• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Bishop William G. Curlin of Charlotte is pictured in 2017 with Rico De Silva, a Catholic Review staff writer and former correspondent for the Catholic News Herald in Charlotte. (Courtesy Rico De Silva)

A saintly bishop and like a second father 

January 3, 2018
By Rico De Silva
Filed Under: Blog, Guest Commentary

The passing of Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin last Dec. 23, deeply saddened me, and made me reflect on the impact this saintly bishop had in my life.I had the honor and privilege to be a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte from 1998 until the spring of 2002, during Bishop Curlin’s last four years as Bishop of Charlotte. As a seminarian, I had many opportunities to interact with him, and also met one on one with him on several occasions to discuss my discernment process and seminary progress. Prior to becoming a seminarian, I had a few opportunities to catch a glimpse of a man I am convinced was a living saint.

My father passed away back in 1988, when I was 24. As I looked back in my interactions with Bishop Curlin, I now realize that he was, in many ways, like a second father to me.

I remember the very first time I met him. It was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Charlotte for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 1995. Bishop Curlin was the main celebrant, and I recalled his homily really resonated in my heart — he preached on Our Lady’s total surrender to God’s will, and of course he threw in a couple of Mother Teresa’s anecdotes. I wasn’t really practicing my faith at the time, and his homily made me take a hard look at my spiritual journey. After the Mass, I thanked him for celebrating Mass for my girlfriend at the time and me. He was very gracious and promised to pray for me and the young lady I was dating.

Three weeks later I had a conversion experience while on vacation in Florida. I came back to the faith with a force the following year. I broke up with my girlfriend and started discerning a priestly vocation. Although I considered joining a couple religious orders, a local diocesan priest who mentored me at the time suggested I spoke with Bishop Curlin. I met with the bishop and I mentioned to him that I was considering joining the Vincentian priests. He responded, “The Vincentians were founded by St. Vincent de Paul; The Diocese of Charlotte was founded by Jesus Christ!”

The fall of 1998, I joined the seminary program and was sent to St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Latrobe. Although I discerned not to continue my seminary studies, I met with Bishop Curlin and thanked him for the spiritual and academic formation I received while in seminary. I told him that I wanted to get married and start a family. He told me that for me to find the right woman, she had to be a woman I was willing to lay down my life and die for.

Three years later, I did get married and my wife and I had a lovely daughter, who is 12-years-old now.

After Bishop Curlin retired, I would occasionally bump into him around town. I remember about four years ago, I ran into him at the grocery store and I helped him “U-Scaned” a birthday cake he was struggling to ring up. Bishop thanked me and asked what I was up to at the time. I told him that I was applying for a job with the Catholic News Herald, but I hadn’t heard back from them yet. He thanked me again for my help and then told me, “I will offer my Mass for you tomorrow.”

Three weeks later, the Catholic News Herald editor called me and offered me the job.

As a reporter for CNH, I had several opportunities to interview Bishop Curlin, but the last time I did have a chance to chat with him remains very special. Sue Ann Howell, CNH senior reporter, and I were asking him about his long-time friendship with now St. Teresa of Kolkata. He shared with us that Mother Teresa loved ice cream. When I asked him what she would say to him when he makes it to Heaven, he quipped, “Let’s have some ice cream,” he said laughing. “I like ice cream too!”

Like Bishop Curlin, my father had a great sense of humor, and made a lasting impact in the first 24 years of my life. Like my father, Bishop William G. Curlin, made a lasting impact in my life the last 22 years. Like Bishop Curlin, my father also died on a Dec. 23.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord…

Also see:

Archbishop Lori’s remarks at Bishop Curlin’s funeral Mass

 

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Rico De Silva

Originally from Panama City, Panama, Ricardo "Rico" De Silva holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Radford University in Radford, Va.

Prior to coming to the Catholic Review as a bilingual staff writer in December 2017, Rico worked as the Hispanic communications reporter for the Catholic News Herald, the newspaper for the Diocese of Charlotte, NC., from September 2013 until May 2017.

Prior to his post with the Catholic News Herald, Rico ran his own Spanish interpreting company in the Charlotte area, as well as working as a freelance writer for a local Charlotte weekly newspaper.

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

4 tips for building a media-smart family

Here is the simplest way to share faith with kids

Let good prevail

Living my Lenten discipline through the lessons of Black History Month

Memories of a saint

| Recent Local News |

Clarksville school shapes educators in faith formation

From robotics to hip-hop: Elementary schools offer wide range of clubs

Tuition at Catholic high schools in Baltimore archdiocese significantly lower than other area private schools

All are welcome: Finding a home at Mount St. Joseph

CCSE aims to expand special educational mission

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • 4 tips for building a media-smart family
  • Affordable child care key component of post-Roe response, advocates say
  • Movie Review: ’80 for Brady’
  • Ukraine’s embattled religious orders keep faith and hope alive amid war
  • Here is the simplest way to share faith with kids
  • Speakers address how local churches can protect lives of mothers, unborn children from domestic violence
  • Clarksville school shapes educators in faith formation
  • Papal farm, gardens will be home to new center promoting sustainability
  • Pope, Anglican, Presbyterian leaders push South Sudanese to make peace

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED