Father Spencer grateful for support during 40 years of ministry
Father Robert M. Spencer always knew he was going to “work in the area of service,” having witnessed both of his parents work as civil servants, but he was not always certain that his life would include ordained service as a priest.
Now, having celebrated his 40th anniversary on May 8, Father Spencer does not question his decision to pursue a vocation to the priesthood.
“There have been ups and downs, but it’s been rewarding, and I have no regrets,” he said. “I feel like I’ve done my best, and I think the Lord has been part of my ministry, guiding me along the way.”
He first began to consider the priesthood during the summer after his junior year at Douglas S. Freeman High School in Henrico County. Then, after attending what is now known as the Christian Awakening retreat, the idea became more concrete. He talked to his parish priest, thought about it, and after high school was on his way to the seminary.
The jubilarian attended St. Mary’s Seminary College in Catonsville, Maryland, but about two and a half years into formation, he decided to step away.
“I didn’t question my faith; I questioned whether or not this was what I wanted to do. I always knew that I’d be doing something in the area of service…” said Father Spencer, “but then I just wanted to take some time out to see if (priesthood) was the right path.”
He attended Virginia Commonwealth University “on a very part time basis” and worked as a cashier and clerk at the Medical College of Virginia.
“I was accepted to go back to St. Mary’s College (in Catonsville), and they closed the following week,” he said with a chuckle, “so that’s how I ended up at St. Meinrad’s for one year to finish up my (bachelor’s) degree.”
Father Spencer completed his Master of Divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore in 1981. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Walter F. Sullivan on May 8, 1982, and his first assignment was associate pastor of St. Edward the Confessor, North Chesterfield, where he served until 1985.
Father Spencer then served as parochial vicar of St. Paul, Richmond (1985); Church of the Epiphany, Richmond (1985-1986); and Church of the Ascension, Virginia Beach (1986- 1987).
Alongside Father Bob Krenik, he became co-pastor of Our Lady of Peace, Appomattox; St. Theresa, Farmville; and Church of the Nativity, Farmville, in 1987, and they also ministered to the state prison. The priests worked together for two years before Father Krenik moved on.
For one year, Father Spencer had an associate pastor at those locations, Father Jim Ditty, “and then after that, the reassignment was done,” he recalled. “The last five years I was there, I had the parish (St. Theresa, Farmville) and Longwood and Hampton- Sydney campuses.”
After leaving St. Theresa in 1995, Father Spencer served as pastor at St. Joseph, Petersburg (1995-2007); Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart, Farmville, and St. John the Baptist, Crewe (2006-2007); Our Lady of Lourdes, Henrico (2007-2013); and St. Gerard, Roanoke (2013-2015). He has been pastor of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Tabb, since 2016.
“With my first assignment, St. Edward’s, the entire staff was very, very supportive knowing that I was new and probably also being very patient with me,” he said, “and as I come toward the end, the people at St. Kateri have been wonderful and very supportive of me from the day I arrived.”
As he considered his four-decade vocation, Father Spencer said he felt most challenged by his encounter with Hispanic ministry while serving at St. Joseph, Petersburg, and St. Gerard, Roanoke.
“I found that challenging because that was a second language for me, and there again, people helped me,” he said. “I had two good tutors, and I think I was fairly effective there, but it definitely was a challenge – not only learning the language, but also the culture – but it was very rewarding.”
Another fulfilling part of the priest’s ministry is, of course, the Eucharist on Sunday.
“That’s what I look forward to the most every week, and still, after 40 years, enjoying it,” he said. “And the feedback I get is that I’m a pretty good preacher, so I feel like I’m reaching and touching people.”
Making connections with individuals and maintaining relationships have been a significant part of Father Spencer’s ministry.
“I’ve been good with pretty much all ages, from the senior citizens down to the young altar servers, so those have always been good relationships, which makes liturgy a lot easier,” he said.
He also noted that close confidants in the parish, people who “know how a parish works” that were sometimes able to change his mind on various matters, and friends outside of the parish have been influential to him.
“There’s always been a group in the parish that has been very supportive of me, and I think that definitely got me through,” he said. “I think I had a good mix of people supporting me.”