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