GREENSBORO — Churches across the Diocese of Charlotte will take up a special collection Sept. 24-25 to support the diocese’s retired priests including Father Robert “Bob” Ferris – who at 84 is still on the road most weekends saying Mass and providing pastoral support at Catholic churches across western North Carolina.
Known affectionately as “Padre Dad,” because he became a priest late in life after having a family, Father Ferris traverses the diocese, stepping in for busy priests called away or in need of time off. He regularly celebrates Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church near his home in Greensboro.
Like many retired priests, Father Ferris fills his days providing spiritual direction, leading mini retreats at parishes, speaking to groups, and assisting at Cursillo retreats. He also makes house calls to hear confessions and bring homebound parishioners Holy Communion. Occasionally, he celebrates Mass at the Pennybyrn retirement community in High Point.
“I don’t want to stop until God calls me home!” Father Ferris says.
The diocese needs to raise $1.7 million in this year’s collection for retired priests, to stay on track to provide future pension income and supplemental retiree health insurance for the 125 priests serving the Church in western North Carolina. Parishioner gifts are the primary source of funding and the annual amount needed is calculated by actuaries factoring in inflation and growth of the diocese’s pension and health trusts. The funds also help support the diocese’s 36 retired priests.
Serving as a priest for 22 years, Father Ferris was ordained in 2001, many years after his beloved wife Mary Kay passed away. He has six grown children, 10 grandchildren and a great-grandchild due in February.
The former pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Hickory, Father Ferris officially retired in 2014 but finds himself regularly assisting at parishes throughout the Triad and across western North Carolina.
“When I was at St. Aloysius Parish, I got tired, as I was up early and out late a lot,” Father Ferris says. “But I never wanted to stop administrating the sacraments upon retirement.”
Over the past eight years since he retired, he has been able to set more of his own schedule and get a bit more rest. He also spends more quality time with his family.
“My grandkids know me now,” he says. “I can celebrate Mass with them, attend birthday parties and family celebrations.”
Still, Father Ferris wants to continue serving the diocese as long as God allows. “I tell Him, ‘Lord, you give me the good health and the people, and I’ll work for you.’”
In a letter to the faithful, Bishop Peter Jugis urges parishioners to support the annual Priests’ Retirement Benefits Collection, noting that retired priests like Father Ferris, “remain ‘In Service to All,’ and now we can respond with gratitude.”
— SueAnn Howell
Priests’ Retirement Benefits Collection facts
- The Priests’ Retirement Benefits Collection provides for the future pension income and retiree health benefits of the 125 priests serving the Church in western North Carolina, as well as 36 retired priests.
- The 2022 goal is $1.7 million.
- Contributions will help fund the diocese’s Priests Pension Trust and Retired Priests Health Plan Trust, as well as retirement programs of religious orders and other dioceses that are providing priests to serve in parishes of the Diocese of Charlotte.
- For parishioners unable to attend Mass the weekend of Sept. 24-25, a gift can be made by mail or online. Please mail checks to Priests’ Retirement Fund, Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C., 28203. Online, please go to your parish website if it offers online giving or visit www.charlottediocese.org/donate, then click “Priests’ Retirement & Benefits Collection.” Your gift will be credited to your parish.
CHARLOTTE — For seminarian Connor White, the journey to priesthood is much like practicing for a marathon – it demands discipline, consistency, perseverance and a willingness to sacrifice.
In many ways, White envisions his path through St. Paul’s lens: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).
White will be ordained as a transitional deacon May 23, a step on his journey to the priesthood. A cradle Catholic who attended St. Mark Church in Huntersville with his family, White went to Catholic school and excelled in both cross-country and academics, things he believes prepared him for a life of discipleship.
White’s running partner Deacon John Cuppett, who will be ordained a priest on May 30, will be vesting him. Cuppett believes White’s approachability and friendliness will serve him well when the time comes to lead his own flock.
Right now, White is on track to be one of the first of four seminarians from the 2018 Christ the King High School graduating class to reach this vocation milestone.
White’s longtime classmate Bradley Loftin will also become a transitional deacon on May 23. Loftin, who has known White since kindergarten, believes his friend has grown in the faith.
“Throughout the years of getting to know Connor more and more, it is clear to me he has a deep love for our Lord and the Church,” Loftin says. “The devotion he has to the people he loves stands out to me.”
Loftin, White and some high school friends have a tradition that has caught on with priests and seminarians at St. Mark Parish.
“Every Saturday at 11 p.m., it would be me, White, and a few of our friends from high school. We would do an hour of Eucharistic Adoration and get a milkshake from Cookout after,” Loftin says.
After this Easter Vigil, the tradition continued as it has for the past eight years – this time with Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, who celebrated the Vigil Mass at St. Mark.
“Even Father Winslow showed up this year,” says Loftin, who noted that while White favors Oreo Mint milkshakes, “I am more a Reese’s guy.”
Meet Connor White
White’s home parish: St. Mark, Huntersville
Colleges: Elon University and St. Joseph College Seminary
Degrees: Philosophy and Latin
Theology: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology (Athenaeum of Ohio)
Summer assignments: Holy Cross (Kernersville), St. Margaret Mary (Swannanoa) and St. Francis of Assisi/St. Frances of Rome (Jefferson and Sparta).
Since ordinands typically select someone who was instrumental to their vocation to vest them, who will be vesting you? Deacon John Cuppett will be vesting me. Deacon Cuppett and I entered seminary together in 2020 and quickly became close friends. We shared so many great memories in seminary, and I asked him to vest me so this occasion will be yet another event that we can share together.
What are some of your hobbies? I love running and playing golf with family and friends. I also enjoy reading, cooking with friends and making coffee/espresso-based drinks.
When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood? I first began discerning a call to the priesthood during my confirmation retreat around the beginning of high school.
Why did you decide to become a priest in the Diocese of Charlotte? I was born and raised in the Charlotte area, so this diocese is home. I received the sacraments here and attended Catholic school (K-12) at St. Mark and Christ the King. I feel called to minister to this diocese, as this is where my faith has been cultivated and vocation fostered.
Do you feel a special devotion to any saints? My closest saint-friends are St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and St. Therese of Lisieux. They both have taught me how to pray and charitably live with others. St. Elizabeth emphasizes the Divine Indwelling (the Holy Trinity residing within the soul of a baptized person), something I was immediately drawn to. I also have devotions to other priest-saints: St. Thomas Becket, St. John Fisher and St. Pius X.
Who helped you on your faith journey? St. Paul reminds us “faith comes from hearing,” so the faith is handed on by our elders. My family and, more particularly, my parents have raised my siblings and me by sending us to Catholic school and nurturing the faith at home. Father John Putnam, pastor at St. Mark Parish, has also helped me, encouraging my vocation and seminary discernment.
What did you do as a child that may have foreshadowed the priesthood? While at Christ the King, I worked with the chaplain at the time, Father Paul McNulty, who ultimately became a great priestly role model. Living the Catholic life is not a solo endeavor, and I have met some of my closest friends in school, some of whom are also in seminary.
— Lisa M. Geraci
Your DSA contributions at work
Seminarian education is funded in part by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how to donate online at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.