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.
The St. Joseph College Seminary community celebrated the graduation of seven seminarians in 2024 – six from the Echo class and one from the Golf class. (Provided file photo)CHARLOTTE — In the hopes of inspiring more young men to heed the call to serve the Church, Judi and Michael Simac have created a $25,000 endowment for St. Joseph College Seminary.
An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is invested – not spent – that generates income to help pay for projects and programs specified by the donor. Endowments are tax deductible and help sustain the strength and viability of the diocese and its entities, paying for capital improvements, charitable outreach, education and parish operations.
In this case, the Simacs wanted to help support the journey of future priests in a concrete way. The endowment will help pay for routine and unexpected future maintenance projects as well as support the building of new facilities, ensuring that the seminary has a solid foundation for future growth.
“The St. Joseph College Seminary is a natural extension for forming holy priests for our diocese as evidenced by existing endowments for the seminary,” Judi Simac said.
The Simacs, who moved to Charlotte in 1987 and are longtime members of St. Patrick Cathedral, were motivated to create this endowment based on their appreciation of priests. They are strong believers in the power of praying for vocations and have a particular love for the Eucharistic Adoration chapel on the campus of Belmont Abbey College.
“We like to believe many priestly vocations, as well as marriages, have their roots at the Belmont Adoration chapel,” she said. She noted that Father Patrick Cahill, pastor of St. Eugene Parish in Asheville, discovered his priestly vocation in part through the presence of Eucharistic Adoration chapels at St. Gabriel Parish in Charlotte, where he spent time during his childhood and teen years, and later at Belmont Abbey College.
The couple said the creation of the endowment allows them to support their faith, set specific directives for the fund and include it in their estate plans.
“Working with couples like Judi and Michael Simac is so inspiring,” said Gina Rhodes, director of planned giving for the Diocese of Charlotte. “Their thoughtful and prayerful gift to establish an endowment fund to benefit St. Joseph College Seminary is a blessing for current and future students. Just as Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men,’ the Simacs’ gift will help form seminarians into our diocesan priests. And for that, we are most grateful.”
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities. Join over 1,700 parishioners who have informed the diocese they plan to remember the Church in their estate plans.
For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..