Fr. Thomas Price Relative Meets with Bishop Burbidge

From the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh website:

In mid-November 2011, the Most Reverend Michael Burbidge received a letter revealing a surprising connection to Father Thomas Frederick Price, first North Carolina native to be ordained a Catholic priest. Fr. Price is known to North Carolina Catholics as the “Tar Heel Apostle” for his pioneering missionary work in the State. After making an indelible mark for the Church in North Carolina, Fr. Price went on to co-found the Maryknoll Society, renowned for its foreign missionary efforts.

The letter to the Bishop came from Edward Price, a parishioner of St. Ann, Clayton, regarding his lineage to Fr. Price. Mr. Price explained that he had received a copy of the January/February 2011 issue of the NC Catholics magazine that featured Fr. Price on the cover. Mr. Price sent the magazine to his parents, Carl and Gloria Price of New Jersey, who suspected a family connection to the priest. The Prices began many hours of genealogical research. With the help of the Maryknoll Society in New York, Mr. Carl Price confirmed his belief that he was related to Fr. Thomas Frederick Price as a third cousin.

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Bishop Burbidge met with Mr. and Mrs. Price at the Catholic Center during Thanksgiving week on their first visit to North Carolina. After a private meeting, the Bishop led the couple to the location of the planned Cathedral Campus Facilities Project, to be built on a portion of the land purchased by Fr. Price more than 100 years ago.

“It’s so amazing at 82 years old to have the interest in my ancestry re-kindled beginning with the magazine, then the 100-year anniversary of Maryknoll Society, and now the building of the Cathedral -- all in one year,” said Carl Price. “I see the hand of God in all of this.

“I’m so honored by this connection,” he continued, “to know that my ancestor accomplished so much and that he walked this very ground.”

The Bishop said he hoped the Price family to be present for the opening of the Cathedral Campus.

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“Spirituality has always been important to us through 54 years of marriage and nine children,” said Mr. Price. “We pray through St. Bernadette and our Blessed Mother for Fr. Price’s beatification.”