CHARLOTTE — Graduating seniors from Charlotte Catholic High School gathered with family and friends May 29 at St. Matthew Church for a Baccalaureate Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Martin. 

The largest of the diocese’s high schools, CCHS celebrated the 324 members of the class of 2026 who this year earned $25,186,236 in scholarships – a school record. 

Baccalaureate Masses are also are planned for Bishop McGuinness High School at 6 p.m. May 22 at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville and for Christ the King High School at 5 p.m. May 26 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. 

Bishop Martin reminded the congregation of the night’s message of both expectation and gratitude. 

“This is a night of great joy in the way God has been at work in these graduates,” he said after the  seniors processed into the church clad in their red graduation gowns. 

In his homily, Bishop Martin referenced the 2004 film “National Treasure,” and got laughter from the pews when he reminded the seniors that none of them had been born when it was released. 

In that movie, a group of treasure hunters search for a fictional Revolutionary War treasure map that is written in invisible ink on the back of the Declaration of Independence and can only be seen through the lenses on a special set of glasses. 

He used that implausible plot line as a metaphor for the ways students should approach the special gifts of the faith they’ve been given by Catholic education. The past four years can be used as a lens, he said, “to see the great treasure which is your life – a lens the world won’t give you, and without it the fullness of life, the true richness can’t be found. That lens is Jesus Christ.” 

He encouraged the students to build their relationship with Jesus Christ and use the faith nurtured at CCHS to help them feel gratitude for their academic educations and the support they received from parents, teachers and staff. Faith will also give them a sense of purpose as they begin their lives after high school, he said. 

“It is only when we see our experience through the lens of Jesus that we are able to appreciate who we are, what our purpose is and how we can proceed and take the next step to what comes as life commences,” he said. 

He also reflected on the night’s readings from Isaiah, Corinthians and Matthew’s Gospel, encouraging the students to make good choices and to realize that lives of strength and holiness can be theirs if they only decide to pursue them. 

After the Mass, students gathered in a courtyard in front of the church to greet Bishop Martin, take photos, share refreshments and celebrate with family and friends. 

Soleil Demetry, who plans to attend Yale University and major in biomedical engineering, found meaning in the Mass. 

“Bishop Martin’s homily was really good because it was directly related to things we’ll face in going off to college and other things we’re doing with our lives,” she said. 

Rosamaria Moreno was emotional about the evening, especially as she watched her daughter Sophie Moreno singing with other seniors in the choir. 

“It was wonderful and magical,” she said. “I’m very happy that my daughter was able to sing for it. The Mass was very meaningful and a once in a lifetime experience for me. I’m a mother of five and this is the first time I’ve been able to attend a Mass like this.” 

 — Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School broke ground on the first phase of improvements to its campus Tuesday, May 19, with a ceremony on the school’s athletic field.

Students, parents, benefactors, diocesan staff and community members turned out for the event celebrating the beginning of the project, which will include upgrading the existing field and sideline to premium artificial turf and renovating the existing media center into a multi-faceted student life center. 

The improvements are being funded by a capital campaign, “Grounded in Tradition: Focused on the Future,” which launched in February and aims to raise $8.5 million for several large projects to enhance student life at the school, including the new turf and media center improvements. 

Plans for the next phases will move forward once additional funding milestones are reached. They include transforming a small office building recently purchased by MACS and adjacent to the campus into the Computer, Technology and Engineering Innovation Center,  which will support classes in engineering, robotics and other technologies.

Finally, the new field house and flexible space complex will be designed to offer a multi-purpose hub that will include areas for sports performance, recovery and athletic training, dedicated spaces for health and wellness education and team meetings, and a flexible space that can easily be transformed from classrooms to larger spaces for after-school activities. 

Mercy Sister Paulette Williams, who was principal at the school from 1980 to 2000, spoke at the ceremony and called it “an exciting day in the life of Charlotte Catholic High School.” 

“We today stand on the shoulders literally of those who came before us,” she said. “Their donations and all of the benefactors in the 80-year history of Charlotte Catholic brought us here. We should never forget their role in helping Charlotte Catholic to take the next big step in our life. May God continue to bless us on this journey.” 

Kurt Telford, head of school at CCHS, spoke to the students in the stands about the role the improvements will play in their lives. 

“This project is ultimately about you and the generations of students who will be with you and follow you,” Telford said. “The spaces we celebrate today will create new opportunities for learning, innovation, competition, unity and most importantly faith formation. One day you will be able to look back and say you were here when this exciting new chapter in our school’s history began.” 

Work on turfing the field is set to begin June 1 after the school’s lacrosse and girl’s soccer teams complete post-season play, and work on the new student center will take place during the summer. School officials said the goal is to have the new field ready for the beginning of football season and for the student life center to be complete by the time teachers return in August. 

The total cost for all phases of the improvement project is expected to reach $10.5 million, which includes a $2 million contribution from the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Capital Fee.

Choate Construction is the contractor for the project and Little and Associates are the architects working on the improvements.

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Christina Lee Knauss and Siobhan Whipp

Wearing shirts representing their future colleges, former Wildcats walked the halls once again, inspiring the next generation of students dreaming about their future journeys.

Former Principal Kevin O’Herron also returned to send the seniors off with a reminder that still means so much to the school community: “Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat!” 

—  Photos by Troy C. Hull

The day began with a baccalaureate Mass on the piazza of the Abbey Basilica, presided over by Abbey alumnus Bishop John Joseph McDermott of Burlington, Vermont. The graduation ceremony followed, led by Chancellor Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., and the college's new President Dr. Jeffrey W. Talley, who welcomed families, friends, faculty and staff to the celebration of years of study and dedication.

“Today, we celebrate not only the remarkable achievements of our graduates but also the enduring spirit of Belmont Abbey College,” Talley said. “Each of these students has demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership and service, and we are inspired by the virtues and character they carry into the world. As we honor our 150th anniversary, we are reminded that the values instilled here will guide them for a lifetime,”

This year’s graduating class included diocesan seminarians Matthew Hennessey, Theodore Holthe and Jeremy Smith as well as 26 nursing students, 10 students who completed new motorsports management degrees and 27 psychology graduates, many of whom were headed to graduate school. 

A significant number of student-athletes also graduated this year, demonstrating dedication both on the field and in the classroom. Among this year’s honorees, Addie Galek, a senior on the women’s soccer team, was named the recipient of Conference Carolinas’ 2025-26 Murphy Osborne Award. In addition, 10 athletic teams earned the Messick Award, while the college’s athletic department received the overall Messick Award for the year – the highest sportsmanship honor within the conference. These achievements reflect the college’s mission to cultivate sport and virtue while fostering the holistic development of body, mind and soul.

Several legacy families celebrated another child’s graduation, demonstrating the enduring values and strong sense of community instilled by Belmont Abbey College across generations. Susan Reid, a member of the 5th Honors College cohort majoring in Great Books and minoring in Classical Languages, was named the 2026 valedictorian. The graduating class also includes 22 Honors College Scholarship students, 24 Hintemeyer Catholic Leadership Scholarship scholars, who are continuing the Abbey’s long tradition of forming men and women of faith and service. 

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the 2026 Abbey Student of the Year award to Caroline Gutierrez. The Abbey Student of the Year recognizes a student who exemplifies engagement, leadership and academic and extracurricular excellence. In a cherished tradition unique to Belmont Abbey, the award recipient delivers a speech in place of a traditional commencement speaker, offering personal reflections and inspiration to fellow graduates. 

In her remarks, Gutierrez encouraged her classmates to embrace their unique calling and lead with courage and conviction: “Each of us has been given a unique purpose in this life, and the Abbey has helped us to foster it. One of my favorite quotes is by St. Catherine of Siena, she says, ‘Be who God made you to be and you will set the world on fire.’ So, class of 2026, I encourage you to carry this wisdom with you and share your unique light and gifts with the world. Be brave and stand firm in the morals and values that guide your heart. This is what Belmont Abbey has taught us, that in all things, we may strive for excellence and virtue.”

Belmont Abbey College also conferred honorary degrees on Bishop John McDermott of Burlington, Vermont, and Jesse Aaron Grapes, former headmaster of Benedictine High School in Richmond, Virginia. Both honorees were recognized for their contributions to education.

— Catholic News Herald

"As we reflect on our history, from the founding through the trials of the Civil War to the struggle for civil rights, we can see this consistent thread, the conviction that human dignity, equality, rights, freedom, and the rule of law are all grounded in God," he said. 

Organizers of the event, "Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving," said they aimed to mark the nation's upcoming 250th birthday "with Scripture, testimony, prayer, and rededication of our country as One Nation to God." It was organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership with the White House to mark America 250.

The event primarily featured Protestant faith leaders, but in addition to Bishop Barron, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, retired archbishop of New York, spoke by video, and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik spoke in person. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who identifies as Hindu, also spoke by video message.

Citing Abraham Lincoln's use of the phrase "under God" in the Gettysburg address, Bishop Barron argued he did so because he knew "that God is essential to any coherent account of democracy, freedom, and equality."

That sense of freedom can also be traced to the founding, he argued, citing the Declaration of Independence's phrase, "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

"What the founders knew from their Christian formation is that all people, despite their enormous inequalities, are equally children of God and therefore equal in dignity," Bishop Barron said.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both Catholics, as well as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Gabbard, were among the administration officials who addressed the event by video messages. 

"We've always been and still are a nation of prayer, and thank God for that," Vance said in a video message. 

Rubio said in a video message that the nation was "shaped by this Christian idea."

He pointed to the Apollo 8 astronauts -- Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders -- reading from the book of Genesis during their historic 1968 mission to orbit the moon.

"This is who we are," Rubio said. "It is who we have always been. America is still a young nation, measured against the record of history, and from the beginning, we have carried the belief that our country represents something new in the world. But the soul of our nation has always been rooted in an ancient faith." 

Organizers replayed a video message Trump previously delivered in April for an event called "America Reads the Bible," in which he read from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, using the King James Easy Read Bible by Whitaker House Publishers, a Protestant translation. 

"I HOPE EVERYBODY AT REDEDICATE 250 IS HAVING A GOOD TIME," Trump posted on his social media website, Truth Social. 

Critics of the event argued that the Trump administration's level of participation improperly blended church and state.

Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement, "If President Trump and his allies truly cared about America's legacy of religious freedom, they would be celebrating church-state separation as the unique American invention that has allowed religious diversity to flourish in our country."

Cardinal Dolan said in a video message that "in every chapter of the American story, our faith in God has been the bedrock of our greatness, the source of our success."

"Boy, going back to the days of the Revolutionary War, our very way of life has been defined in part by a few key principles: prayer, trust, worship, the Sabbath, loyalty to family, freedom of religion, the power and strength of democracy, the principle of subsidiarity, devotion to the common good," Cardinal Dolan said. "In other words, our deepest values as a country have always been rooted in our identity as a people of God and anchored in the reality that we're not only American citizens -- you bet we are, and grateful for it -- but that we are bound someday to be citizens of heaven."

Cardinal Dolan noted the U.S. Catholic bishops plan to dedicate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11.

In addition to Bishop Barron and Cardinal Dolan, other members of Trump's Religious Liberty Commission who spoke at the event included Ben Carson, the Rev. Paula White-Cain, the Rev. Franklin Graham, Eric Metaxas, and Rabbi Soloveichik. 

During a prayer at the event, Bishop Barron said, "A religiously vibrant America is a politically healthy America."

"It's also why we cherish religious liberty -- a conviction that's made us a haven for people fleeing religious persecution from all over the world," he said.

— Kate Scanlon, OSV News

Go on pilgrimage to Fatima with Father John Putnam, pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville or with Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury. They go virtually every year, and Father Putnam has been to Fatima 30 times. He credits Our Lady of Fatima with giving him confirmation of his call to the priesthood. (Watch more here)

Learn about Alianca de Santa Maria (the Alliance of Mary. Father Eckert is the spiritual director of this religious congregation and often visits their convent on his pilgrimages to Fatima. The Alliance often returns the favor with members visiting Charlotte. Learn more. 

Parishes including St. Vincent de Paul and St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte, St. Michael the Archangel in Gastonia, and Sacred Heart in Salisbury welcome parishioners to come every first Saturday for confession, a rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and prayer – the things Our Lady of Fatima requested as reparation for sins. Learn more.  

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte holds an Our Lady of Fatima procession and rosary every month on the 13th. 

Luminary prayer groups meet monthly across the diocese to discuss the message of Our Lady of Fatima, with two main locations at Sacred Heart in Salisbury and St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte.  Read more.

— Lisa M. Geraci

The son of immigrants and shaped through experiences of pain, conversion and mission, Samol speaks about how a personal encounter with God transformed his story and led him to serve the Church with passion, especially by accompanying the Hispanic community in the United States. 

CNH: Could you tell us a little about your personal story and what has shaped you up to this point in your life? 

Samol: I am the son of immigrants, and for many years I carried a deep feeling that I didn’t belong, that I was neither from here nor from there. To make that experience even harder, my parents divorced, and I also did not know whether I belonged to one family or the other. I hated being asked, “Where are you from?” because it made me aware of my doubts and the shame of feeling out of place. 

But God had a plan. I had a very powerful personal encounter with Him. At age 14, during a retreat that my mother practically forced me to attend, on the third day, during a prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Lord gave me a deep and undeniable peace. In that moment, something changed in and gave me a new certainty: I belong to God. I am His son. And I have a home in His Church. Since then, my path has been to respond to that love, allowing Him to form me and following Him wherever He has called me, in different countries and situations, always as a missionary disciple. 

CNH: How did your faith journey begin and how has it evolved over the years? 

Samol: My faith journey began when I was little, living with my grandmother, who taught me to pray and read the Bible. However, my true conversion happened at age 14 during that retreat.

Since then, I have continued growing in my relationship with the Lord, discovering more and more my identity as a beloved son of God. My faith has matured into the desire to follow Christ, imitate Him and allow Him to transform me so that I may belong completely to Him. Today I can say with conviction: God is my Father. 

CNH: When did you begin to feel that God was calling you to ministry or service in the Church in a more specific way? 

Samol: Very early in my conversion I began serving. I remember that at only 15 years old, I was invited to give a talk at an adult retreat. I loved the experience of serving. 

