting the sick and imprisoned, praying daily for the people they serve, giving of their time to help with confessions, and celebrating Mass in parishes throughout the diocese,” he noted.
Contributions will help fund the Diocese of Charlotte Priests Pension Trust, the Diocese of Charlotte Retired Priests Health Plan Trust, and the retirement programs of the religious orders and other dioceses that are providing priests to serve in our parishes.
The goal for the priests’ retirement and benefits collection for 2021 is $1.5 million.
The goal is comprised of: 75 percent for pension contributions to diocesan priests’ retirement plans and retirement benefits expenses for retired diocesan priests’ health plans; 17 percent for pension contributions for religious order priests’ retirement plans; 5 percent for administrative fees; and 3 percent for fundraising costs.
The amount assessed each parish is 3 percent of its annual offertory income. In most parishes, the assessment amounts to 20 percent more than the weekly Sunday offertory.
Many people contribute to this collection during the offertory at Mass, but reduced in-person Mass attendance due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic could mean fewer donations to this critical fund.
People are also being encouraged to give online, mail in their donations, or drop them off at their parish offices.
“If you are unable to attend Mass the weekend of Sept. 26, please consider making a gift by mailing in your contribution or making a gift online, Bishop Jugis noted in his letter. “These men remain ‘A Priest Forever’ and now we can respond with gratitude.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Donate online
Go to your parish’s website if your parish offers online giving, or give online at www.charlottediocese.org/donate (click on “Priests’ Retirement & Benefits Collection”). Gifts made through the diocesan website will be credited to your parish.