During this Year for Priests, the Diocese of Raleigh is presenting a “Did You Know” feature of Priests serving in the Diocese. As new profiles are added, such as the one below, the previous ones will be available from the Year for Priests page.

Rev. Msgr. Gerald L. Lewis
Administrator, St. Paul Church, New Bern

Who is your favorite saint?

I have two; St. Philip Neri and St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton.

What was your most memorable spiritual pilgrimage?

The most memorable was going to Rome during the 2000 Holy Year. We were able to celebrate Mass in each of the major Basilicas, administer the Holy Eucharist at Pope John Paul’s Pentecost Mass, make a prayerful private visit to the Sistine Chapel and the highlight of the Pilgrimage was Mass with the Holy Father in his private chapel. Bishop Gossman was the principal concelebrant and all eight Diocesan Priests on the pilgrimage concelebrated. I was asked to proclaim the first reading and responsorial Psalm. After Mass each of us was introduced to the Holy Father and received a Rosary from him.

Who was the greatest influence on your vocation as a Priest and why?

There were two; Sister Emile, D.C. who prayed for my conversion and vocation; and Father John Bellon, C.SS.R. who was my Chaplain in the Navy. He was a great model of priesthood, a man of prayer who never missed the opportunity to teach the troops about the love of Jesus. He was a good mentor throughout my Navy experience and on through the Seminary years. I celebrated with him in Detroit at his 25^th and 50^th anniversary of Ordination and he celebrated my 25^th and 40^th anniversaries in Raleigh.

Do you have a hobby or hobbies or leisure activity?

Being a confirmed work-a-holic, I don’t have a pressing hobby, but I love classical music and have had season tickets to the North Carolina Symphony for over 40 years. I love to travel and have been pretty much around the world and have visited all the continents except South America.

What is your favorite food? Do you cook it yourself?

I do cook, but nothing fancy. I love to grill both meats and vegetables. In my travels I always eat the local cuisine, so I am very eclectic in my taste but my favorite vegetable in Eggplant.

Favorite sport? Favorite team – College and/or Professional?

I enjoy college basketball and football and always dutifully cheer for the team that gives me the ticket.

Favorite author and/or book?

I enjoy history; my favorite authors being Doris Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough. Flannery O’Connor is an all time favorite and among mystery writers James Patterson is at the top of the list.

Favorite movie?

To Kill a Mockingbird. A powerful human rights film of 1960.

Music you enjoy/artist?

I enjoy all the Classics and most of the Broadway show tunes. I have often used the lyrics of some of the musicals in my homilies. Rogers and Hammerstein especially had a good view of right and wrong.

Any interesting fact that your parishioners would be interested in knowing?

For several years I participated in the Carolina Medical Mission sponsored by the Philippine American Association of NC to the Philippines. While always serving as Spiritual Director I worked at various times as a scrub nurse in the operating room, assistant in the Dental Clinic and assistant in the pharmacy. It was during these Missions that I learned the nature of true poverty and saw firsthand the generosity of the participating doctors and nurses.