The encounter with God not only transformed my life but also awakened in me the desire that others might experience it, too. Over time I understood that my calling was to be a missionary disciple: not only to believe, but to share – with my life and my words –  what God has done in me. Throughout the years, that calling has taken shape in different opportunities for service, always with the certainty that it is the Lord who guides the way. 

CNH: Looking back, how do you see the path that led you to this new role in the Diocese of Charlotte? 

Samol: Looking back, I clearly see God’s faithfulness in every stage of my life. He has guided our journey – my wife’s and mine – through different countries, always calling us to serve. 

In recent years I strongly felt God’s love for Hispanics in the United States, but I never imagined that would become this mission. 

Today I see my arrival in the Diocese of Charlotte as part of God’s plan: an invitation from the Father to continue serving with passion and openness. 

CNH: How do you understand this new role in the Diocese of Charlotte, and how would you like to lead Hispanic ministry at this stage? 

Samol: I understand this role as a call from God to serve, helping more people experience that the Church is their home, the family of God. 

The vision of Bishop Michael Martin deeply resonates in my heart — a pastoral ministry that proclaims the Gospel while also demonstrating God’s love by making it visible in people’s lives. 

My desire is to accompany, listen and create spaces where Hispanics can encounter Christ and discover that they are not foreigners or strangers, but members of God’s family: a pastoral ministry where the Gospel is proclaimed with words and demonstrated with concrete love. 

CNH: What part of your faith experience would you like people to know or better understand about you? 

Samol: I would like people to understand that my life is marked by a very concrete experience: going from feeling like someone who did not belong to discovering that I am the Father’s son and part of His family. 

God has also given me the gift of marriage. The best thing that has happened to me in my  life is marrying my wife, Saylí. She and I have experienced moments of joy, but also moments of the cross – including the loss of two unborn children, who are now in heaven – and even so we have experienced that God is faithful and never stops sustaining us. 

If anything defines my journey, it is that certainty born at that retreat: God is my Father, His family is where I belong. And together with my wife, I have found my home.

And from there, I want to invite others: If you have ever felt out of place or like you don’t belong, I want you to know this: in God the Father, there is a home for you. The Church is the house of God, and it can also be your home. 

— Brian Segovia  

Father Patrick Cahill, pastor of St. Matthew Church, high-fives a young parishioner at the Waxhaw campus the morning he announced that the diocese was moving toward creating a separate parish. (Troy C. Hull)

Pastor of St. Matthew in south Charlotte, Father Cahill celebrated all three Masses at the parish’s satellite campus last weekend, announcing the change at the start of his homily.

“This is a blessed moment in the history of the diocese,” said Father Cahill, who celebrated the very first Mass at the satellite campus in 2014. “It’s a time to thank God for His divine providence that has brought us here.”

The news sparked both praise and reflection for long-time parishioners and newcomers, most of whom were happy with the development in the life of their community.

“I’m thrilled – absolutely thrilled – because we’ve waited a long time for this,” said Joan Ondrof, a member of St. Matthew Parish for 18 years who has been coming to the Waxhaw campus since its inception.

Father Cahill will work in collaboration with diocesan leaders and Father Benjamin Roberts (read more on page 5). Until the parish is formally established, Father Roberts will work alongside

Father Cahill as “Priest in solidum” (meaning “jointly” or “equally”) as boundaries are defined, parish resources are separated, and families in the new territory are identified.

Once the community is prepared, the process of establishing the parish can take as little as a few months (read details above).

For some, the need for a new parish was obvious, as the number of Catholics in southern Mecklenburg and Union counties continues to grow. Weekend Masses regularly draw more than 1,600 people.

“We are elated and so excited that this dream is finally coming together,” said Theresa Peters, who drives to Waxhaw from her home over the border in Lancaster, South Carolina. “Hopefully starting a new parish will help us continue to build community here in the Waxhaw area.”

“I think it’s great – it shows that the Church is expanding in this area,” said Waxhaw resident Franklin Lim. “It’s great to see the growth of the Church.”

Some were more hesitant about separating from St. Matthew.

“I was shocked to hear this, and I think it’s going to be hard and a little sad,” said Lucy Reyes, who lives just across the state line in Indian Land, South Carolina. “I don’t want to lose the community and fellowship we have with the St. Matthew Parish. But I guess we’ll have to see where God leads us.”

The addition is also bringing change to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe as Father Roberts leaves after 14 years as pastor.

While parishioners and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes said they will miss working with Father Roberts, they think he’s a good choice for the new project.

Cantor and organist Bradley Stiver has worked with Father Roberts since 2019 and said his ability to collaborate and build relationships is top-notch.

“He’s a pretty incredible boss, very, very kind and caring for staff – and he creates an environment where staff members’ ideas are heard,” Stiver said. “He’s a very kind human being who gets crazy ideas in the very best way. He’s an incredible preacher who leads from the pulpit, and he values being a pastor and being a shepherd, so I think he’ll be a remarkable leader in Waxhaw.”

Parishioner Lizeth Ildefonso has known Father Roberts for much of her life. He gave her First Communion and confirmed her, and as she’s entered adulthood, she values the relationships he builds with parishioners.

“He has been so involved with the parish – he is one of the best priests I’ve ever met,” Ildefonso said.

“He has always led with faith and always called and invited anyone to come to the church. He is someone you can talk with easily, and he has also helped connect people in the parish,” she said.

Ildefonso, a data analyst, said Father Roberts has introduced her to other parishioners in her field.

“He has done so much community outreach in our parish, and he has helped families and young adults both in growing and learning more about their faith,” she said. “I think him being open to communicating and to being welcoming is going to be very helpful in starting a new parish.”

 — Christina Lee Knauss

Father Gnanapragasam Mariasoosia, the pastor of St. Joseph of the Hills Church in Eden, served his parish for eight years and bridged the gap between his hometown in Tamil Nadu, India, and North Carolina.

The parish of 300 members he has served for eight years is large in faith and love, he said.

“The people are very nice, kind and cooperative,” said Father Mariasoosai. “Sometimes they may not understand my English, but even then, they continuously love me and inspire me.”

When Father Mariasoosai cracks jokes in his homilies, he is always impressed with their laughs and encouraging smiles.

“I love saying Mass regularly and keeping people connected to the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

The congregation has worked to improve the church, raising money to build a protective landscaping wall around the church and rectory and adding stairs and an accessible parking lot.

“These may not be huge projects, but we did it and everyone supported it, and they are so happy with everything,” he said.

A cradle Catholic from India

Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Madurai, India, in 1981, Father Mariasoosai, a native of Tamil Nadu, India, helps bridge the gap for Indian-American Catholics.

He travels to Holy Cross Church in Durham monthly to celebrate Mass in his native language, Tamil.

He was raised and baptized Catholic beside his two brothers and two sisters. When he was 3, his father died. Through difficult times, his mother held steadfast to the faith, raising her children to pray the rosary, give to the poor, go to daily Mass, and sacrifice time for God and others.

Father Mariasoosai said, “My mother sacrificed so much for us. She taught us everything, and she is the only reason I was ever able to become a priest. She died in 2003 but still lives on in my heart.”

After being ordained, Father Mariasoosai spent 19 years in India as a diocesan priest. His favorite part, he said, was “watching the children learn and grow in faith and love.”

He then spent three years in Jamaica, first studying in Kingston and then ministering in a small parish in Spanish Town.

Time to retire

Father Mariasoosai retires amid health issues.

“Last year, on the 27th of December, while I was saying Saturday Mass, after we said Our Father, I collapsed and I went to the emergency room. I stayed there for 5 hours,” he said. “I don’t know the reason, but maybe the sugar levels caused it.”

Plus, as he grows older, standing for long periods during Mass is taking its toll, he said.

His retirement plans are unclear for now, he said.

“I want to stay here, in the Charlotte diocese, for a couple more years if my health cooperates.”

He also plans to spend time visiting friends in London, Canada, and, of course, India.

Father José Palma Torres will step in as parochial administrator upon Father Mariasoosai’s departure. But before he leaves, he wants his parishioners and their new shepherd to keep his words in their hearts.

“Put Jesus in the center of your life,” Father Mariasoosai said. “Surround yourself with everything Jesus. With God, everything is possible.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

NORTH WILKESBORO — The path to the priesthood was a long and winding one for Father John Hanic, who is retiring July 1 after 23 years as pastor of St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish.

It started in his birthplace of Massachusetts, led through an attempt at seminary, marriage, fatherhood, a career at Sears, Roebuck and Co., and then back to his original calling.

He had wanted to be a priest for as long as he could remember, he said, and he did go to seminary, but there was one problem.

“Back then to be in seminary you had to be proficient in Latin – you had to read it, write it, speak it, and I was very poor and inefficient in languages,” he said. “I didn’t do well.”

A year of Latin immersion didn’t help. He left the seminary, took a job with Sears, married and became father to a son and daughter. The marriage ended in divorce, and he became a single parent. He still felt called to serve the Church, so he took a job as secretary at his home parish in Massachusetts.

In the mid-1970s, he felt called to become a deacon, but struggled to find a diocese that had a program. A visit to Bishop Michael Begley in Charlotte reignited his childhood dream.

“He said ‘I don’t have a permanent diaconate program, but what you’re going to do is study to be a priest for me,’” Father Hanic recalled.
Bishop Begley sent him to seminary in Massachusetts so he could be with his family, and in 1983, he moved his children to North Carolina and began his journey of shepherding parishes.

Serving at six parishes

“At every place I’ve been, something terrific has happened,” he said of the six parishes he has served in the diocese.

While he was pastor at Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem, he worked with Sister Janis McQuade of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia to establish an RCIA program (now OCIA) for those who desired to become Catholic.

“That experience really changed my vision and understanding of how people embrace the faith and become part of the Church,” he said.

At St. James in Hamlet, he helped make needed changes. When he arrived at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte, he learned of plans to build the current church on Shamrock Drive and helped bring them to fruition.

“I spent so much time there as the church was being built,” he said. “I helped lay some shingles on the roof. I laid a brick in the church. I contributed in every way I could.”

From there, he went to St. Joseph of the Hills in Eden for two years and spent seven years as chaplain at Holy Trinity Middle School.

Finally, he arrived at St. John the Baptist de La Salle in North Wilkesboro at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and its mission, St. Stephen in Elkin, where he has ministered for the past 23 years.

It was in North Wilkesboro that he overcame his inability to learn languages. The parish’s Hispanic community was booming, and Father Hanic was struggling to learn enough Spanish to celebrate Mass.

He traveled to Mexico at the invitation of a priest from the Diocese of Chiapas in Mexico. There, he was invited to celebrate Mass at a basilica near the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The only problem? All of the texts were in Spanish.

A religious sister offered to help him pronounce the words.

“A little group of people had come for the Mass, and that was the first time I ever celebrated Mass in Spanish, and when I got back here, I found that I could celebrate the Mass for the community here in Spanish,” he said.

Learning the traditions of the Hispanic community has been one of his greatest joys, he said. He added a building to better accommodate the hundreds who attend Spanish Mass on Sundays.

As retirement approaches, he said, he will miss the strong relationships he’s forged.

“There will be things to do – I can help out in different parishes, celebrate a weekend Mass – but it won’t be the same as being here with the people every day and being able to celebrate with them every weekend,” Father Hanic said.

“Celebrating the Eucharist with the people is what I love the very best. That will be the hardest thing for me to let go. This journey of the priesthood and coming to retirement is overwhelming and mysterious. How is God working in this phase? I don’t know, but it will be a new adventure.”

— Christina Lee Knauss

Themed “One Nation Under God,” the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will stop at five churches in the diocese as it journeys 1,500 miles up the East Coast to Philadelphia for the Fourth of July and America’s 250th anniversary.

This year’s route is named after St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American saint. The pilgrimage begins in St. Augustine, Florida, and ends near Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

“The Catholic Church has been a major part of our country’s history, and this pilgrimage gives us an opportunity to link to the greater Church, going forth in discipleship as we are called,” said Deacon Jim Bozik of St. Peter Parish in Charlotte, who is co-organizing diocesan festivities.

The “monstrance-mobile” – featuring a window allowing people to view the Blessed Sacrament – and nine young adult “perpetual pilgrims” will stop first at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe after crossing into the diocese from South Carolina. There, people can meet the pilgrims and join them for a Holy Hour and Mass. Churches in Charlotte, Statesville and Greensboro will also host the pilgrimage with Holy Hours and Masses. All are welcome.

For pilgrims Mary Carmen Zakrajsek and Raymond Martinez, the journey is both spiritual and personal.

“I am excited to meet all these Catholic communities,” Martinez said. “We want the entire nation to experience Our Lord through the Eucharist. We will carry your prayer intentions and place them at the foot of the monstrance in prayer. Eventually we will leave them at the altar with Christ after our last procession.”

On Sunday, May 31, Bishop Michael Martin will celebrate Mass at St. Peter Church in Charlotte, the oldest active parish in the diocese, followed by a meet-and-greet with the pilgrims.
Sunday evening, people can enjoy a free theater screening of “Cabrini,” the film about the saint’s advocacy for immigrants and the Church’s role in American history. St. Matthew, the diocese’s largest parish, will co-sponsor the exclusive screening. Advance ticket reservations are required.

Like Mother Cabrini, diocesan co-organizer Deacon Herb Quintanilla is an immigrant, and he sees the pilgrimage as a celebration of both faith and opportunity.

“Everyone comes to America to have a better life, a safer life. This is one of the greatest countries in the world because if you work hard and study, you can make it,” said Deacon Quintanilla, who moved from El Salvador. “This is an immigrant country, and that is why we have so many Catholics – the Irish, the Italians, the Polish, and the Latin Americans. This country has grown up Catholic.”

Zakrajsek said the pilgrimage also reflects the spiritual journey of the nation itself.

“Just like us as pilgrims walking this route, our country is also on pilgrimage. We are going to follow Him through the streets. We are going to bring Him to the poor. We are going to fall on our knees before Him in worship. This is an opportunity to live out the Gospel, to be united as a country, and to ask Him to bless us and to heal us, one soul at a time.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

More online

At www.charlottediocese.org/national-eucharistic-pilgrimage: Get details about the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as it passes through the Diocese of Charlotte, including Mass and Holy Hour times, locations, movie screening reservations, and more.

