On April 29, 1950, six young men were ordained for service to the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland.
Today, only one – Msgr. Robert Wolff – remains. Msgr. Wolff, who will celebrate his 95th birthday in August, retired on Aug. 6, 1995. He is the oldest priest in the diocese and the longest-ordained priest.
Father Don Oleksiak, diocesan administrator, noted those milestones as he began celebrating the livestreamed weekday Mass on April 29 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
“Today, the Church of Cleveland celebrates in a special way the anniversary of one of our faithful priests. Msgr. Bob Wolff celebrates 70 years of priesthood today. We are grateful for his faithful service to the diocese. And Msgr. Wolff, if you’re watching today, please know that we are praying with and for you -- for your health and well-being -- and in gratitude for your service to the diocese,” Father Oleksiak said.
Those who know and served with Msgr. Wolff said he was loved by his parishioners and other priests. He served as parochial vicar at St. Stephen Parish on Cleveland’s Side for three years after his ordination.
In 1953, he was one of the first faculty members at the newly established Borromeo Seminary College in Wickliffe, serving there until 1972, when he was appointed pastor of St. Angela Merici Parish in Fairview Park, just in time to celebrate the parish’s 50th anniversary the following year. Msgr. Wolff was appointed pastor of Guardian Angels Parish in Copley in 1989, and served there until his retirement in 1995, when he was named pastor emeritus.
“He was very much loved at St. Angela’s," said Father Michael Lanning, St. Angela’s pastor since 2004. “He was the fifth pastor and I’m the eighth. He is a fine man, a gentleman.”
Father Lanning said Msgr. Wolff always was a strong advocate of Catholic education and the formation of young people.
As part of St. Angela’s golden jubilee celebration, he said Msgr. Wolff made the gift of a special shrine to the deceased children of the parish. The shrine includes a mosaic-like image of the Holy Family with Jesus as a young boy petting a lamb. A plaque below the shrine memorializes 16 school children from the parish. It is located behind the former convent (now the parish center). The shrine is surrounded by a garden.
One of Msgr. Wolff’s proudest days was June 12, 1982, when four men from St. Angela’s were ordained priests: Father Allen Corrigan, Father Don Dunson and twins Father James Singler and Father John Singler. Father Corrigan is pastor of St. Victor Parish in Richfield. Father James Singler is pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Cuyahoga Falls and Father John Singler is pastor of St. Mary Parish, Berea.
Father Dunson, serving now as a parochial vicar at St. Angela’s, has fond memories of Msgr. Wolff.
“When all four of us from our class were ordained, he attended all of our first Masses. I can’t say enough how gracious he was and how much I appreciated that,” Father Dunson said. He and Father Corrigan celebrated individual Masses while the Singler twins concelebrated their first Mass. Msgr. Wolff also had a big parish ice cream social to celebrate the four ordinations.
“He was always vigorous and youthful,” Father Dunson said, recalling how Msgr. Wolff enjoyed participating in sports, including water skiing, snow skiing and boating. “He was fit and vibrant both physically and spiritually,” he said, adding, “I’m not surprised he’s celebrating his 70th anniversary. He was always young at heart.”
Father Dunson said Msgr. Wolff also nurtured vocations and was among the founding members of Borromeo Seminary. “He is a priest’s priest,” he noted.
“He was always a gentleman and sensitive to all around him. He loved everyone,” Father Dunson said. “We could all learn from him.”
When Msgr. Wolff celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination, Father Lanning said he invited him back to St. Angela’s for Mass and a reception. “He asked me if I thought anyone would remember him,” Father Lanning said, noting he had been away from the parish for more than two decades. He assured him parishioners would remember – and they did. Father Lanning said a large crowd attended both the Mass and reception with many eager to greet him.
St. Angela’s also sent Msgr. Wolff a special video for his milestone anniversary. It featured clips of parishioners and a special greeting from hundreds of school children and parishioners who attended a Mass celebrated in January by Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez – prior to his installment there. St. Angela’s was one of the last parishes and schools he visited during his tenure as bishop of Cleveland. After Mass everyone in the church turned around, waved and wished Msgr. Wolff happy ordination anniversary.
“He is much beloved,” Father Lanning said.