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 on the Year for Priests page. 

Father Douglas P. Reed
Pastor, Saint Anne, Edenton

Who is your favorite saint?

St Francis of Assisi

What was your most memorable spiritual pilgrimage?

It was the Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes and Rome in 1976. Before returning to the USA I spent a week in Assisi getting closer to St. Francis of Assisi.

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

Another priest, who was happy with his vocation; a spiritual man, a caring pastor, excited about celebrating liturgy for the people, and a good teacher.

Do you have a hobby or hobbies or leisure activity?

In January, 2008, I decided to learn how to oil paint. To date I have completed seven pictures including; a landscape of Montrose, Pa; a lighthouse at Cape Cod, a sailboat on Edenton Bay, a self portrait, a basket of fruit, a portrait of my Grandniece, and an Amaryllis in a vase.

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

My favorite food is chicken and dumplings which I do cook myself. I like to cook and bake.

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

I have no favorite sport. I lean towards football since I played football in High School. My favorite College team is Syracuse University. My favorite professional team is the Cleveland Browns, a family tradition dating back to when Jimmy Brown went from Syracuse University to the Browns.

Favorite author and/or book?

My favorite book is “The Source” by Michener.

Favorite movie?

The most recent “Star Trek: The Beginnings.”

Music you enjoy/artist?

I enjoy listening to George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and “American in Paris”; anything Barbra Streisand; Montovani’s String Albums, and Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas albums.

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

When I was in college in the 60’s, I made a Cursillo, a spiritual weekend, which taught me to focus on prayer, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and study as basic to my spiritual life.

Also that in Theology, my favorite subject was Scripture. My seminary professor was not the most dynamic teacher, but my hunger to know more about sacred scripture continues even today, 38 years after ordination. I am excited by the Word of God. It is a living word, continually new and applicable to our daily lives. And that I have been involved with the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement since 1973 when I was transferred from Bridgeport, N.Y. to Burlington, Ontario, Canada, The weekend taught me as a priest to have a deep concern for my relationship to God and to the People of God in my parish, and in my Diocese.