Don’t miss this historic event!

The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will stop in the Diocese of Charlotte at:

• SATURDAY, MAY 30 – Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe: Eucharistic Adoration from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., followed by 5 p.m. Mass
• SUNDAY, MAY 31 – St. Peter Church in Charlotte: Mass with Bishop Michael Martin at 9 a.m., followed by a meet-and-greet with the pilgrims
• SUNDAY, MAY 31 – St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte: 2 p.m. Spanish Mass, followed by Eucharistic Adoration and procession
• MONDAY, JUNE 1 – St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville: 9 a.m. Mass, followed by Eucharistic Adoration
• MONDAY-TUESDAY, JUNE 1-2 – St. Pius X Church in Greensboro: 4-5 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration and procession from 3:45-4:15 p.m., followed by 5:15 p.m. Mass; and 8:30 a.m. Mass on Tuesday, June 2. (Consider bringing a non-perishable item for the Greensboro Urban Ministry Food Pantry.)

Note: Parishes may add other events – please see each parish’s website or bulletin for details.

Watch ‘Cabrini’
Take the family out Sunday, May 31, to enjoy a free, exclusive screening of the hit movie about Mother Cabrini – patron of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage – at Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen in Charlotte. Seating is limited; advance ticket reservations required (no walk-ins).

Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. Co-sponsored by St. Matthew Parish. Reserve your seat online at www.charlottediocese.org/national-eucharistic-pilgrimage,

The year-long project came together just in time for the May crowning during which students placed flowers at the feet of their heavenly mother, which followed First Holy Communion and Confirmation on May 8.

“We are just so grateful,” said St. Pius X School’s Principal Antonette Aguilera. “We had a lot of really great people come out and advise us. And so many donors support us.”

The new prayer and reflection space borders the school and the church and overlooks the playground. The design originated from a watercolor rendering painted by local artist Chip Holton.

“He is a community member who loves this school,” Aguilera said. “We were sold on it, and excited to move forward with his design.”

The painting has come to life in a cross-shaped brick pathway set inside a circle, with four patches of synthetic turf dividing the landscape into four equal sections – resembling a Host.

Eight white curved benches line the circle. The main focus is an 8-foot statue of Our Lady of Lourdes.

“We scoured the country to find a Lourdes statue,” Aguilera said. “Our Lady of Lourdes is special to us because (former pastor, the late) Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio was a Knight of Malta, and we have such a strong Malta presence here. She seemed fitting for us as a school to carry on his memory.”

Leading up to the Marian garden is a line of “Hidden Rose” apple trees.

“This all began prior to our 2025 gala. We had a Marian garden already, but it needed some refreshing,” Aguilera explained. “It was not very accessible. We wanted to create a shared space for the parish and the school to pray and gather and honor our Blessed Mother.”

The new garden was erected beside the older one, memorializing the legacy of those who founded it.

The Our Lady of Lourdes statue has a connection to the church, as many members belong to the Order of Malta, which makes an annual pilgrimage there.

The steps leading down to the space were made by an Eagle Scout and were installed before Monsignor Marcaccio’s death.

“Monsignor bought the smaller Mary over here, and this cross behind her is the original lintel that was above the original convent founded by the nuns,” Aguilera said.

The project cost approximately $20,000, which was funded by a recent gala and donations for engraved memorial bricks and benches.

Aguilera said donors dedicated bricks to create a special place where they could pray for loved ones whose graves are too far away to visit regularly or to commemorate events such as a graduation, wedding or anniversary.

Parishioner Mary Thacker sponsored five bricks, one for each of her grandchildren, all of whom attended St. Pius X School.

“This is beautiful and is in such a perfect spot. It is such a wonderful place to meditate and pray,” Thacker said.

Monsignor Marcaccio already has a brick, as do the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, and whenever a teacher retires, a brick will bear their name.

“It is almost like a historical timeline for us, and eventually it will be,” Aguilera said. “People that are part of our history can now stay solidly here.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

The Thacker siblings prepare for the May crowning and dedication of the new Our Lady of Lourdes statue and Marian Garden at St. Pius X Parish.

Father Larry LaMonaco and a long-time altar server stand in front of the mural installed on the left wall of the church. The massive 34 foot by 21 foot mural brings people into the scene of Christ’s crucifixion.

The mural captures a powerful portrayal of the Crucifixion that has brought parishioners to their knees in prayer and quiet reflection.

“I think it is amazing. I love what it is adding to our church, the atmosphere of it,” said Carrie Socha, who has been a parishioner for three years.

The work took about nine months to complete. What started as an 8” x 11” computer sketch was unveiled as a 34’ x 21’ life-size piece covering much of the left wall of the church.

Autry, who finished the last paint strokes during the Easter season, got emotional at the sight of her work.

“I was painting the blood and bruising right during Easter time,” Autry said. “I have never painted the Crucifixion, so it was very touching. I just tried to show all the emotions of everyone that would have been there on the darkest day of human history.”

That emotion emanates from the expressions of the two-dimensional biblical characters on the walls into the hearts of parishioners in the pews.

“While I am praying, it makes me feel like I am part of that moment,” Socha said.

The mural is dedicated to the late Michele Acosta McCreary, who was co-founder of McCreary Modern, a large furniture manufacturer. (Lisa M. Geraci | Catholic News Herald)

The mural depicts guards rolling dice for Jesus’ tunic while another soldier sits alone with the realization that he helped kill the true “King of the Jews.” Joseph of Arimathea waits in despair to procure the body of Christ while Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother Mary weep. Jesus and the two thieves hang on three crosses in the distance, while the world around them reacts, some in mourning and changed forever by the death of Christ, others indifferent.

“It tells a story. I like the part where the guys are rolling the dice. They seem totally oblivious,” shared Father Larry LoMonaco, pastor of St. Aloysius. “I mean, the greatest thing in history happens, and they are sitting there rolling dice. Lisa really figured out how to bring this to life.“

The artwork was dedicated to the late Michele McCreary, co-founder of McCreary Modern Inc., a furniture manufacturer with more than 800 employees at six plants throughout North Carolina.

Even though they are not Catholic, her husband, one of the artwork’s two benefactors, arranged her funeral at St. Aloysius Church in 2024 and wanted a way to honor her there. A plaque highlighting her life sits at one corner of the work.

Planning for and creating the mural took about a year.

“It has been my experience that if you truly pray and take yourself out of the equation, and let it happen, God will work it out,” Father LoMonaco said. “Because we are on God’s time, He is not on our time.”

After Father LoMonaco tackled a long string of parish maintenance projects, the time felt right to finally focus on the beautification of the church.

“I got all the important stuff done. The elevator, the heating system and the AC, and now it is nice to have some art,” Father LoMonaco said.

Though the mural is complete, Father LoMonaco has already hired Autry to design another on the adjacent wall to depict Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, complete with the Magi and a manger.

“I just pray a lot and ask the Lord what He wants to be done. And I thought the idea would be nice,” Father LoMonaco said. “But, I give Lisa artistic license. Just like you don’t want to tell a priest what to preach, you don’t want to tell an artist what to paint.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

(From left) Deacons Michael Lugo, Maximilian Frei, John Cuppett, Robert Bauman, James Tweed, Peter Townsend, Michael Camilleri, Daniel Chaves Peña, Bryan Ilagor and Juan González Hernández will be ordained priests May 30. (Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald)

This milestone follows last year’s class of six priests, which approached the previous record of seven achieved in both 2000 and 2024.

The record-breaking class fills diocesan Vocations Director Father John Eckert with gratitude for all those who have been involved in helping these young men.

“We’re so blessed here in the Diocese of Charlotte with our families who support vocations, our parishes, our pastors and parochial vicars, the chaplains at the high schools and colleges,” he said.

“Bishop Michael Martin likes to point out often that God is a God of abundance, not a God of scarcity, and we’re seeing the fruits of that this year,” Father Eckert said.

With only two priests retiring this summer, the ordinands will join 145 priests serving in some capacity for a Catholic population that now tops 575,000.

Diocesan leaders credit in part the impact of St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, which opened in 2016. Eight of this year’s ordinands studied there before advancing to major seminary. The other two lived there during their pastoral years of ministering to a parish.

At the college seminary, men discern the priesthood while earning a bachelor’s degree at nearby Belmont Abbey College before going on to major seminary.

DIVERSE CLASS

Not only is it one of the largest ordination classes in the diocese’s 54-year history, the 2026 ordination class reflects the continued growth and diversity of the Church in western North Carolina.

Six of the men were not born in North Carolina – and only Deacon James Tweed is a native of the diocese – but the region’s growth drew them or their families here.

Two of them – Deacon Daniel Chaves Peña from Colombia and Juan González Hernández from Mexico – moved here during their seminary studies. Deacon Maximilian Frei hails from Germany, and Deacon Bryan Ilagor was born in Pinehurst but raised in Mexico.

The group’s average age is 30, and they took different paths to the priesthood – from scientists and athletes to missionaries and musicians – but they all share a willingness to trust God’s call wherever it leads.

SAME CALL TO SERVE

Some discovered their calling as children, while others found it later in life through retreats, personal crises, friendships or years of discernment.

For Deacon Chaves, the turning point came after a devastating health crisis ended his hopes of an athletic career.

“I realized life ends and things aren’t just fun or passing time,” he said. “You face reality.” After an Ignatian retreat, he reached a conviction that changed his life: “I can’t live with myself if I say no. It was so clear – God was calling me,” he said.

Others describe quieter beginnings. Deacon Michael Camilleri remembers “playing Mass” as one of his earliest childhood memories before rediscovering his vocation as a teenager.

Deacon Peter Townsend said he first sensed the call at just 5 years old, and “the feeling never left me.”

Deacon Ilagor recalls serving one night at his parish when his pastor asked him, “Bryan, do you want to be a priest?” The moment, he said, forced him to answer honestly before God, “If this is God’s will, I will give it a shot.”

Deacon Robert Bauman heard his call right after college. Several pursued other dreams before they decided to enter seminary. Deacon John Cuppett played baseball at Belmont Abbey College before former desires for the priesthood “came crashing back.”

Deacon Tweed studied molecular biology and neuroscience and considered careers in archaeology, marine biology and medicine. Yet God revealed a deeper purpose, he said. “My heart had been made entirely for Him,” he explained.

Deacon González said his family’s witness played a decisive role in his vocation. Watching his brother celebrate Mass after ordination sparked a question in his young heart: “What if I myself become a priest one day, like my brother?”

The 2026 ordinands’ hobbies are as varied as their vocation stories: hiking, chess, calligraphy, disc golf, literature, oil painting, classical music and sports. Yet despite their different interests and paths to the priesthood, the future priests describe their anticipated ministry in similar terms: surrender, trust and joy.

They describe priesthood not simply as a profession, but as a complete gift of self.

Priesthood is “the summation of everything I wanted out of life,” especially “the service of God,” said Deacon Michael Lugo.

Deacon Tweed echoes his fellow ordinands in telling men who might be discerning a priestly vocation: “Do not be afraid to trust Him, even when the path is unclear. God’s call is a gift.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle and Kimberly Bender

What to know before you go

All are welcome to attend the 9 a.m. ordination Mass on Saturday, May 30, at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville.

Seating: Once seating inside St. Mark Church is at capacity, overflow seating will be in the St. Mark School Gym. Ushers will direct people upon arrival.

Additional parking: St. Mark’s parking lot will fill quickly, so overflow parking with shuttle service will be available starting at 7:30 a.m. from nearby Grand Oaks Elementary School at 15410 Stumptown Road.

Reception and first blessings: Stay for the reception and light refreshments after Mass at 11 a.m. in the Monsignor Kerin Center. The new priests will offer first blessings from 1 to 3 p.m. inside the church.

Can’t attend in person? Watch from anywhere with our livestream of the ordination Mass, live starting at 9 a.m. on the diocese’s YouTube channel. Subscribe to get notifications and updates about live streams, Shorts, premieres and more.Follow along with the livestream Mass in this program.

Vesting the new priests

During the May 30 Mass, the newly ordained priests remove their deacon’s stoles and are presented with the symbols of their new office in the Church: a priestly stole and chasuble (vestment). This moment is known as the “investiture.” The priests are assisted by other priests they have personally chosen to vest them.

• Robert Bauman — Father John Eckert, vocations director for the diocese
• Michael Camilleri — Father Bob Ferris, retired diocesan priest
• Daniel Chaves Peña — Father Francisco Javier Mahia
• John Cuppett — Father Jose Palma Torres, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem
• Maximilian Frei —Monsignor Karl Chimiak
• Juan González Hernández — Father Eusebio Gonzalez Hernandez
• Bryan Ilagor — Father Ricardo Sanchez, pastor of Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe
• Michael Lugo — Father Herbert Burke, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish
• Peter Townsend — Father Matthew Buettner, spiritual director of St. Joseph College Seminary
• James Tweed — Father Joseph Yellico, chaplain at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

First Masses of Thanksgiving

Following their ordination, the new priests will offer first Masses

Deacon Robert Bauman

Sunday, May 31, 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury

Sunday, June 7, for the Feast of Corpus Christi, 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann Church in Charlotte

Deacon Michael Camilleri

Sunday, May 31, 3 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Church in Boone

Deacon Daniel Chaves Peña

Sunday, May 31, 10 a.m. in English at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville

Deacon John Cuppett

Sunday, May 31, noon at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem

Deacon Maximilian Frei

Sunday, May 31, 9 a.m. at St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton

Deacon Juan González Hernández

Sunday, May 31, 1:45 p.m. in Spanish at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville

Deacon Bryan Ilagor

Sunday, May 31, 2 p.m. bilingual at Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe

Deacon Michael Lugo

Sunday, May 31, at 9 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City

Deacon Peter Townsend

Sunday, May 31, 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann Church in Charlotte

Deacon James Tweed

Sunday, May 31, 9 a.m. at St. Mark Church in Huntersville

Meet the priest candidates 

Deacon Robert Bauman

Age: 31

Home parish: St. Ann in Charlotte

Born and raised in: Wilmington, NC

Interests/hobbies: Hiking, disc golf, running and reading at a local coffee shop

Summer assignments in the diocese: Sacred Heart in Salisbury, Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem and St. Lucien’s parish / St. Bernadette’s mission in Spruce Pine / Linville.

