GREENSBORO — It has been two decades since Father Eric Kowalski, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, was ordained to the priesthood in Newark, N.J., by then-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick.
Over the course of the past 20 years, Father Kowalski has served the Diocese of Charlotte first as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace Church, then as pastor of Holy Angels Church in Mt. Airy, before returning to Our Lady of Grace Church as pastor last year.
He has greatly enjoyed "being present to people in their sacramental moments – when they are most open and ready to meet the Lord and to experience His healing presence and mercy through the sacraments of His Church."
Father Kowalski also enjoys preaching and offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms.
"The biggest lesson I learned over the past 20 years is how important it is to trust God – that as much as I would like to think I'm in charge, He's the one who really is in charge, and how much better my life is if I remember that, learn humility and patience, and then get out of His way and let Him use me to accomplish His Will in my life and in the lives of those with whom I am blessed to come into contact."
He offers advice to men discerning a call to the priesthood, reminding them to "always keep in mind that the vocation they have received, if it's truly a vocation to priesthood or religious life, is just that – a calling from God and as such it's between that person and God and will always be between them. It's a personal bond and connection. It's a vocation, not a career in the secular sense."
Father Kowalski notes that Pope Francis reiterated that same concept recently.
"If I had tried to 'plan' my priesthood as some do in the same way one would plan out their career path with a company, I would have missed out on so many blessings that God was trying to impart, and I wouldn't be where I am today."
"Has every experience been easy or convenient? No. But I believe each was necessary," Father Kowalski explains. "Don't worry about packing your luggage. Trust God enough to go where He wants and needs you to when He manifests His Will to you, and let Him worry about getting your luggage there. He has always gotten me there and given me everything I've needed, when I needed it."
Other priests celebrating jubilees are: Father John D. Hanic, pastor at St. John Baptist de la Salle in Wilkesboro, 30 years; and Father Vang Tran at St. James the Greater Church in Concord, 30 years.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
HUNTERSVILLE — As Monsignor Richard Bellow, pastor of St. Mark Church, prepares to retire after 43 years of priestly ministry he can attest that God has a beautiful way of bringing us back to where we began as He closes certain chapters in our lives.
Monsignor Bellow began his priestly ministry as a Franciscan 43 years ago, teaching religion and offering guidance to 245 sophomore boys in Bishop Canevin High School in Pittsburgh, Pa., after his ordination on May 30, 1970.
Fast forward to 2013, and you see Monsignor Bellow again serving as an educator, walking the halls of St. Mark School teaching eighth-grade religion prior to his retirement this July.
"Forty-three years ago I was ordained a priest, and I remember it if it were yesterday," Monsignor Bellow says.
He just came back from a retreat at a Trappist monastery in Pennsylvania where he says he "went to reflect on what the Lord has been able to accomplish in me."
During the course of his priesthood, Monsignor Bellow served at parishes in New Jersey and upstate New York before serving as director of St. Francis Seminary in Staten Island, New York. Then, in 1987, he made the move to the Diocese of Charlotte. He served as pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte to be closer to his ailing mother.
After 10 years, Monsignor Bellow became a diocesan priest and served with Father Edward Sheridan at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, one of the largest parishes in the diocese and the largest parish he'd ever been in at that point in his priesthood.
"Since arriving here in 1987, I have seen how the diocese has grown – in terms of Catholics and in terms of what the Church has accomplished."
On the Feast of St. Francis, Oct. 4, 2002, Bishop William G. Curlin conferred the title of Chaplain of His Holiness upon him and he became Monsignor Bellow.
Since 2004, Monsignor Bellow has served as pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, steering the second-largest parish in the diocese with more than 4,850 registered families.
"I didn't even know where Huntersville was. I had to pull out a map to find it," he says, chuckling.
Monsignor Bellow helped guide the construction of a new church building which was dedicated in August 2009, culminating a 12-year dream for parishioners who began their journey celebrating Mass in a bowling alley.
"God has been good to me here at St. Mark," he says. "We finally did something I never did before in my life. We worked hard to build a church."
Many of the sacred items that adorn the sanctuary of the new church building are from the Franciscan seminary where he received his formation. The altar, ambo, presider's chair and crucifix bring back pleasant memories.
"This combines my Franciscan priesthood and my diocesan priesthood," he explains.
Monsignor shared that the day Bishop Peter J. Jugis came to dedicate the new church was "a glorious day! A great gift from God."
Monsignor is also very proud that Perpetual Adoration is now offered in the chapel at St. Mark.
"On the Feast of Corpus Christi, we celebrated our third anniversary. It has been a blessing. I myself have felt the power of this blessing and many people have attested to the power of this blessing.
"If God wants me to be remembered for one thing, that's what I want to be remembered for: being the pastor here when God did this good work in us."
So, now that retirement approaches, what is a priest so active for four decades, to do?
"My plan is to not have a plan," Monsignor Bellow says. "I'm going to take it day by day. I'm going to let the Lord tell me what He wants me to do and listen to Him.
"I'm not retiring from the priesthood. I look forward to staying in the diocese and being with my brother priests in a different capacity. My ministry will hopefully become more active, but in a different way."
Monsignor Bellow said he also plans on going on a month-long retreat first, to relax and rejuvenate himself and reconnect with God.
He wants to express his gratitude to all those who helped him in his priestly ministry.
He is especially grateful to the three bishops who have supported him since his arrival in the diocese in 1987; Bishop John F. Donoghue (deceased), Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin and Bishop Peter J. Jugis.
"I want to thank all the priests who have served with me. They have challenged me with their enthusiasm, which has sometimes maddened me," he says jokingly.
"I also want to thank all of the people who have served on my staff or in ministries or on boards or councils where I have served. If I have ever done well, it is because these people and priests have helped me see the needs of the people of God."
Reflecting over the past 43 years of active priestly ministry, noting that he began as an educator and retires as an educator, Monsignor Bellow simply says, "I've come full circle."
—SueAnn Howell, senior reporter