EXTRA! EXTRA! Father Chuck ‘Retires’T HE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF SAN DIEGO WWW. THESOUTHERNCROSS. ORG N OV. 4, 2020 Father Chuck’s Many Roles Leave a Mark cally provided the big picture, but often gave his subordi- entrance into the seminary as a delayed vocation, he served Newspaper editor retires nates the freedom to fill in the details. as a district executive for the Boy Scouts and editor of the after legendary career He respected the talents and abilities of those who San Diego-Imperial Council’s publication, the Beaver Log. worked for him, often deferring to their judgment and His years of service to Scouting were eventually recognized By Denis Grasska almost always giving them plenty of space to exercise with the Silver Beaver Award. SAN DIEGO – Father Chuck Fuld’s tour of duty as man- their creativity. A member of the Knights of Columbus since 1992, aging editor of The Southern Cross has come to an end. As managing editor, Father Chuck had a soft spot for Father Chuck served as the chaplain for Ascension After 12 years in charge of San Diego’s diocesan newspaper, priestly vocations, the military, the Boy Scouts, and the Council 7902 and, from 2008-2009, as chaplain for the Father Chuck, as he’s known, officially retired on Nov. 4, his Knights of Columbus. Members of these constituencies SEE LEGENDARY, PAGE 2 87th birthday. For the retired Naval officer and twice-retired knew that they had a friend at the paper. parish pastor, this was his fourth and presumably his last “He was often looking for articles about the seminary … retirement. and I think that’s because of his commitment to voca- Father Chuck was certainly a unique figure in the annals of tions,” said Father Matt Spahr, rector of St. Francis de publishing. Not a professional journalist, he would be the first Sales House of Priestly Formation. to admit that spelling and grammar were not his strong suits. There was a running joke between Father Chuck and As he often put it, “My spelling ain’t so good.” Father Spahr about how frequently photos of the latter He saw his role as primarily that of an advocate for both the should appear in the paper. publisher, the bishop of San Diego, and for the average reader. “Despite all of the accolades (Father Chuck) rightfully Did a particular story reflect the bishop’s perspective on should receive, his failure to get me in The Southern Cross was a given topic? Was an article written in a way that spoke to notable,” Father Spahr said with tongue in cheek. the typical Catholic in the pews, or was it packed with so A widowed father of three children – Linda, Michael much Church jargon or esoteric concepts that it required and Theresa – before entering the seminary, Father an advanced degree in theology to decipher? These were the Chuck’s affiliation with the Boy Scouts preceded his questions that Father Chuck asked himself every time he priesthood. He was actively involved in Scouting, initially reviewed an article submitted for his consideration. as a Scout leader. But, by and large, Father Chuck’s leadership style was In the years between retiring from the U.S. Navy as a that of a delegator, not a micromanager. When he had an full commander in late 1976, after a nearly 22-year career ALL SMILES: Charles and Elaine Fuld after their idea for a cover story or a “center-spread,” he enthusiasti- that included service during the Vietnam War, and his wedding, Oct. 5, 1957. 2 ‘RETIREMENT’ EDITION THE SOUTHERN CROSS • NOV. 4, 2020 THE SOUTHERN CROSS • NOV. 4, 2020 ‘RETIREMENT’ EDITION 3 1 2 ‘I am incredibly grateful’ OICES I’ve known Father Chuck since we entered the seminary together in 1981. I was in awe of him. Here I was, entering the V seminary right out of high school, having all the life experience ‘You have brought many you would expect of an 18-year-old college freshman, and there was Chuck, a father of three, an accomplished Naval officer gifts to this ministry’ who served his country for 22 years and a widower whose wife, Elaine, had passed away 10 years before. As you retire from your leadership of The Southern Cross, I Almost 40 years later, I’m still in awe of him. want to thank you profoundly for your dedication to the service He served his Church. He served his family. He mentored of God in the ministry of communication during this hundreds of young men through his devotion to the Boy particularly difficult time in the life of the Church and society. Scouts and hundreds more through his service to the Knights There are many gifts that you have brought to this ministry of Columbus, including a term as their statewide chaplain. If – energy and enthusiasm, faith and hope, a love for the Gospel that wasn’t enough, he also served as a chaplain to the men of Jesus Christ. But the gift of particular importance that you and women of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, have brought to the position of editor of our diocesan embracing and ministering to deputies and their families newspaper lies in the fact that you have always understood through triumph and tragedy. this ministry as a pastoral action. You have continually kept On Nov. 4, Father Chuck will retire for the fourth (and the people of God at the center of every decision you have 5 probably final) time, the same day he celebrates his 87th made, every initiative you have undertaken, every priority that birthday. Words can’t express the mark he has made on the you have pursued. You came to The Southern Cross as a former Church in San Diego, nor on my own life and ministry. All pastor, and you have constantly demonstrated the heart and I can say is that I am incredibly grateful for the kindness he wisdom of a pastor in promoting a newspaper that touches has shown me over the years and I hope he is able to enjoy a the lives of people in the depths of their souls. long, happy and fulfilling retirement. I know that I join Bishop Dolan and Bishop Bejarano, your Auxiliary Bishop John Dolan brother priests, all of your collaborators in the newspaper and the Pastoral Center staff in giving to you our congratulations, ‘We knew he had our backs’ our deepest gratitude and our admiration. Twelve years ago, when Father Chuck arrived as “the new Bishop Robert W. McElroy boss,” I had been working for The Southern Cross for three years already. ‘Always on a mission’ Change is scary, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Little Father Chuck is such a joyful spirit! It was not uncommon could I have imagined the warm, fatherly figure who would to see him walking happily down the halls of the Pastoral take command. Before I knew it, we were all one happy work Center with a skip or two, humming a song as he visited family with Father Chuck as the paterfamilias. offices with the “hot off the press” Southern Cross newspaper. 3 4 band took in Father Chuck’s children weeks after Elaine’s 6 He may have been a retired Navy man with experience While he was “there” he would casually ask how things were funeral when Father Chuck had to leave for a six-month giving orders. But, from my perspective, he’s the sort of person going. We all know he was always on the lookout for a new deployment. who recognizes his employees’ talents, appreciates their story to include in The Southern Cross! He was always on a Over the decades that would follow, Gibbons was “his contributions, and trusts their instincts enough to let them mission to find stories and share them with our readers. Now, biggest support,” his daughter said. They spoke regularly approach their assignments in their own ways. he will begin to write a new story, one that he has yearned to and would bounce ideas off of one another. It was clear that Father Chuck cared about each of us as write for quite some time. Happy retirement, Father Chuck! individuals. We weren’t just cogs in a machine to him, and we We will miss you. Blessings as you begin this new chapter! Father Chuck entered St. Francis Seminary in 1981, “Marioly” Galván, Chancellor after all of his children had reached adulthood. He was knew he had our backs. He graced us with his good humor ordained to the priesthood on July 12, 1986, at age 52. and cultivated an environment where our work – as important ‘It’s been a great run’ Father Chuck’s rich personal history would provide as it is – was never expected to overwhelm our personal, family and social lives. Who would have known that after one year with Chuck at material for the many perspectives pieces he wrote for Thanks for everything, Father Chuck! St. Francis Seminary in 1982 our paths would continue to The Southern Cross. Nostalgic stories about his experi- Denis Grasska, assistant editor, The Southern Cross overlap for many years to come. In 1990, we both arrived at ences as a parent appeared in the paper, always with St. Mark Parish in San Marcos, he as associate pastor and I as the disclaimer that he had his children before he DCM. A few months later, I was hired at the diocesan Pastoral ‘One of the most trusted friends’ became a priest.