NORWICH – Growing up on Manhattan’s Lower East Side surrounded by a large, close knit family and a community of church-going neighbors has enabled Father Ralph Bove to identify the special gifts in people and in Norwich.
After only a few short weeks behind the pulpit, the new priest of St. Paul’s and St. Bartholomew’s Catholic churches said he feels comfortable and at home. The surrounding hillsides and downtown thoroughfares are “very beautiful” he said, and his Sunday masses have been filled with people “who want to be fed spiritually.”
“I feel very blessed to be here,” he said simply.
The neighborhood between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges where Father Ralph lived was anchored by the pillared bastions of St. Joseph’s (Italian), St. James (Irish) and the Transfiguration (Chinese) churches. All of his cousins, friends and neighbors went to the Catholic schools there, and all of the schools were bulging with students, he said.
“Growing up, our relationship with each other and with the parish priest was very close. With this close involvement, we had a very strong sense of our faith,” he said.
Bove, who speaks fluent Italian, said everyone got along and respected each other’s territory.
“I’m looking forward to working with both communities here, at St. Paul’s and at St. Bart’s. Both communities have their own special gifts,” he said. “We have a nice, solid group coming to church now. People are participating in mass. It’s very satisfying. People here want to be fed homilies, have lively sacraments and good liturgy.”
One of the hallmarks of Father Ralph’s ministry is being available. He said people expect their priest to be available. Serving both parishes doesn’t concern him, and he considers himself lucky to have St. Paul’s just a hop, skip and a jump from the rectory and St. Bart’s just a couple of blocks down the street. With fewer priests in the region, many are asked to travel much further distances, he said.
Bove studied theology at the University of Toronto for three years and in Rome, Italy for one year before returning to New York City, where he was later ordained. His first assignment was for a summer position at St. Peter’s in Syracuse and, since then, he has remained with the Diocese of Syracuse. Father Ralph applied for the position in Norwich upon the recommendation of a former nun at Holy Family School, Sister Julia.
Three of his previous assignments for the diocese were with churches that sponsored parochial schools, and learning more about Holy Family School has been “a wonderful surprise” for him. Father Ralph said he looks forward to serving as the school’s spiritual advisor and inspiring youths to be more involved in their faith.