When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood? “During an eight-day Ignatian silent retreat.”

Deacon Michael Camilleri

Age: 26

Home parish: St Elizabeth Church, Boone

Born in: Florida

Raised in: North Carolina

Interests/hobbies: Learning languages and calligraphy

Summer assignments in the diocese: St Jude, Sapphire; Our Lady of the Mountains, Highlands; St Gabriel, Charlotte

When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood? “I first heard the call to the priesthood when I was very young – 3 or 4 years old. My family loves to talk about how I used to “play Mass,” which is actually one of my earliest memories. I lost sight of the vocation in late elementary school until right before high school. I wanted to go into computer science.

While preparing to enter high school, by the grace of God, I decided to pursue what He put on my heart from that early age, and I entered the college seminary.”

Deacon Daniel Chaves Peña

Age: 44

Home parish: Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville

From: Bogotá, Colombia; moved to New Jersey in 1993

His journey of formation led him to missions in Peru from 2016 to 2018, and then to Rome, where he earned his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 2021. In 2023, Chaves joined the Diocese of Charlotte’s seminary program.

When did you first feel a calling to the priesthood? “When I got to what was going to be my last year of high school, I ran cross-country and I was doing pretty well. I had many scholarship offers from universities here in the United States, and in the final race of the state championship in New Jersey, I collapsed just before reaching the finish line. They rushed me to the ER, and they told me it was my sugar levels – they were extremely low. That began a crisis not only health-wise, but spiritually. And I wasn’t getting better. I had relapses, so the decision was made for me to return to Colombia with my mom.”

Deacon John Cuppett

Age: 28

Home parish: St. Leo the Great in Winston-Salem

Born in: Cary, NC

Raised in: Four Oaks, NC

Vested by: Father Jose Palma Torres

Interest/hobbies: Sports and the outdoors, including hiking and camping

Summer assignments: Missionary work with the order of Jesus Crucified in Louisiana

When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood? Cuppett played baseball at Belmont Abbey College and clarified the call while at college.

“During high school I was interested in joining the seminary after I graduated; however, I did very little in pursuing it and soon it faded into the background. From then on and up until college it was a fun idea, but nothing more. After high school I attended Belmont Abbey College on a baseball scholarship, where I played as a second baseman for four years.

During my time at the Abbey, I met Matthew Harrison, a Charlotte seminarian. I informed him of my past dream of becoming a priest and he invited me to visit St. Joseph College Seminary. I did, and then all my previous desires and hopes for the priesthood came crashing back. I quickly sought help in my discernment with the diocesan Vocations Office. My senior year at the Abbey, I started spiritual direction with Father Brian Becker, the diocese’s promoter of vocations, and he helped me tremendously by answering all my questions, fears and thoughts regarding my vocation. Together we discovered that my call to the priesthood was very real, and he referred me to Father Christopher Gober, diocesan vocations director, to begin the process of applying.”

Deacon Maximilian Frei

Age: 31

Home parish:St. Dorothy in Lincolnton

Born in: Villingen, Germany

Interests/ hobbies: Chess, fitness and spiritual reading
Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte; St. John Church in Waynesville and St. John the Baptist in Tryon

When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood?  “The first time I can remember when I had a calling was when I was waiting in the confession line as a kid. Many years later in my mid 20's, after living a worldly and superficial life, it was Our Lord once more who called me to serve him as a priest.”

Deacon Juan González Hernández

Age:35

Home parish: Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville

Raised in: Mexico City, Mexico

When did you first feel a calling to the priesthood? “It was the day that my brother was ordained a priest in 1997 when I was just about to turn 7 years old. On that day, the light bulb in me lit up and I asked myself, ‘What if I myself become a priest one day, like my brother’”

What was it like to continue your studies by leaving for Spain? “My brother, a priest, and two of my sisters, who were cloistered nuns, lived there. My brother studied in Spain while in seminary and my sisters were also a part of the institute Obra de Amor, which brought them to Spain.

Having them there was helpful, because even though it was a new experience for me, I could be close to my family and learn from them.”

What does it mean to you to be able to serve the Hispanic community in this diocese? “I have lived in many different places with a variety of cultures. I feel as though I mold well to both communities, the Anglo and Hispanic communities. So the idea that my mentor at Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville, Father Andrés Gutierrez, has mentioned is to create a singular and strong community out of both of those cultures. That way, people do not show divisions but, rather, the Church becomes a place where everyone feels like one community.”

What will it mean for you to become a priest? “It is a radical change in my life, because after this moment I will be a representative of not only the Church, but of Jesus Christ. Of course, the responsibility is much bigger, but I am also conscious that God’s grace, the prayers of the faithful and a spiritual life, help to take charge of that weight.”

Deacon Bryan Ilagor

Age: 30

Home parish: Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe

Raised in: Zitácuaro, Michoacán, Mexico

Interest/ hobbies: “Expanding my knowledge of different cultures, such as Japanese, Korean, Filipino and many others; watching TV and movies and a football fan of La Liga, the Premier League and other leagues.”

Summer assignments in the diocese: Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville and St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir

 When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood?

“Many seminarians can recall dressing up as priests, and that was their realization. However, I did not have a big realization moment. Instead, it was a step I decided to take in my life (at least, that’s how I saw it at first). I was not big into participating in Church activities, but I always found myself helping in the Church instead of going out with my friends to watch a movie. I always found myself at peace while serving the Church.

Hence, if I had to decide a moment in my life when I first realized, it was when I was helping my Pastor Ricardo Sanchez to close the church one night. After locking all the doors of the church, turning off all the lights, and making sure no one was left behind, I met with my pastor at the sanctuary to say goodbye. We were the only ones left at the church, and he asked me a question I have not forgotten. ‘Bryan, do you want to be a priest?’ Before I could respond, he said, “Before you answer, look at the Tabernacle; you are not going to answer to me but to God.” Great. I thought to myself. Now, I can’t lie or give an incomplete answer. I thought, ‘If this is God’s will, I will give it a shot.’ Shortly after, I told my pastor, ‘Yes.’ This first ‘step’ was accepting that God called me to enter the seminary. In the past, many parishioners had said, ‘You should be a priest,’ but dismissed them with ‘I don’t think it is my calling.’ Seven years later, I am here, realizing I will be ordained a deacon in a few months.”

Deacon Michael Lugo

Age: 25

Home parish: Immaculate Conception in Forest City

Born in: Kansas

Raised in: Rutherfordton, NC

Interests/ hobbies: Running, skiing, euchre, reading and piano

Summer assignments in the diocese: Holy Cross, Kernersville; St. Lucian and St. Bernadette, Spruce Pine/Linville; St. John the Baptist, Tryon

When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood? “There were several points growing up that I remember seriously considering it as an option. But I really started taking it seriously during Quo Vadis Days in the summer of 2018. Throughout the course of that week, spending time in prayer and learning about the priesthood, it seemed to me that the priesthood was the summation of everything I wanted out of life, particularly the way in which the life of a priest is completely dedicated to one thing: the service of God.”

Deacon Peter Townsend

Age: 25

Home parish:St. Ann in Charlotte
Born in: Racine, Wisconsin

Raised in: Charlotte
Interests/hobbies: “I enjoy playing guitar in my free time and reading a good novel (right now I’m reading Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamozov). I’ve also found that I enjoy learning languages. Right now, I’m working on Spanish and would like to one day work on French (maybe even Italian and German!).”

 Summer assignments in the diocese: “During my college days, I participated in the St. Joseph Workers’ program where myself and my brother seminarians traveled around the diocese performing different odd jobs like lawn mowing, mulch spreading, painting.

After entering theology, I spent my summers at St. John the Baptist Parish in Tryon, St. Mark Parish in Huntersville and Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro.”

When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood? “I always knew I wanted to be a priest, so I entered St. Joseph College Seminary straight out of high school.

 “I first felt the call to the priesthood when I was about five years old, and the feeling never left me. So, when St. Joseph’s opened in 2016, I knew what I had to do.”

Deacon James Tweed

Age: 31

Home parish: Sacred Heart in Brevard

What are your hobbies? Working out, writing poetry and prose, walking in the woods, oil painting and hosting friends.

Who is your favorite saint? The Blessed Virgin Mary. When I’m with her, I feel very close to Jesus.

What is your favorite Bible verse? “For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness” (Wisdom 7:25-26).

What was your journey of discernment like? “God planted the seed of my vocation from my earliest years. It grew quietly, nurtured by grace, the sacraments and the loving care of my family.

There were moments when I sensed I was set apart for something special, though I couldn’t yet see what that would be.

Then came the moment during the Steubenville retreat in Atlanta. I was completely unprepared – the thought had never even entered my mind. I did not want this path, and I could not have imagined choosing it myself. Yet, in that moment, I felt an irresistible movement within my heart. It was as if the Lord spoke my name in a way that embraced my whole being, drawing me with a love both commanding and tender. Almost before I knew it, I stood. In that moment, I understood with clarity and joy that my life belonged to Him.”

Any advice for men considering the priesthood? “The joy, peace and purpose that come from embracing God’s plan for your life far surpass any earthly attachment. Do not be afraid to trust Him, even when the path is unclear. God’s call is a gift.”

During his May 13 general audience in St. Peter’s Square, the pope dedicated his catechesis to Mary, reflecting on her role as "model," "mother" and "pre-eminent member" of the Church through the teaching of the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution "Lumen Gentium."

The date marked 45 years since St. John Paul was shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter’s Square during a general audience in 1981. The Polish pope was struck twice while passing through the square in his open popemobile. He was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that no vital organ was pierced. He later credited his survival to the protection of the Virgin Mary and maintained a lifelong devotion to Our Lady of Fatima.

The shooter, Mehmet Ali Agca, was apprehended immediately and later visited by the pope who forgave him and called for his pardon. After serving 20 years in an Italian prison, he was deported to his country of Turkey in 2000. 

The pope was shot May 13, 1981, the anniversary of the first of the Fatima apparitions, and the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Three children were tending sheep May 13, 1917, when they had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The apparitions continued once a month until Oct. 13, 1917. The children said Mary asked them to promote devotion to her Immaculate Heart and to pray the rosary daily to bring peace to the world.

In greeting the Portuguese speakers, Pope Leo said that the Church turns its gaze to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima today, where Mary delivered a message of peace.

"In that place, so dear to Christianity, numerous pilgrims from the five continents gather today: their presence is a sign of the need for consolation, unity, and hope of the people of our time," he said in Italian. 

Pope Leo said Mary is the model of what the "Church is meant to be," because her "unconditional 'yes' shows us how to be members of the Church."

"Let us be challenged by Mary’s example of humility, active faith and obedience," he said to English speakers following his address. "Let us generously respond in love, magnifying God in our hearts, and receiving strength from the sacraments."

He called Mary an “icon of the Mystery,” saying that in her, God’s plan of salvation is revealed through both divine grace and her free acceptance of God’s will.

Continuing his catechetical series on the Second Vatican Council, the pope quoted "Lumen Gentium," saying the council’s teaching on Mary helps the faithful "love the Church and to serve within her the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God."

The Church contemplates the mystery of Mary, not only because of her faith, her charity and the fact that she is the mother of Jesus, but also because, above all, she fulfilled all that she was called to be through the Lord.

Pope Leo called on the faithful to ask for Mary to help through her intercession, saying that everyone can learn from her example of humble and active faith, ending his address by saying, "Let us ask the Virgin to obtain this gift for us: that love for the Holy Mother Church may grow in all of us."

— Josephine Peterson, Catholic News Service

Bradley Loftin, Patrick Martin and Connor White, all from St. Mark Parish in Huntersville, and James Johnson IV from Our Lady of Consolation in Charlotte will be ordained deacons May 23 at the home parish for three of them.

All four men are studying theology at Mount St. Mary Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, after graduating from St. Joseph College Seminary.

Loftin, who attended Catholic schools in the diocese, graduated from Christ the King High School. He credits his high school chaplain at the time, Father Paul McNulty, and his pastor, Father John Putnam, for fostering his vocation.

He first heard the call when he was a junior at Christ the King High School.

“I realized that the life I was living wouldn’t fulfill me. I wanted to sacrifice my life for something noble, and I knew I wasn’t living a life that would make me happy,” Loftin said.

White, who attended school with Loftin since kindergarten, also looks to Father McNulty as a priestly role model.

“Living the Catholic life is not a solo endeavor, and I have met some of my closest friends in school, some of whom are also in seminary,” White said.

Martin grew up seeing his parents active in his parish. His father, Tom Martin, serves as a deacon at St. Mark and his mom Heather is a cantor.

Johnson, who has served as the president of the National Black Catholic Seminarians Association, pursued his vocation after being asked if he considered becoming a priest by three people after three different Masses he assisted with as an altar server during one weekend.

Since becoming a seminarian, he said he’s learned about the true universality of the Church.

“I’ve visited all sorts of different parishes, seeing the spirituality and the charisms that they have. That has helped me understand we’re not a uniform Church. There’s a diversity in ways of showing our faith, which is a beautiful thing,” Johnson said.

All four have chosen deacons to place their vestments on for the first time during the ordination Mass.

Loftin will be vested by Deacon Bryan Ilagor, who will become a priest on May 30. He said he chose Deacon Ilagor because he’s a great example of service.

“He is a friend I can count on 100%,” Loftin said. “I met him at St. Joseph’s our first year. Our rooms were right next to each other, so he always came over and hung out. It was like having another roommate. He would always lie on the floor, and we would just talk.”

White’s running partner Deacon John Cuppett, who will be ordained a priest the following Saturday, May 30, will be vesting him. Cuppett believes White’s approachability and friendliness will serve him well when the time comes to lead his own flock.

“Deacon Cuppett and I entered seminary together in 2020 and quickly became close friends,” White said. “We shared so many great memories in seminary, and I asked him to vest me so this occasion will be yet another event that we can share together.”

Johnson will be vested by Deacon Curtiss Todd from Our Lady of Consolation. 

“Deacon Todd has been an inspiration to me of what quiet, humble service is,” Johnson said. “Deacon Todd has always reminded me to keep Christ as the model of priest I want to be.”

Martin has chosen his father, Deacon Thomas Martin, to vest him.

After their ordination, these four men will be transitional deacons and will continue their studies on the path to becoming priests next summer.

