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Rick Hobbs, newly ordained a transitional deacon, leads a prayer with well-wishers at a reception following Mass. Karen Schwartz photo Hobbs: “You’re never too young or too old for God to be working on you.” Karen Schwartz photo Guests enjoyed cake and other refreshments at the May 29 reception in Fort Smith. Karen Schwartz photo Bishop Anthony B. Taylor (right) and Deacon Rick Hobbs visit with reception guests. Karen Schwartz photo

Rick Hobbs: Discerning God’s call for 30 years

At 50, marathon man Hobbs finally chases down transitional diaconate May 29

Published: June 5, 2013      

By Maryanne Meyerriecks
Fort Smith Correspondent

Karen Schwartz
Deacon Rick Hobbs (right) blesses seminarian Jack Sidler Sr. May 31 after his diaconate ordination Mass in Fort Smith. Both men attend Sacred Heart School of Theology in Wisconsin.

FORT SMITH — Charles “Rick” Hobbs III, who was ordained as a transitional deacon by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor May 29 at St. Boniface Church, first felt the call to the priesthood as a 12-year-old in the mid-1970s.

In his high school years he entertained ambitions of playing in the National Football League, but soon realized that he was built for endurance, not sprints.

As an adult, Hobbs took up marathon running, learning along the way that everything worthwhile requires patience, practice and persistence. He had begun a seminary program twice, earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at St. Joseph Seminary in 1987 and a master’s degree in theology at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in 1996, but God’s schedule was different from his. After 13 years in the business world, Hobbs, 50, returned to Fort Smith, still feeling God’s call but uncertain whether the time to answer had passed him by.

Father Jon McDougal, Hobbs’ pastor, encouraged him to go the distance. “He said, ‘Just kick the can and we’ll go about it.’ Father Jon has been a great support to me spiritually, a true blessing in my life,” Hobbs said.

After being accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Little Rock in 2011, Hobbs entered Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wis., the largest seminary in the country for older men, where 100 seminarians with an average age of 43 are enrolled. Last year he spent a pastoral year working at St. Raphael Church in Springdale and will return to Sacred Heart in August to complete his degree. He will be ordained a priest May 31.

His parents, Frances and Richard Hobbs Jr., never doubted he would be ordained but were surprised it has taken so long.

“It’s been going on like this for 30 years,” his father said, “but I knew the good Lord would take him because he was such a good boy. When he’s home he gets up early every morning, puts out my water, brings in the newspaper and gets me my shoes. He’ll do anything and everything for us.”

Hobbs’ interest in serving the elderly helped him to discern his vocation. While living in North Carolina, he volunteered at a nursing home operated by the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, spending many hours working with residents, serving at Mass, distributing Communion and getting to know the sisters and priests of the Diocese of Charlotte.

The bilingual ordination Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Taylor, Father Thomas L. Knoebel, vice rector of Sacred Heart School of Theology, and diocesan and religious priests of the diocese. An honor guard composed of Knights of Columbus from Fort Smith and Springdale led the procession. Diocesan deacons and Hobbs’ fellow seminarians were in attendance. During the ordination ceremony, Hobbs prostrated himself before the altar as the congregation and choir sang the “Litany of the Saints.” Bishop Taylor laid hands on Hobbs, reciting the prayer of ordination, and Father McDougal invested him with the liturgical vestments of a deacon — the stole and dalmatic. At the conclusion of the ordination, Bishop Taylor presented Hobbs with the Book of Gospels, exhorting him to “believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

“Your path to the diaconate — and soon the priesthood — has been arduous, with twists and turns and adversities that would have caused a lesser man simply to give up …” Bishop Taylor said. “As a minister of Jesus Christ who came among his disciples as one who serves: do the will of God from your heart! Serve the people in love and joy as you would the Lord!”

At the reception following Mass, Father McDougal said, “It’s a beautiful day for our parish, a blessing.”

“You’re never too young or too old for God to be working on you,” Hobbs said. “I’m 50. I run marathons … I love the elderly and young people and just people that need help on the streets. I hope to be what people call me to be.”

 

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