Rev. Charles William Watkins

 January 27 and 28 are very special for me, as I remember a man and a woman who really impacted my life for the best. On January 27, 2023, Fr. Charles Watkins -- my closest friend of 25 years -- was taken home to Heaven after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Ironically (yet poetically), Charles' sister, Barbara, died on January 28, 2008 after her own cancer battle.

For nearly 25 years, Charles and I became honorary members of each other's family. I think there was only one or two times that he had to either go to Alabama (where he grew up) or to visit another extended family member when I could not join him. Every major holiday, birthday, vacation, day off -- we were together. My father would lovingly refer to us as "Mutt and Jeff."

For some of you who had not known Charles' story, he was born in 1944 as a military baby in Oregon, but soon moved to Alabama with his parents Arthur and Bessie. Like many of his nieces and nephew, he was an accomplished trumpet player in their high school marching band. Not that the others played the trumpet, but they were marching band members.

Charles attended the University of North Alabama in his hometown and received his undergraduate degree in Elementary education, teaching sixth grade right out of college. He left teaching and went to mortuary school while working for a local funeral home. However, he left that life for something even more unbelievable -- he became a physicians assistant in cardiac surgery through the University of Alabama-Birmingham and worked in that field for over 30 years before making another major change in his work. He went back to school -- the University of St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, IL in 1998. Five years later, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Had he lived just a couple more months, he would have been ordained for 20 years.

In between all of the above, Charles also had a special love for the circus. It was not only Ringling Brothers, Barnum, and Bailey Circus he loved, but ALL circus. He learned skills as a single trapeze artist, a high-wire walker, a clown, and would eventually become a promoter. After ordination, he and I became chaplains for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Migrants and Itinerant workers concentrating our ministry on smaller circus venues, but there were also chaplains for carnivals and Indy car racing. The Office ministers to people who make their living by entertaining on the road.

In our time together, I won't lie and tell you everyday was perfect for us. However, by the end of the day, even after some heated disagreements, we tried to be sure to follow the advice of St. Peter in his first letter, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Your opponent, the devil, is prowling like a roaring lion. Resist him, solid in your faith." (1 Pet. 5:8-9a) I wish I could say that was 100% of the time, but that would be a lie.

The final two weeks of his life were very difficult to watch. However, I wouldn't have done it any other way. To be there at his hospital bedside was a very blessed and privileged event for me. I remember praying when no one else was in the room and he was comatose. I commended him to St. Raphael, archangel of healing. I know now that Raphael was not only doing the work with him, but with my own pain and grief even before Charles' last breath. My immediate family was with us that day and I am purely grateful. I am also continuously grateful for the ongoing support of so many family and friends and parishioners who not only remember Charles, but who also continue to pray for me. Two years later, the transitioning is only beginning.

Eternal rest grant to him, O, Lord. Let perpetual light shine upon him.