HILLSBOROUGH – Father Robert William Diegelman, a retired priest of the Diocese of Raleigh, died Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at Brookshire Assisted Living. He was 80.
Born in Buffalo, New York, he took a path to the priesthood that was described in a 1993 NC Catholic article as a “40-year journey.”
Following collegiate studies at Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, he answered his first calling, becoming an educator and then principal of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Buffalo.
He later responded to a magazine ad for vocations in the Diocese of Raleigh and discerned a calling to the priesthood. “I had grown spiritually, and when I came here (to Raleigh) I was open to what was presented and knew this is where I belonged,” he said.
Father Diegelman always sought to help and teach others. He was an active supporter of Catholic Charities’ Durham Community Food Panty. When he was assigned to St. Matthew Parish in Durham, he quickly set out to build a parish hall to provide space for both faith formation classrooms and community gatherings.
“Father Bob was a teacher, and he had a great way of communicating the faith in ways that children could relate,” said Susan Clifton, director of religious education at St. Matthew. “One of his favorite homilies for first reconciliation Masses was comparing reconciliation to a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. The sacrament was like the new beginning for the caterpillar, and with God's grace, we too can transform into the beautiful butterfly.”
Father Diegelman was ordained to the priesthood May 29, 1993 at St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Raleigh by Bishop F. Joseph Gossman.
In the 1990s, Father Diegelman served as parochial vicar at St. Paul Parish in New Bern, pastor of St. Eugene in Wendell and faculty member at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh. He also assisted at St. Bernadette Parish in Fuquay-Varina, served as parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Southern Pines and served the community at Blessed Juan Diego Mission in Robbins.
In 2001, he became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Laurinburg and, later, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Durham.
Father Diegelman retired from active priestly ministry June 30, 2011 and continued to serve as pastor emeritus of St. Matthew.
“Father Bob was at peace before he died,” said Father Robert Staley, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Durham. “He found his peace in his faith and in his priesthood. He is very loved in this parish.”
Arrangements
The Reception of the Body and Vigil for the Deceased for Father Diegelman will be Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church in Durham with Father Scott E. McCue, V.F., presiding. Visitation will follow at the church until 8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew, with Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama, bishop of Raleigh, as principal celebrant and Father Robert P. Staley as homilist. Watch livestreams on the St. Matthew Parish YouTube channel.
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