All are welcome at the 9 a.m. ordination Mass at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville.

 — Kimberly Bender. Photos by Troy C. Hull 

Get to know each of the seminiarans: 

James Johnson

Age: 26

Home parish: Our Lady of Consolation in Charlotte

Favorite saints: Venerable Augustus Tolton and St. Joseph

Favorite prayer: Litany of Humility, which trains the heart to desire to do the will of God for His glory rather than my own

Favorite hobbies: Traveling and learning about new cultures

What is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned about the faith as a seminarian?

I’ve learned about the true universality of the Church, something I’d never really thought about until seminary. Before that, I went to Our Lady of Consolation and that is how I saw the Church for many, many years. Since coming to seminary, I’ve visited all sorts of different parishes, seeing the spirituality and the charisms that they have. That has helped me understand we’re not a uniform Church. There’s a diversity in ways of showing our faith, which is a beautiful thing.

Read his latest Seminarian Spotlight

Bradley Loftin

Age: 26

Home parish: St. Mark, Huntersville

School: St. Mark Elementary, Christ the King Catholic School, St. Joseph Seminary

Status: Started Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, August 2022

Hobbies: Golf, fishing, cooking, coaching football and tutoring

Favorite saints: Mary, St. Joseph the Carpenter and St. Philip Neri

Inspired by: Father John Putnam and Father Paul McNulty

 Read his latest Seminarian Spotligh

Patrick Martin

Age: 25

Home parish: St. Mark, Huntersville

Schooling: Home-schooled, St. Joseph Seminary, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati

Hobbies: “I’m really big into athletics. I grew up playing soccer and swimming and still like to play soccer in seminary. I spend time playing with my brother seminarians, and we have a makeshift team. I’ve also gotten into weightlifting and in recent years got into marathon running – I started that my first year here in Ohio. I train with fellow seminarian Connor White, who is an avid runner. The training is a great way to let our brains reset. It helps me to regulate and re-engage. Every spring I’ve been running a marathon called the Flying Pig here in Cincinnati, which takes its name from the city’s history as a leader in the pork industry.”

Who is your favorite saint?

“The saint I hold most dear is St. John the Evangelist – I have a statue on my desk of him looking at me right now. I chose him as my confirmation saint, and he’s been my go-to saint on multiple levels since then. I’m the middle child of my family and the youngest boy, and seeing John the Evangelist, John the Beloved, as the youngest of the apostles was impactful to me, because as the youngest boy I felt some competition growing up. I saw that John was the youngest but was also impactful. He has a special relationship with Christ, a closeness to our Lord, and was particularly there with Him during the Passion. He was the one who helped Our Lady through the Passion.”

Read his latest Seminarian Spotlight

Connor White

Age: 26

Home parish: St. Mark, Huntersville

Colleges: Elon University and St. Joseph College Seminary

Degrees: Philosophy and Latin

Theology: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology (Athenaeum of Ohio)

Summer assignments: Holy Cross (Kernersville), St. Margaret Mary (Swannanoa) and St. Francis of Assisi/St. Frances of Rome (Jefferson and Sparta).

What are some of your hobbies? I love running and playing golf with family and friends. I also enjoy reading, cooking with friends and making coffee/espresso-based drinks.

When did you first realize you had a call to the priesthood? I first began discerning a call to the priesthood during my confirmation retreat around the beginning of high school.

Why did you decide to become a priest in the Diocese of Charlotte? I was born and raised in the Charlotte area, so this diocese is home. I received the sacraments here and attended Catholic school (K-12) at St. Mark and Christ the King. I feel called to minister to this diocese, as this is where my faith has been cultivated and vocation fostered.

Do you feel a special devotion to any saints? My closest saint-friends are St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and St. Therese of Lisieux. They both have taught me how to pray and charitably live with others. St. Elizabeth emphasizes the Divine Indwelling (the Holy Trinity residing within the soul of a baptized person), something I was immediately drawn to. I also have devotions to other priest-saints: St. Thomas Becket, St. John Fisher and St. Pius X.

Read his latest Seminarian Spotlight

Father Benjamin Roberts (left) receives a key to the Waxhaw campus building from Father Patrick Cahill, pastor of St. Matthew Church. The two men – friends since seminary – will work together toward creating a new parish. (Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald)

Effective July 1, Father Roberts will leave his role as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe after 14 years to serve the Waxhaw Catholic community alongside Father Patrick Cahill, pastor of St. Matthew Parish. Until the parish is formally erected, Father Roberts will hold the Church title of “Priest in solidum” (meaning “jointly” or “equally”) with Father Cahill serving as “Moderator Priest in solidum.”

Together, the two priests will work with parishioners to form a new community separate from St. Matthew: determining boundaries, dividing resources, and gearing up for staffing, programs and other needs of an independent parish. Currently, the Waxhaw satellite church offers three weekend Masses that draw a total of about 1,600 people, besides youth and adult faith formation classes, confessions, Adoration, community service work, and more.

“Father Roberts is the perfect match for this post,” Father Cahill said. “He grew up in this area. He’s a man of humility and good humor, and a gifted leader. I am looking forward to working with him as the founding pastor there and supporting him in any way I can.”

Father Roberts reflects similar affinity: “Creating a new parish from within an existing parish –especially one as vibrant and active as St. Matthew – will require collaboration and trust, and I am confident this will be a smooth transition.”

“We have such great respect for each other,” he said, “and for the work that we both do.”

The two priests have known each other for years. Both attended St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Pennsylvania and were ordained for the Charlotte diocese two years apart. Both have also guided their parishes through major challenges – Father Roberts rebuilding after a devastating fire at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in 2020, and Father Cahill leading St. Eugene Parish and Asheville Catholic School through Hurricane Helene’s aftermath.

Dr. Carmina Chapp, who taught both priests ecclesiology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, remembers them as gifted priests with a strong sense of vocation.

They “shared a wonderful camaraderie,” she said.

NATIVE SON WHO LOVES HISTORY

Father RobertsFather Roberts is very familiar with the region and its rapid growth.

He grew up in nearby Lancaster, South Carolina, where his parents still live. And since 2012, he has served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe, the other Catholic church in Union County.

He has watched the area boom – from southern Mecklenburg and Union counties to neighboring Lancaster County, South Carolina – including the development of Ballantyne and Indian Land spurred by the building of Highway 521.

His mother Patti Roberts says she’s grateful this new assignment will enable him to continue his regular visits home, and she looks forward to seeing how the Waxhaw church will develop under his leadership.

“Ben’s very outgoing and he has a love of people, and God has given him a lot of skills that I know will come in handy. We're very, very proud of him,” she said.

She recalled how young Ben, born during America’s bicentennial in 1976, developed an early love for history while growing up amid the rich heritage of the Waxhaw area – especially the legacy of President Andrew Jackson, who was born nearby. As a boy, he loved exploring the historic cemetery where Jackson was famously captured by British troops, and by kindergarten had memorized the names of every U.S. president.

For Father Roberts, history – like ministry – is about people.

“History tells a whole story,” he said, “and we’ve come to a greater consciousness that with history, there are stories we leave out. It’s important for us to know all the stories.”

In this historic moment for the Waxhaw Catholic community, he said, “I have to listen to a lot of stories, and hear about the stories of the people who are there and all the people who want to come there.”

FROM CONVERT TO PRIEST

Baptized Episcopalian and raised Lutheran, he converted to Catholicism while in college, studying philosophy and seeking answers to life’s questions.

St. Ignatius of Antioch’s Letter to the Romans, written in 107 on his way to Rome to be fed to lions in the Colosseum, deeply influenced him. In it, Ignatius wrote: “Let me be food for the wild beasts … I am God’s wheat and shall be ground by their teeth so that I may become Christ’s pure bread.”

This “very early witness to the whole of the Catholic faith,” he recalled, inspired him to consider Catholicism.

He listed all the reasons he was Lutheran, he said, then “crossed them off. And one day I just drove – I found the Catholic church in Statesville where I was living (at the time) and knocked on the door of the rectory, and Father Peter Fitzgibbons opened the door.”

Their conversations began his journey into the Church and eventually to the seminary for the Charlotte diocese.

He was ordained in 2009 and served at parishes in Greensboro and Salisbury before becoming pastor in Monroe. During his 14-year pastorship, the largely Hispanic parish has grown to 2,000 families, expanded its faith formation programs, and developed a popular annual “Eucharistic Triduum” that attracts more than 1,000 people each June. The campus has also undergone major improvements – including an interior renovation, Marian grotto, and new parish office to replace what was destroyed in the 2020 fire.

Father Roberts also serves as the diocese’s ecumenical officer and vicar forane of the Albemarle Vicariate. He chairs the Presbyteral Council and serves on the College of Consultors, advisory groups for the bishop.

Over the years, he has earned several advanced degrees in preaching, theology and leadership, taught at seminaries across the country, and presented nationally on preaching and pastoral ministry.

Despite his academic work and other responsibilities, the role he says he loves most is parish priest.

PURPOSE OF A PARISH

His years in ministry and his theological background have shaped his understanding of what a parish is, Father Roberts says, and what he hopes to nurture in the Waxhaw community.

He’s excited about the future, especially prospects for a new church and perhaps eventually a school on the 32-acre property along Waxhaw-Marvin Road.

“I already have a hard hat – I know how to build stuff,” he jokes, referencing the rebuilding effort in Monroe after the 2020 fire.

Yet, he emphasizes, a parish “is a People that has buildings, not buildings that have people.”

A parish gathers to worship God and then goes out to share His love with others, he said. As the Waxhaw Catholic community begins this historic new chapter, Roberts says he looks forward to walking alongside its people in faith.

A parish is also a pilgrim community, he said, and “a pilgrim community only moves as fast as we can carry each other.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle

Related storis: 

Diocese eyes creating Waxhaw parish in response to growth

Parishioners at two churches react to news of change

2026 Priest assignments announced

Rubio, who is Catholic, spoke with the American pope for over 45 minutes in a private meeting in the Apostolic Palace before also sitting down with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican's foreign minister, for talks that reaffirmed "the shared commitment to fostering good bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America," according to the Vatican.

"There was then an exchange of views on the regional and international situation, with particular attention to countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, as well as the need to work tirelessly to promote peace," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement released after the meeting.

Secretary Rubio wrote on social media that he met the pope "to underscore our shared commitment to promoting peace and human dignity."

In a separate statement, the State Department said Rubio's meeting with Cardinal Parolin covered mutual cooperation and pressing international issues, including humanitarian efforts in the Western Hemisphere and efforts to achieve a durable peace in the Middle East. Rubio also welcomed the recent arrival of Archbishop Gabriele Caccia as the new apostolic nuncio to the United States.

It was Rubio's second substantive meeting with Pope Leo. On May 19, 2025, the day after the pope's inauguration Mass, Rubio and Vice President JD Vance also held a bilateral meeting with the pope, according to Vatican News.

On the eve of the May 7 audience, Cardinal Parolin told journalists that the U.S. government had requested the meeting and that the pope remained open to continued dialogue with Washington.

"We cannot ignore the United States," Cardinal Parolin said. "Despite some difficulties, they certainly remain a key partner for the Holy See, not least because they play a role in almost every situation we face today."

Cardinal Parolin said that he was expecting to discuss "themes of international politics and above all conflicts," including issues in Latin America and Cuba -- "all those that are the most pressing issues." On Iran, he said the Holy See would offer no new proposals beyond its longstanding call for dialogue.

"These conflicts," he said, "cannot be resolved by force, but must be addressed and resolved through negotiation," adding, "Let it be a negotiation of good will, sincere, so that all parties can express their point of view and find points of convergence."

The visit of the U.S. secretary of state comes days after Trump reignited tensions by repeating his claim that the pope "thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon" in an interview that aired May 5, an assertion that Pope Leo swiftly rejected.

"If anyone wishes to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so with the truth," Pope Leo told journalists outside Castel Gandolfo that evening.

"The Church has spoken out for years against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt about this," the pope added. "I simply hope to be heard for the sake of the Word of God."

Cardinal Parolin weighed in on recent public clashes between Pope Leo and Trump, calling the president's repeated attacks on the pope "a bit strange to me, to say the least."

At a White House briefing the same day, Rubio disputed suggestions that his Vatican visit was an attempt to "smooth things over with the pope," saying the two sides have "shared concerns" including religious freedom in Africa and the distribution of humanitarian aid to Cuba.

"We gave Cuba $6 million of humanitarian aid, but obviously, they won't let us distribute it," said Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants. "We distribute it through the Church. We’d like to do more. We're willing to give more humanitarian aid to Cuba, by the way, distributed through the Church, but the Cuban regime has to allow us to do it."

On the question of a possible phone call between Trump and Pope Leo, Cardinal Parolin said May 6 it was "premature" to say whether one would take place, but indicated the pope would be receptive.

"The Holy Father is open to all options," Cardinal Parolin said. "If there were an offer or a request for a direct dialogue with President Trump, I imagine that he would have no difficulty in accepting it."

The meeting with Rubio was one of several audiences on the pope's schedule that day. Pope Leo also met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, bishops from Burkina Faso and Niger, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, and members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

Rubio is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on May 8.

— Courtney Mares, OSV News

St. Matthew Parish’s satellite campus in Waxhaw is expected to become the home of a new parish, erected to serve the thriving Catholic community in that part of Union County. (Troy C. Hull, Catholic News Herald)

CHARLOTTE — For the first time in decades, the Diocese of Charlotte is moving toward creating a parish in the Charlotte area, an unmistakable sign of the region’s surging Catholic population.

St. Matthew South in Waxhaw, the thriving satellite campus of St. Matthew Parish, may become the permanent spiritual home for thousands of Catholics in southern Mecklenburg and Union counties.

The historic step, approved by Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., in consultation with diocesan and parish leaders, comes as the number of Catholic families in the area has increased 38% over the past decade.

“This is a moment of celebration – and a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit,” Bishop Martin said. “People are finding a home at our Waxhaw campus, and we want to honor the faith and engagement of this growing Catholic community by creating an independent parish.”

“Growth is the challenge of our time,” he said, “and we must manage this growth so it leads to deeper faith in Jesus.”

