Bob and Charlotte McCandless are long-time parishioners of St. Jude. In this interview, Bob shares with us his interesting life story and the lessons he’s learned over the years.

Please tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in St. Luke’s parish in Glenside, and after high school I volunteered for the Army and spent 3 years in Germany at the time that the Berlin Wall was being built. While in Europe I had an audience with Pope St. John XXIII. Since then I’ve also had audiences with St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict, and Pope Francis.

After coming home I worked with my father, who was an optician. Eventually I became an optician, also, opening an office in Warminster, where I still work. After college I married my beautiful wife, Charlotte, and raised six children.

What do you like about St. Jude parish?
We have been parishioners since we moved here in 1965, and we raised our children here. So we’ve been here almost since the beginning of the parish. St. Jude is a very special place, and we enjoy coming to Mass here every week and the many friendships we’ve made. I belong to the Knights of Columbus.

How do you nurture your faith?
Just walk the walk, really. For me, my faith has given me strength for the things I’ve gone through, various illnesses. I’ve had a heart attack, battled cancer twice, and had a near-death experience. I try to share my experiences with people who need it.

You can’t keep your spirits up without Faith. I always keep a rosary in my pocket, which was blessed by St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict, and Pope Francis.

Can you tell us about your near-death experience?
I had a heart attack and Charlotte rushed me to the hospital. As the doctors were working on me, I heard a strange noise near my head – I later realized it was the heart monitor coding a flat line. My heart had stopped. I experienced a feeling of complete peace, no pain, incredible joy. It’s hard to describe, but I knew there was a heaven. I could see the doctors working on me and others taking care of Charlotte. Then I was suddenly brought back.

I’m not afraid to die because of this. I’m not in a hurry, but I know there is a heaven. I have shared this experience with a number of people with terminal illness and they have thanked me, because it helped them.

We had the sorrow of losing our daughter Kristen about six years ago. A week after she died, one of her fellow teachers came to us to tell us she had seen Kristen the night before. Kristen wanted her to tell her parents that she was in the most beautiful, peaceful place, and she said to tell her father that he was right.

Throughout your life, how has being a Catholic changed?
We used to have to fast from midnight before receiving Communion, which was hard on older people. And our teeth were not to touch the host! It does bother me to see people chewing the Eucharist. Lent was also more serious.

I think church is more inviting now, but only the people who come to church see that. I don’t know how to get that message out to those who don’t come, except word of mouth. Invite a friend.

What would you like younger people to know about your generation?
I don’t have any particular message to young people, and I do want to say that the young people in church are very courteous, which is wonderful.
However, I’d like to see people of all ages be more courteous in the parking lot. A little more patient and peaceful – like they are in church.

What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies?
We love to travel and have been to Egypt, China, and Canada, along with most European countries (England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain…). We also love to go dancing and dine out.

Do you have any favorite TV shows?
I like to watch Blue Bloods, and of course the football and baseball games. It brings back great memories of when I coached the boys baseball and girls softball teams.

Thank you, Bob!