By Rob Herbst
The Catholic Week
Fr. Joseph Michael Bolling, affectionately known as “Fr. Joe,” truly loved his St. Matthew Parish home and the people of St. Matthew Parish loved him so.
Fr. Bolling was baptized at St. Matthew Parish in Mobile, graduated from the parish school and served at the parish for more than 30 years before passing away on Jan. 18 at the age of 81.
“This was his home, truly,” Little Flower Catholic Church Pastor Fr. John Lynes said during his homily at the Mass of Christian Burial on Jan. 24 at the parish. Burial followed at the Catholic Cemetery of Mobile.
Fr. Bolling was ordained to the priesthood at a later age, 48, on June 1, 1991. With the exception of his first assignment at St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Montgomery, all of Fr. Bolling’s priesthood was served at St. Matthew Parish.
First arriving as the parish’s parochial administrator, Fr. Bolling began as pastor on Jan. 11, 1994.
Even though 75 is the normal age for retirement for priests in the Archdiocese of Mobile, Fr. Bolling continued to serve well beyond 75.
“He loved St. Matthew’s. He wanted to die here,” Fr. Lynes said. “He never wanted to leave. He wanted to hang on as long as he could because he loved this church and he loved the people. … He was very proud of his parish.”
Fr. Lynes joked during his homily how the people of St. Matthew showed their love.
Said Fr. Lynes: “He would call me after the holidays and ask how was your collection? I would say ‘Good, good. I got $10,000 or whatever.’”
“(Fr. Joe would reply) ‘Ah, I got $15,000.’ How did he do it?”
Fr. Bolling was born March 5, 1943, to George Dewey Bolling and Helen Agnes Sewell. After graduating from St. Matthew Parish School, he attended McGill Institute and then joined the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany.
After deciding to discern the priesthood, Fr. Bolling attended St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, La., and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, George Dewey Bolling Jr., John R. Bolling, Vance Glen Bolling and Charles J. Bolling; four sisters, Annie Evelyn Brown, Carrie Mae Bolling Hurst, Charlotte Marie Bolling and Theresa Slade Kerr; a niece, Velda Watson; and a nephew, Henry Slade.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Mrs. Charles (Judy) Bolling; four nephews, Bart Bolling, John D. Bolling, Michael Brown and Joe Slade; a niece, Angie Dixon; other relatives, friends and parishioners.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Burse Club or favorite charity. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.