Details about the new parish – including its name – are some of the next steps the community will need to discern. Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., is appointing Father Benjamin Roberts to help build what will be the diocese’s first new parish in decades. Parishioners react to the news.

Once the community is prepared, the process of establishing the parish will take as little as a few months. The pace will be determined by the people and their readiness to move forward, diocesan leaders said. The process will become official with a decree from the bishop.

The new parish will continue using the St. Matthew South building at 4116 Waxhaw-Marvin Road. The 32-acre campus includes a 16,000-square-foot multipurpose facility that doubles as the church and classroom space.

Exact parish boundaries have yet to be determined, but the territory is expected to include portions of Union County within the 28173 ZIP code.

Approximately 4,000 Catholic families live in that area – up from 2,900 when St. Matthew South opened in 2014. Local Catholics have the option of attending Mass in Waxhaw, at St. Matthew’s main campus in Charlotte, or at neighboring churches in Monroe or across the state line in Indian Land, South Carolina.

Parishioners who currently belong to St. Matthew Parish will not be required to join the new parish. Instead, diocesan leaders said families living within the new parish area will be invited to participate as the community takes shape.

About 1,600 people attend three Masses at St. Matthew South in Waxhaw on the weekends. To accommodate the area’s rapid growth, the diocese is taking the first steps toward creating a new parish there in collaboration with parishioners.

HISTORIC MOVE

This marks one of few times the diocese has erected a parish by dividing an existing parish.

In 1997, St. Mark in Huntersville was formed from territory drawn from multiple surrounding parishes. In 2007, St. Joseph Vietnamese in Charlotte was elevated from a community to a parish. Most recently in 2022, the diocese elevated St. Jude in Sapphire to parish status from a mission of Brevard’s Sacred Heart Parish.

The transition marks a significant moment for St. Matthew Parish, which – with more than 11,000 registered families – is among the largest Catholic parishes in the United States. Diocesan leaders say the creation of a Waxhaw parish reflects the Church’s constant mission to reach out and serve more people.

“We are not dividing our parish – we are expanding the Church’s presence,” said Father Patrick Cahill, St. Matthew’s pastor. “This is about strengthening our unity by ensuring that every person has a place where they can belong, worship and grow in faith.”

Father Cahill will work in collaboration with diocesan leaders and the future Waxhaw pastor as boundaries are defined, parish resources are separated, and families in the new territory are identified – all part of laying the groundwork for a new parish community.

GROWING FAITH COMMUNITY

A new parish will allow for more pastoral care while strengthening a sense of community closer to home, Father Cahill said.

The Waxhaw campus already hosts three weekend Masses that draw a total of about 1,600 people, large faith formation classes for children and adults, weekly confessions and Eucharistic Adoration, as well as social activities such as coffee and donuts after Sunday Mass.

St. Stephen Maronite Community also uses the facility for its liturgies.

For Father Cahill, the historic moment comes full circle. In 2008, he celebrated the first Mass for Waxhaw-area Catholics at Weddington High School. The community eventually moved to using St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church in Waxhaw before the current facility was built.

“The people there have been asking for a church there since my first days at St. Matthew,” Father Cahill said. “It’s beyond exciting to see the growth and progress that has been made.”

“Now we get to birth a new parish from St. Matthew. How many parishes get to be a part of something that special? Especially during our parish’s 40^th anniversary year, seeing something like this unfold is a sign of God’s love and abundance.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle

About St. Matthew’s Waxhaw Campus

Mass schedule: 4 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday

Address: 4116 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw, NC 28173

Learn more

What is a parish? A parish is a community of the Christian faithful stably constituted in a particular Church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a pastor under the authority of a bishop. A parish exists to care for all the souls within its territory, no matter what their faith background,

How is a parish created? A Catholic parish isn’t formed informally or by popular demand – it is canonically erected by the bishop according to Church law. The process is governed primarily by the Code of Canon Law (especially canons 515-520).

When can a parish be created? A parish is created when there is a real and stable pastoral need, such as to relieve rapid population growth or overcrowded existing parishes, or if geographic distance makes Mass and sacraments difficult to access. After consulting with his Presbyteral Council and diocesan staff, the bishop issues a written decree officially erecting the parish that defines its territory, assigns a name, and appoints a pastor.

Related stories 

Native son returns to shepherd Waxhaw Catholics

Parishioners at two churches react to news of change

Rev. Oscar D. Benavides

From Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Lexington to Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Charlotte.

Rev. Herbert T. Burke Jr.

From Pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Forest City to Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte.

Rev. Jason M. Christian

To Parochial Vicar of Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville.

Rev. Binoy P. Davis

From Parochial Vicar of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte to Parochial Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish in Forest City.

Rev. Matthew W. Dimock

From Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury to Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mercy Parish and Our Lady of Fatima Mission in Winston-Salem.

Rev. John D. Hanic

Retiring as Pastor of St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish in North Wilkesboro and St. Stephen Mission in Elkin.

Rev. Aaron Z. Huber

From Chaplain of Christ the King High School and Priest in Residence at St. Mark Parish in Huntersville to Parochial Administrator of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa.

Rev. Gnanapragasam Mariasoosai

Retiring as Pastor of St. Joseph of the Hills Parish in Eden.

Rev. Huver E. Navarro-Vigo

From Parochial Vicar of St. Therese Parish in Mooresville to Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Lexington.

Rev. David F. O’Connor

From Parochial Vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville to Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe.

Rev. Engelbert Ofon

From Parochial Vicar of St. Therese Church in Mooresville to Parochial Administrator of St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish in North Wilkesboro and St. Stephen Mission in Elkin.

Rev. José A. Palma Torres

From Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Mercy Parish and Our Lady of Fatima Mission in Winston-Salem to Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph of the Hills Parish in Eden and Holy Infant Parish in Reidsville.

Rev. Peter T. Pham

From Priest in Residence at St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte to Chaplain for Charlotte-Area Hospitals.

Rev. Benjamin A. Roberts

From Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe to serving the faithful at the Waxhaw campus of St. Matthew Parish as a Priest in solidum with Father Patrick Cahill, Moderator Priest in solidum. Father Roberts will lead them in the process of becoming their own parish.

Rev. Peter M. Rusciolelli

From Parochial Vicar of St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem to Parochial Administrator of St. Benedict the Moor Parish in Winston-Salem and Good Shepherd Mission in King, effective Dec. 31, 2026.

Rev. Jonathan D. Torres

Returning from sabbatical to Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury.

Rev. Nohé Torres Vizcaino

From Parochial Administrator of Holy Infant Parish in Reidsville to return to his home Diocese of Ciudad Valles, Mexico.

Rev. Melchesideck W. Yumo

From Parochial Administrator of St. Benedict the Moor Parish in Winston-Salem and Good Shepherd Mission in King to return to his home Diocese of Buea, Cameroon, effective Dec. 31, 2026.

— Catholic News Herald

Priest assignments FAQ

1. How are priest assignments determined in the Diocese of Charlotte?

Each year, priests complete a survey expressing their current status and any ministerial goals or interests. Bishop Michael Martin, with guidance from the priest personnel board, reviews these inputs alongside parish needs. Assignments are made based on a careful balance of diocesan priorities, priest development and pastoral care.

2. Are priests moved on a regular schedule?

No, the Diocese of Charlotte does not follow a fixed rotation system. Instead, assignments are made based on the specific needs of the time. Pastors typically serve for five to six years or longer, while parochial vicars move more frequently to gain experience and support areas of greater need.

3. Why are reassignments necessary?

Reassignments respond to parish growth, retirements, special missions and other changes. The goal is to serve the diocese as a whole – matching priests’ gifts with the needs of various communities to build up the Body of Christ.

4. How do reassignments impact parishes and priests?

Reassignments can be emotional as relationships between priests and parishioners grow strong over time. While change is challenging, it brings renewal: new energy, new ideas, and new opportunities for growth in faith and ministry – for both priest and parish.

5. When do assignments take effect?

Priest assignments are typically announced in May and take effect on July 1. This allows time for smooth transitions and warm welcomes for incoming clergy.

An administrative stay issued by Justice Samuel Alito blocked a May 1 temporary injunction issued by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals until at least 5 p.m. on May 11 EDT.

Alito directed the state of Louisiana to respond by May 7.

The stay in effect restores permission for the drug's distribution by mail.

Previously, the 5th Circuit had granted May 1 Louisiana's request to temporarily pause the Food and Drug Administration’s policy permitting mifepristone -- a drug commonly, but not exclusively, used for abortion up to ten weeks' gestation -- to be mailed into the state despite its own laws restricting abortion.

Danco Laboratories, one of the pharmaceutical companies that manufactures the drug, promptly appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking it to block that injunction.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, alongside Rosalie Markezich, who said she was coerced into taking abortifacient drugs by her then-boyfriend, sued the FDA over a Biden administration policy permitting mifepristone to be distributed by mail. The suit contends the policy enabled Markezich’s former partner to acquire the drug from a California doctor, whom Markezich says never spoke with her, and then coerced her into taking it.

However, the Trump administration has thus far left that regulation in place despite opposition from pro-life groups, and has sought to block state challenges to mifepristone, such as Louisiana's.

Prior to the appellate ruling, a federal judge on April 7 had granted the Trump administration's request to pause Louisiana’s lawsuit challenging the FDA’s approval of mifepristone pending the FDA's promised safety review, indicating the state could continue its challenge after that review. However, the status and timeline of the FDA’s review are still unclear.

Proponents of mifepristone -- the first of two drugs used in a chemical or medication-based abortion -- argue it is statistically safe for a woman to take, and attempts to restrict it are an attempt to ban abortion outright. Opponents of the drug’s use for abortion argue there are significant risks to those who take it, particularly outside of medical settings, in addition to ending the life of an unborn child early in its development.

The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death, and as such, opposes direct abortion.

However, the same drug combination has sometimes been used in recent years for miscarriage care, where an unborn child has already passed, a situation that Catholic teaching would hold as morally licit use.

 — Kate Scanlon, OSV News

Pope Leo XIV sits for a photo with members of Catholic Charities USA as he meets with the agency's directors May 4, 2026, in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican.  Executive director and CEO of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, Gerry Carter was in attendance (far right, front).  (OSV News photo/Mario Tomassetti, Vatican Media)

"It was a truly humbling experience to have met with Pope Leo XIV as part of board service with Catholic Charities USA," said Gerry Carter, executive director and CEO of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. "His Holiness reminded us several times in his remarks that all of us engaged in the Church’s charitable work should never lose heart – even in the face of challenges – because the Lord has promised us: 'I am with you always' (Mt. 28:20). I come back even more deeply dedicated to our shared work of charity across the diocese."   

Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, spoke after the papal audience about Catholic Charities' Gospel-driven mission, its emergency food response amid disruptions to federal food stamp programs, and the new "People of Hope" initiative currently traveling the country traveling the country that will be in the Diocese of Charlotte December 7-8.

She said the encounter with Pope Leo XIV left the delegation "deeply moved and confirmed in our commitment to serve poor and vulnerable people of all backgrounds … to bring merciful love and aid to people who need it the most, wherever they are suffering."

In Pope Leo's speech to the organization's board of directors and senior staff, the pope encouraged their work to "seek to find solutions to inhumane situations, to alleviate the suffering of individuals and families, and to relieve the burden of those who are weighed down by hardship and strife."

The pope also acknowledged the difficulties inherent in charitable work, from securing sufficient resources to combating discouragement, and urged them not to lose heart.

"I am fully aware that the Catholic Charities agencies in the United States of America are by no means immune from these challenges," the pope said. "Yet it is precisely when we are confronted with such obstacles that we must learn to hear Jesus' voice saying to us once again, 'I am with you always!'"

The papal audience comes at a moment when "many Americans are struggling to make ends meet," Robinson said, describing how donors to Catholic Charities stepped up to fill in the gap following disruptions to federal nutrition programs.

When funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP and commonly referred to as food stamps, was disrupted during the 43-day shutdown of the federal government in 2025, Catholic Charities USA launched an emergency fundraising appeal.

SNAP, which serves approximately 42 million Americans, provides food-purchasing assistance to low- and no-income individuals and families.

Catholic Charities was ultimately able to provide 2.5 million tons of food to families facing hunger, distributing 100% of donated funds directly to local Catholic agencies and food distribution partners serving those in need.

"When Americans are made aware of the names and the faces of hungry people, they want to help," Robinson said.

She noted that the organization has seen a rise in private giving as donors become more aware of hardship at the local level, "We're seeing an increase in anxiety around just the basics."

"Catholic Charities USA is the official disaster response agency of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and the third largest in the country, second only to the Red Cross and Salvation Army, but the only one without a congressional mandate to serve as such," she said.

"When there is a flood or a wildfire or a hurricane, I just see people rushing in to help," she added. "I see the goodness that is common to all of us, and the desire to be part of a solution, to kind of be bridge builders, to be people of mercy and hope -- and that covers the full theological and political spectrum."

Founded in 1910, Catholic Charities USA serves as the national membership organization for 169 independent Catholic Charities agencies operating across the United States and five territories. Collectively, those agencies serve more than 16 million people annually, regardless of their religious background.

Robinson, who has led the organization for two and a half years, spoke of the spiritual dimension of serving the poor and its challenges. "That work, while deeply meaningful, is hard because you are bearing witness to human suffering every day, and there never seems to be enough resources to meet the plight of poor families and communities," she said.

"We know that in our 115 year history, whenever there is any kind of a dramatic change or upheaval, it is the poor who suffer disproportionately, and we see an increase in the demand for the services that we offer, basic things like food, shelter, job training," she said.

Robinson recalled a moving story shared with her by a Catholic Charities worker in the Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey, in which a man approached a staffer years after his mother had brought him to a safe shelter as a child. "‘It was the first time that I could sleep through the night and knew that I was safe,'" he told her, adding that because of the help he had received, he had broken a five-generation cycle of family violence.

"Now I am married and I am a father," he told her. "And for the first time … in five generations, because of your help… the violence in our family has been broken."

Robinson reflected, "It seems like you're making a difference in one day for one family, but it can lead to ending this cycle of violence and poverty."

During the audience, Robinson presented Pope Leo with a bound edition of "People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors," a book filled with stories of people Catholic Charities serves, drawn from the organization's new traveling museum of the same name.

