Indiana: Two Brothers and Uncle All Serving as Priests

CV NEWS FEED // For three Indiana men, the Catholic priesthood has become a family business. On June 3, Fr. Robert Ross was ordained to the priesthood, joining both his older brother and his uncle in service to the Diocese of Gary, Indiana. 

Growing up as the middle child in a family of seven, Fr. Robert Ross says the Catholic faith was always emphasized in his household. His parents, Thomas and Rose Ann, consistently made sure to pray as a family and reminded their children daily to stay close to Jesus.

In high school, Fr. Robert watched as his brother Benjamin journeyed through the seminary and as his uncle, Fr. Michael Maginot, served as the pastor at the Rosses’ home parish. The two family members showed Fr. Robert that priests are normal men, and how a priest is called to totally lay down his life in service to God and the Church. 

Fr. Robert first began discerning a vocation to the priesthood during his junior year in high school. After graduating, he followed in his brother’s footsteps and entered the seminary.

Fr. Robert cites seminary as a critical time for his discernment. Early in his seminary career, he lay awake one night during a retreat, contemplating whether he was worthy to be called to the priesthood. Suddenly, he felt a surge of confidence as he remembered what a priest had said earlier that day, that God “doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.” 

Seminary helped Fr. Robert develop and grow his natural talents and skills, preparing him for the life of a priest. 

“He has a heart for service and a desire to grow in holiness and faith,” his brother, Fr. Benjamin Ross, said. “He personally accepts Christ’s call to follow him and will lead others to be disciples of Jesus.”

Before Fr. Robert was ordained, he embarked on one more family adventure – a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal, with his parents. There, he preached at the Chapel of Apparition and was deeply moved by the experience. 

“Just being there with my parents, where Our Lady appeared to the children made it so special,” he said. “I felt a lot of freedom, a lot of peace, and I felt close to Mary and the three children.”

As a priest, Fr. Robert is excited to join the mission that his brother and uncle are already living out – to serve as a captain for the Church. 

“I am excited to get a feel for parish life and how I can serve. I want to get to know the people and share their life with them,” Fr. Robert said. 

His parents could not be happier.

Rose Ann remarked that she felt “at peace” with her son’s ordination. Thomas shared that his ordination “is the answer to a lot of people’s prayers. I’m happy that the power of prayer is working.”

Beaming with pride and joy, Thomas and Rose Ann watched as Fr. Robert celebrated his first Mass, concelebrated with his brother and uncle.