IT'S ALL RELATIVE!
Father Bob Ray and I go back a long way. We are both from St. Theresa Parish in Meade County.
We both started out in the old St. Theresa Academy and were taught by
our beloved Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
This is our Confirmation picture from 1955.
I was 11 years old and 3 years away from going to the seminary in 1958.
We were both confirmed by Bishop Charles G. Maloney and
both ordained by Archbishop Thomas J. McDonough.
Sometime in the 1970s. I wonder why he always looked younger!
Father Bob Ray and I go back a long way. We are both from St. Theresa Parish in Meade County.
We both started out in the old St. Theresa Academy and were taught by
our beloved Sisters of Charity of Nazareth.
This is our Confirmation picture from 1955.
I was 11 years old and 3 years away from going to the seminary in 1958.
We were both confirmed by Bishop Charles G. Maloney and
both ordained by Archbishop Thomas J. McDonough.
Celebrating St. Theresa's 175th anniversary.
OUR SHARED FAMILY
Our grandmothers were sisters.
These are Father Ray's grand parents, Lon and Mary (Mills) Ray
These are my grandparents, Lillian (Mills) and Leo Knott
His brother Richard and my sister Kaye are married to each other so we share common nephews. For them, I am sure it has been a burden sometimes to have two priest uncles!
Todd Ray, Craig Ray, Kaye (Knott) Ray, Richard Ray and Eric Ray.
We both went to the parish school (St. Theresa Academy, St. Theresa School and Cross Roads School). I can still remember the day and location when and where Father Ray (we called him "Bud" and I was called "Ronnie."), told me that there was a seminary in Louisville that took guys out of grade school. He decided to go to the Catholic high School in Hardinsburg (St. Romuald High School was right across the border in the Owensboro Diocese) where my sister, Brenda, went as well. I decided to go to St. Thomas Seminary in Louisville. Father Ray joined me at St. Thomas for his first two year's of college. When he graduated, he went to St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore and I went to St. Meinrad's in Indiana. We were ordained a year apart. We have both been employed by St. Meinrad in our later years - he as a spiritual director and me as director of the ongoing formation program.There were other Louisville priests from our parish when we were growing up: Father Joseph Henry Elder, Father Henry Lee Egert, Father Paul Manning OFM, Father Thomas Buren, Father Henry Vessels and Father Sebastian Cunningham, OFM, Conv. There have been several Sisters (Loretto, Charity, Ursuline, Dominican and Mercy). There was one religious brother, Brother Edwin Leonidian Burch of the Community of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Not bad for a very small parish!
OUR CHILDHOOD PASTOR
Father Felix J. Johnson was our pastor from 1937-1960. He was your quintessential country pastor/builder/ruler of by-gone days. He built the rectory, convent, school, new cemetery and parish hall, laying most of the bricks personally. He raised sheep in the cemetery, offered his services as a "water witch" for people needing to drill for water and general consultant in legal matters.
GROWING UP COUNTRY
I know that Father Ray has been a horse admirer most of his life, but I forgot how much
I shared in his love of horses. That's me on one of his horses.
Another shot of me holding the reins while his brother held the bridle.
Like a scene from the 1986 movie, STAND BY ME, this is a local gang of country kids
playing in the woods on a Sunday afternoon.
That's me on the left eating a roasted marshmallow with my shirt buttoned to the very top.
The rest are Rays, Pophams and Speaks.
I know that Father Ray has been a horse admirer most of his life, but I forgot how much
I shared in his love of horses. That's me on one of his horses.
Another shot of me holding the reins while his brother held the bridle.
during a summer break from Saint Thomas Seminary.
Father Bob Ray's First Mass.On the right, I served as the Deacon, on the left is Father Thomas Buren also from the parish and to the left of him is Father Edward Reavy, a former pastor.
Another shot at Father Ray's First Mass. He still looks younger!
Another shot of Father Ray's First Mass. He looked younger still!
On his left, is his brother Richard, my brother-in-law. On my right is his brother, Kenny.
Father Ray's First Mass and My First Mass (below) almost look identical.
My First Mass.Father Ray second to the right me. Father Henry,Vessels third to the left of me, also ordained from St. Theresa parish.
Saint Theresa Church - 175th Anniversary Celebration
Father James Meder (a former pastor), Father Al Wilson (a former pastor),
Archbishop Kelly, Father Ray and myself.
THE END
WELCOME HOME, BOYS, WELCOME HOME!We will both be buried in St. Theresa Cemetery, a few feet from each other, as well as a few feet from Father Buren, Father Vessels and Father Johnson.Since Father Ray is older, I guess he should go first? On second thought, I was in the seminary three years longer than he. However, he has been a priest a year longer! "You, first!" "No, you first!"