The museum, housed in a retrofitted semi-truck and made possible by a nearly $5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., features 42 first-person video testimonials from Catholic Charities staff and volunteers across the country. It began a three-year national tour in March and is expected to visit more than 150 communities across the U.S.

The book was offered as a gesture of gratitude to Pope Leo, who in a letter to the Catholic Charities network last fall called its members "agents of hope."

"I have never seen such unity in the Catholic Church. And I've worked for the Catholic Church since I was 14," Robinson said. "This is a moment in the United States where we feel enormously supported by Catholic bishops for all of the work we do. And I think that they are speaking increasingly with a unified voice, reminding all Catholics and people of goodwill about the Gospel mandate to be merciful, that you cannot separate authentic Christian life from care for and love of the poor."

The papal audience took place as Catholic Charities USA board began a series of meetings in Rome, including with Caritas Internationalis, the worldwide federation of Catholic social service organizations of which Catholic Charities USA is a member.

Pope Leo entrusted the organization to intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of the United States, and imparted his apostolic blessing to all of Catholic Charities 169 agencies across the country.

"Your work with the less fortunate continues to provide a privileged opportunity to share the joy of the Resurrection, and I thank you for this sincere witness of faith," Pope Leo said.

 — Courtney Mares, OSV News

Hoefling

The changes were formally adopted at the finance council’s April 22 meeting.

The updated bylaws establish a more layered governance approach that includes eight standing subcommittees to support the Finance Council – aligning the diocese with governance models already in use at many of the nation’s large dioceses, notes Matthew Ferrante, the diocese’s chief financial officer.

Among the changes, eight standing subcommittees were created: Audit; Financial Planning and Analysis/Benefits and Insurance; IT Systems and Data Management; Real Estate and Facilities; Membership and Governance; Development; Legal; and Investment.

Under Church law, every diocese must have a finance council made up of members of the Christian faithful who are experienced in financial matters. The finance council’s significant expansion builds on its strong foundation by bringing in additional expertise, Ferrante said.

“This new structure allows for much greater engagement in our processes with industry leaders who are among the lay faithful and who serve on our committees,” he said.

Ferrante“By creating these specialized subcommittees, we are able to bring in professionals with deep expertise in areas like real estate, investments, legal affairs and technology – people who are committed to the mission of the Church and who want to contribute their talents to its stewardship,” Ferrante said.

Each committee will be led by a finance council member and may include additional clergy and lay experts. The committees will be introduced in phases over the next year, with all expected to be in place by the end of 2027.

Hoefling is chief financial officer of Charlotte-based global investment firm Barings. He has more than 20 years of experience in the financial sector and holds a B.S. in Accountancy from Villanova University and a Master of Accountancy from North Carolina State University. He is a member of St. Gabriel Parish in Charlotte.

— Catholic News Herald

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte sponsors food pantries across the diocese (top) and events such as the Spring Fling senior festival run by its Elder Ministry. (Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald)CHARLOTTE — Five days in May provide the chance to highlight the work of an agency staffed by people who serve as the hands and feet of Christ across Western North Carolina.

May 4-8 is Catholic Charities Week, and it focuses on the ways the workers and volunteers of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte help people in need while serving as a beacon of God’s love in difficult times.

For more than 75 years, the agency has been helping thousands of people across western North Carolina deal with life’s struggles and build better futures. In 2025, Catholic Charities served 25,032 people across the 46 counties that make up the Diocese of Charlotte.

This year, rising costs of food, rent and gasoline have forced people who were already struggling to seek aid from the agency’s food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem. In 2025, the pantries distributed 413,666 pounds of food to 14,729 people in need, according to its annual report.

BROAD IMPACTS

The agency’s work has reached people of all ages facing a wide variety of challenges. About 1,000 older adults benefited from services provided by its Elder Ministry, 650 refugees continue to be supported, 139 veterans in need secured stable housing, 184 people received assistance for dignified burials, and 224 people received more than 2,400 hours of mental health counseling, the agency reported.

Catholic Charities has helped people recover from natural and spiritual storms.

Since October 2024, the agency has been a major force in the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene. Disaster relief case workers in the Asheville region have helped clients with everything from housing assistance, food and basic supplies to mental health care. The agency is collaborating with long-term recovery groups in some of the hardest hit – and most difficult to access – areas.

Since 2025, the agency repaired, rebuilt or replaced 170 homes destroyed by Helene. This past winter, the agency helped more than 250 families still living in campers to insulate them for colder weather and supplied 619 households in seven mountain counties with propane for heating.

In March, the agency gave 50 Asheville artists $5,000 grants in an ongoing effort to revitalize the River Arts District, a key piece of the city’s economic and cultural life.

“The funds were for whatever the person needed to get back to where they can create their art,” said program coordinator Grace Kunik. “Some people are using the funds for studio rent, others for supplies or to pay their mortgage so they can get back into a safe space to live and produce their work.”

HELP FOR MANY NEEDS

Catholic Charities offers help at all stages of life. Its Charlotte-based pregnancy support office helps moms and dads deal with the challenges of parenthood.

“We want to see the families be whole and we want to see healthy babies be delivered,” said Sharon W. Davis, the agency’s director of pregnancy support and adoption services. “We also continue the journey once the child has been born – the work does not end at the birth of the baby. We’re there to accompany them as long as they need our respectful and compassionate support.”

The agency’s Burial Services program, offered across the diocese, helps families who have lost a loved one. Catholic Charities partners with a network of local funeral homes to provide burial or cremation at reduced costs and offers financial assistance to families who cannot afford the full expense.

“Funeral costs keep going up, and many families come to us because they don’t have life insurance or are living paycheck to paycheck and can’t afford the costs,” said Annia Colas, who works with the program in Winston-Salem. “It’s a gratifying thing to be able to help them get services.”

Colas talked about a woman who needed help to lay her sister to rest with dignity.

For years, she cared for her sister full-time as she battled a brain tumor – putting her own life on hold to be by her side. When her sister passed away, Carolina realized she would not be able to afford even a simple funeral.

“The life insurance wasn’t enough to cover the costs,” Colas shared. “We were able to help her make payments for a cremation and a service.” Now, after years of caregiving, Carolina is back at work – entering a new chapter of her life.

NEW OFFICE

Recognizing the need to meet the demands of a growing population, a new office in Salisbury is slated to open in June. Deacon Jeff Font, the agency’s new regional director of external engagement, is connecting with parishes and community organizations to learn about local needs, which stretches from Boone and Jefferson to Albemarle.

Even before the office has opened, clients have already been served. A mother of four who was facing eviction was able to obtain rent support and has done financial planning and budgeting work with a case worker.

“We’re trying to build relationships,” Deacon Font said. “Every day I am getting the word out to our local parishes about the programs and services we offer to those in need. I am also connecting with other local and regional organizations to ensure that if someone needs a service that is outside of our scope, we can direct them to another organization that can help them directly. And I want other organizations to be able to do the same thing with us. We all offer unique programs so that as a community we can collectively address the needs of those less fortunate. More information about the new Salisbury office will be available in the coming weeks.”

— Christina Lee Knauss

How you can help

Your donations enable Catholic Charities to serve people in need across the diocese. Donations can be made online at www.ccdoc.org or by mail to Catholic Charities, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203-4003.

Need assistance?

Catholic Charities offers services to people across western North Carolina. Email info@ccdoc.org or reach out to your local Catholic Charities office:
Asheville: 828-255-0146
Charlotte: 704-370-3262
Greensboro: 336-288-1984
Lenoir: 828-434-5710
Murphy: 828-835-3535
North Wilkesboro: 828-434-5710
Winston-Salem: 336-727-0705

People who need assistance can also call 2-1-1 to find up-to-date information on community services that may be available. 2-1-1 helps connect people to information about food pantries, medical resources and possible changes to government benefits.

Endowments benefit Catholic Charities and its vital work throughout the Diocese of Charlotte

The diocese has 25 endowments in the Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte that people can support to benefit Catholic Charities. They have a market value of more than $7.8 million.

• Catholic Charities Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of this diocesan ministry across the western half of North Carolina
• Catholic Charities Asheville Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of the ministry in Asheville
• Catholic Charities Burial Assistance Endowment Fund: provides for the burial assistance program in Mecklenburg County
• Catholic Charities Charlotte Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of the ministry in Charlotte
• Catholic Charities Refugee Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of this ministry across the western half of North Carolina
• Catholic Charities Winston-Salem Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of this ministry in Winston-Salem
• Bishop William G. Curlin Endowment Fund for the Poor: benefits the poor in the Diocese of Charlotte
• Marion Michael and Mary Ann DeMelfy Endowment Fund: provides support for the elderly in parishes in Hickory and those west of Hickory through Catholic Charities
• FFHL Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte Endowment Fund: provides financial support for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Charlotte
• Maureen Reinehr Gigler Endowment Fund: provides for diocesan multicultural ministry needs in the western half of North Carolina
• Elizabeth Grace Endowment Fund: provides for the programmatic needs of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Charlotte
• Granzow Family Endowment Fund: provides for Catholic Charities to serve the poor
• Aurelia I. Guffey Catholic Charities Endowment Fund: provides for the programmatic needs of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Charlotte
• Peter J. and Catherine P. Hickey Endowment Fund: provides for the adoption programs of Catholic Charities
• Lawrence and Patricia Hollett Family Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of Catholic Charities in Winston-Salem
• Marcaccio Family St. Anthony Bread Endowment Fund: provides for St. Pius X Catholic Church and Catholic Charities Piedmont and Asheville Offices
• Robert H. Moeller Memorial Endowment Fund: provides housing- related financial assistance for the elderly across the western half of North Carolina
• John S. Monahan Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of Catholic Charities in Charlotte
• John and Marlene Olenick Endowment Fund: provides for the pregnancy support services of Catholic Charities Piedmont/Triad
• George and Jane Pfaff Endowment Fund: provides for program needs of Catholic Charities within the Diocese of Charlotte
• San Lorenzo Ruiz Philippine Heritage Endowment Fund: provides for the unrestricted general needs and for the refugee/immigrant assistance of Catholic Charities in Charlotte
• Sarmiento-Lang Family Endowment Fund: benefits Catholic Charities pregnancy support services
• Lee and Allan Thurbee Memorial Endowment Fund: provides financial support for Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Charlotte
• Kathleen A. Troy Memorial Endowment Fund: provides for burial assistance and general needs of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Charlotte
• Mary Jane Winfrey Catholic Charities Endowment Fund: provides for the general needs of Catholic Charities

For information on establishing or contributing to an endowment, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or gmrhodes@rcdoc.org

Ministries serving Catholics in their 20s and 30s, such as the annual Vigilant Retreat are thriving.

Once considered a difficult group to engage – those in their 20s and 30s navigating careers, relationships and identity – young adults are rapidly becoming one of the most active and vibrant sectors of diocesan and parish life.

For some, an upbringing in the Catholic faith catches fire in college, where demand for Campus Ministry is growing. More than 800 college students are regularly attending Mass through campus ministries across the diocese – double the attendance of a decade ago. And hundreds more young people attend diocesan fellowship activities and retreats, not to mention many more participating in parish-based young adult ministries.

The growing interest reflects a surge in adults of all ages joining the Church locally and nationally. In the Charlotte diocese, the number of adults entering the Church jumped 43% for two straight years and this Easter season is expected to meet or surpass last year’s 1,743 new members, the highest in at least a decade.

Nationally, the Catholic prayer app Hallow reported a 38% average annual increase in adults entering the Church this year. Although ages aren’t tracked, dioceses across the country are anecdotally reporting a noticeable increase in young adults.

“In the last two years, a switch was flipped,” Arizona State University’s Father Bill Clements told Catholic News Agency. The college received more than 100 students, a record, into the faith this year. “I think people are tired of crazy. They’re hungry for some direction, truth, goodness and beauty.”

Organizations are increasing efforts to reach young adults, especially those who have grown up in the Church and may be drifting.

Among them is Young Catholic Professionals, a national nonprofit founded in 2010 that connects young adults through networking events, mentorship and faith formation. The group started its

Charlotte chapter in October 2023 and has seen solid growth since.
“Catholic Sports,” a new sports league catering to young people, launched in January and has hosted more than 80 players in their first, six-week session of beach volleyball.

And “SEARCH,” an evangelization ministry of Franciscan friars in Charlotte, hosts “Friar Fridays” and “Brews and Good News” events at bars and other out-and-about locations, offering fellowship and information about the Catholic faith in casual social settings. The three friars behind the ministry identified Charlotte as the best place to start their unconventional ministry partly because of the large number of young adults living in – and moving to – the city. The median age of those living in Charlotte’s South End and Uptown is 29 to 32.

With more than 30 years of working with young people in Catholic education, Bishop Michael Martin is beefing up support for Youth Ministry and Campus Ministry, and has called on parishes across the diocese to focus more attention on reaching young adults. He spent more than three decades in high schools and colleges, including time as director of the Duke (University) Catholic Center in Durham.

From the day he was announced as Bishop of Charlotte, Bishop Martin has emphasized the impact young people can and should have on the local Church. He has noted that when you bring their energy and enthusiasm together with the Good News of the Gospel, wonderful things happen in the Church.

At the parish level, more young adult groups have steadily emerged over the past decade – adding to longtime mainstay ministries at St. Gabriel, St. Matthew and other parishes. The groups are appealing because they offer opportunities for fellowship, faith formation and service. Among newer groups are “CASA” at St. Ann and “Aquinas’ Finest” at St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlote, as well as ministries at churches from Hendersonville to the Triad.

These initiatives, often spearheaded by lay leaders, have expanded beyond Bible studies to include retreats and outreach initiatives that meet young adults where they are and invite them into deeper participation in the life of the Church.

VIGILANT RETREAT UNITES YOUNG ADULTS

At St. Ann Parish in Charlotte, one annual event is indicative of this growth.

Five years ago, parishioner Katie Cosby recognized an unmet need for deeper connection in the young adult community.

“I was seeing people live both in the world and then in the faith,” Cosby said. “I just really wanted to bring those together and inspire people to become the great saints that they’re meant to be.”

That motivated her to create the Vigilant Retreat. Founded in 2022 with 90 attendees, the weekend retreat has nearly doubled in size – to 150 this April – and has had a waiting list for the past two years.

Speakers typically include a mix of young adults, clergy and religious. This year Catholic influencer Ana Munley spoke at the retreat.

“Every year, I am amazed by how much of an impact it has on the individuals who attend,” said Katie Sholtis, who has attended every retreat since the beginning. “I’ve seen the fruits of this retreat extend past the weekend and can’t wait to see its continued impact on the Charlotte community and beyond.”

St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte recently launched Nueva Alianza, a Hispanic young adult group.

YOUNG HISPANIC ADULTS CONNECT

The Hispanic community is also seeing strong growth in young adult engagement. Since the pandemic, a cluster of parishes launched dedicated young adult ministries for their Spanish-speaking populations.

At St. John Neumann Parish, “Nueva Alianza” (“New Covenant”) formed in January. It is led by parishioners Juan Sánchez and Martin Rubi Leodegario, who were already involved in the parish’s other young adult ministry, but started Nueva Alianza to serve those whose primary language is Spanish.

“Last year when I became a parishioner, I joined the (English-speaking) group but having such a large number of native Spanish speakers, we decided it was best to create our own group,” Sánchez said. “We also wanted a way so that we could be meet more often, and like that, the group was born.”

The ministry has grown from four to 20 members in a matter of months. Nueva Alianza, which meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. focuses on prayer, reading scripture and talking about the faith.

“This has helped me discover more about the Church,” said Yeimy Sánchez, 25, who grew up a Jehovah’s Witness but converted to Catholicism four years ago. “In this group we support one another in our faith journey.”

In Greensboro, St. Mary’s Parish established its first young adult group in 2022 and today has about 25 members. As their reach in the community has grown, neighboring parishes have been inspired to form their own young adult ministries.

“I have seen how this group has allowed each person to express with confidence their faith,” said St. Mary’s group founder, Honorio Valle-Carvajal. “This attracts them because it feels like a family.”

Slaterk Pérez, 26, who returned to his Catholic faith recently after distancing himself from the Church, believes social media has fueled curiosity about the faith among young adults, many of whom are searching for something.

“We now have easy access to so much information about the faith, I believe that it is pushing Gen Z to give this a try,” Pérez said. “Being here, you become prouder of being Catholic.”

— Brian Segovia and Amelia Kudela

The House of Mercy’s annual Walk for AIDS raises funds to help program recipients live with HIV/AIDS and works to combat the stigma still associated with the disease.

Founded by the sisters in 1991, the House of Mercy responded to the AIDS crisis when many were stigmatized and abandoned – providing housing, respite and dignified care without judgment.

The six-room home still delivers wrap-around services for residents and others living with HIV/AIDS, but thanks to medical advances, staff and volunteers are now focused on teaching clients to lead relatively normal lives.

“This walk is about how we get to be individuals that lift the community up and fight against discrimination,” President Latoya Gardner said. “We carry the names of those we lost in our hearts. We carry the hope of those still fighting. Let’s walk together for a future where everyone living with HIV has a place to call home and a community that loves them.”

Oratorian Father Charles Tupta, pastor of All Saints Church in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, started the walk with a prayer and shared his experience as a chaplain at Rush Presbyterian Medical Center in Chicago when the AIDS epidemic emerged.

“Their families would disown them,” Father Tupta recalled. “A lot of times when they passed, no one came to claim the body, and there was really nothing medically that could be done at the time.”

Father Tupta walks for former patients like Joel, whose last breaths were made trying to reconcile with his estranged father, who in return told Joel that God did not love him.

That day still brings tears to Father Tupta’s eyes. “He said to me, ‘I will never stop loving my father. I had trouble figuring all this out, so how could I expect him to? … I know that God loves me because God does not make junk.’”

Other participants shed tears looking back at a history that didn’t treat their loved ones with the respect they deserved.

Gardner got involved after the death of her brother, who died from AIDS but mentally declined long before that.

“Technically he passed from an AIDS-related illness, but it was the stigma and discrimination that killed him before anything else,” Gardner said. “My brother was 21 when he passed away because he could not foresee living a life where people knew about his illness and treated him differently.”

Though dying from AIDS is less common now due to pharmaceuticals that suppress the virus to the point that it is undetectable, the stigma lingers.

This was the case for Mercy resident Kurt (last name withheld for privacy), who found out he had full-blown AIDS after a doctor’s visit for a small rash last August. The diagnosis sent him spiraling into depression, leaving him homeless, hopeless and lonely with nowhere to go. He didn’t want to tell his family about his condition, so he suffered quietly with his secret.

“This place means a lot because I was not in a good spot,” Kurt said. “They were here to help me, and they actually cared.”

Through it all he still rests in his faith, he said. “I grew up in the Church, and I know He wouldn’t put on me more than I can handle. I pray all the time.”

Former resident Robert (last name withheld for privacy) still volunteers and attends every fundraiser. He recalls how his year’s stay at the House of Mercy rescued him from both sickness and homelessness.

“When you have HIV, you get so consumed with medication and taking care of yourself that sometimes you forget to take care of yourself financially,” Robert said. “When I got here, I learned how to live with the virus, not just medication-wise, but day-to-day. If it wasn’t for the House of Mercy, I don’t know where I’d be today.”

Such progress is possible due to staff such as Kimberly Hunter, a parishioner of St. James the Greater in Concord whose nephew died from anxiety the disease caused.

“If Jason would have had a House of Mercy, everything would have been so different. He wouldn’t have been depressed, hungry and living on the streets. This is something I never want to happen to anyone else,” Hunter said. “I feel like I was led here. I love what we do. We can’t save everyone, but we can help people get better, get them undetectable and help them see the future, which is what Jason didn’t see.”

For staff, volunteers, participants and residents, a future without AIDS may soon be possible, but for now, they will continue walking toward a stigma-free community.

“We aren’t just providing housing,” Gardner said. “We are providing a sanctuary and a community where our residents are seen as people, not just a diagnosis.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

More online

At www.thehouseofmercy.org: Get help or support the House of Mercy in its mission

Ahead of May, which is foster care awareness month, the Circle of St. Joseph, a new ministry focused on helping foster parents, holds a respite night to give parents a few hours to themselves. Volunteers from multiple church groups came together to host the children — playing games, assembling crafts, providing pizza and keeping them entertained.

About a dozen foster parents dropped their children off at the church for a night of fun, pizza and a movie while they enjoyed a few free hours for date night, alone time or a chance to catch up with friends. Youth volunteers from American Heritage Girls, Holy Family faith formation members and Bishop McGuinness High School students babysat, hosted the games and helped assemble crafts with the children.

According to Circle of St. Joseph founder Greta Argenta, these little windows of freedom are a great way to give back to the foster community.

“The parents and children loved it and were asking when we can do it again,” Argenta said. “I hope to start doing these nights on a regular basis, now that we know what to expect.”

The need is great. Forsyth County has more than 270 children in foster care, yet there are only 14 licensed foster parents. Those who are not placed with area families are placed with foster parents in surrounding counties or remain in N.C. Department of Social Services care in group homes.

“It is a huge crisis, and the advocacy and awareness are starting right now, but I don’t think the awareness has been a part of this for a long time,” Argenta said.

For Argenta, it’s not just a governmental crisis but also a Catholic one.

“We can’t rely on the government to take care of children. That is the Church’s job – that is our job.

That is what we do,” she said, citing the example of Church-run orphanages from decades ago. “Once they stopped doing that, I feel like we forgot the importance of taking care of the orphans and the children left behind.”

The Circle of St. Joseph ministry, named after Jesus’ foster father Joseph, steps in to provide prayer, donations and serve as a Catholic connection to Argenta’s larger non-profit, Fostering Families Resource Center. That organization assists foster parents in Winston-Salem with basic needs and meals and hosts events to support families and social service workers.

Argenta, a mother of five – three biological and two adopted foster children – has been involved with the foster care network for the past 20 years.

“I feel like God gave that to me. The foster community has always been on my heart,” she said. “Even when I was a kid, I used to play Annie and pretended I had my own orphanage. It is a calling I always had.”

—  Lisa Geraci
More online

At www.ffrcnc.org: Learn more about the Fostering Families Resource Center

MARS HILL — Blue skies and the green of spring spreading across the Blue Ridge Mountains made April 19 a beautiful day for a wedding in Mars Hill. For five happy couples gathered at St. Andrew the Apostle Church, it was a chance to bring their existing marriages into full recognition in the Catholic Church.

The parish hosted a special Mass that included convalidations of marriage for five couples celebrated by their pastor, Father Anthony Mbanefo of the Missionary Society of St. Paul.

Convalidation is the process by which a couple who has been married civilly brings their marriage into the Church, validating it according to Church law and making it a sacramental union.

After the Easter Vigil, when one or both members of a couple have received the sacrament of initiation, churches often celebrate ceremonies for multiple couples.

What was unusual was the number at this small parish. Four of the couples attend St. Andrew and one attends Sacred Heart, its mission in Burnsville.

Father Mbanefo recognized the impending need and planning for the convalidation began, said Mercy Sister Peggy Verstege, who has served at St. Andrew for more than 40 years and was instrumental in organizing the ceremony.

“Really the journey toward this day started last year when we began OCIA classes for those who came into the Church this year,” Sister Peggy said. “We talked about convalidation and decided to do a group ceremony, so we got all the paperwork done, agreed on the readings. This is such an important day because it’s a celebration of marriage and life, and also hopefully offers an important witness for others to follow.”

The five couples whose marriages were convalidated are Mitch and Jamie Cline, Stephen and Kelly Hansen, Kathryn and Matthew Papay, Michael and Cressida Shelton, and Zachariah and Kelsey Symons.

During the ceremony, the couples renewed their wedding vows and exchanged rings.

Father Mbanefo offered a moving homily about the importance of Catholic marriage and its many benefits, including the focus on bearing and raising children and the chance for couples to grow closer to each other and to Jesus through their marriage.

He reminded the congregation that Jesus started His public ministry at a wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, as described in the Gospel of John. There, at the bidding of the Blessed Mother, He changed ordinary water into wine. Zachariah and Kelsey Symons exchange rings during their wedding ceremony April 19 at St. Andrew Church.

“This was the first miracle of Jesus Christ where He shared with us that He is truly from God,” Father Mbanefo said. “The full presence of God was at the feast of a wedding. That was not accidental … the marriage covenant had been messed up by sin, and God sent His Son into the world to restore things to their proper order. The union of a man and a woman is something that God created. Marriage is a divine institution. … It came from God and it is God who blesses it.”

After Mass, a reception featured a luncheon at which the couples gathered around a large cake and took turns cutting it.

The Clines have been married for 17 years, and both came into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil.

“We finally get a chance to get it right at this beautiful ceremony,” Jamie Cline said. “It’s such a beautiful blessing to be able to do this.”

The ceremony was a special experience for parish secretary Kelly Hansen, whose husband Stephen Hansen came into the Church at the Easter Vigil after more than a decade of inquiry and study, she said.

“We had no witnesses or friends at our civil wedding 30 years ago, so it was a special blessing to share this celebration with friends who feel like family,” she said.

The celebratory mood of the day carried out into the parking lot, where a message scrawled on the back window of one of the couple’s vehicles conveyed the true message of the day: “Just Married!”

— Christina Lee Knauss

After Dr. Joseph De Pietro passed in 2016, his wife, Anita Joan Di Pietro honored his memory with an endowment that benefits seminarians.

After Joseph passed away on Feb. 14, 2016, Anita chose to honor him in a way that she knew would speak to his heart. She established the Di Pietro Family Foundation, from which she established an endowment in the diocesan foundation to support St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly. That substantial gift has helped fund seminarian formation, sacred music and liturgy, art and architecture, cultural events and other similar programs at the seminary.

The couple came to Charlotte after traveling the world. Joseph Di Pietro was born in Messina, Italy, and came to the United States with his parents when he was 16. Anita Di Pietro was born in Baltimore and attended Catholic school from elementary grades through college. After they were married, Joseph’s career as a chemist kept them on the move, including an eight-year stint in Italy.

After his retirement, the couple was looking for a strong Catholic community. They were drawn to St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Charlotte and became vibrant members of the congregation.

“Joseph loved to cook for our priests, and we frequently entertained them at our house,” Anita Di Pietro recalled.

“I became interested in the seminary after joining the Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group,” she said. “The group supported seminarians with prayers and gift cards for Christmas and Easter.

Our new priests were asked to introduce themselves at our monthly meetings.”

That experience sparked a connection to the seminary and seminarians that she wanted to nurture.

“Mrs. Di Pietro has long been a friend and supporter of the seminary,” said Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the seminary. “Anita doesn’t just donate money, she comes to the seminary frequently bringing gifts and a hearty laugh. We are blessed to have her as a member of our seminary community.”

“She has contributed to the buildings necessary for formation but now has also, in honor of her husband Joseph, given us an endowment for the purposes of cultural and artistic enrichment of the seminary and the seminarians themselves,” Father Kauth said.

“An endowment fund is the gift that keeps giving,” Anita Di Pietro said. “I would encourage anyone who is able to establish an endowment fund.”

An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is invested – not spent – that generates income to help pay for projects and programs specified by the donor. Endowments are tax deductible and help sustain the strength and viability of the diocese and its entities, paying for capital improvements, charitable outreach, education and parish operations.

“I find this a good way to donate,” she explained, noting that donors can designate where funds will go and what areas they can be used for, They have the security of knowing that funds are invested by the diocesan financial team and donors receive ongoing information about the fund’s performance from the development team.

“While we have many parishioners who are establishing endowments in their estate plans, more individuals like Anita are deciding to establish the endowment during life and then add to that endowment in their estate plan,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “The advantage of this is that people can see good things happening with the distributions from their endowment now and by doing that, they are encouraging more people to follow their example. We are grateful for Anita and all those who are establishing or adding to endowments in our foundation.”

As Anita Di Pietro explained, “We do have a responsibility to do what we can. We can’t just go to Sunday Mass and say, ‘Well, that’s it.’”

— Courtney McLaughlin

Fund an endowment

Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? You can establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities.

For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or gmrhodes@rcdoc.org

For the past 11 years, three Charlotte parishes – St. Matthew, St. Peter and St. Vincent de Paul – have collaborated to furnish one family’s dream at a time.

Furniture and housewares are primarily donated by parishioners or sometimes retailers like Costco and, when needed, purchased by the parishes. The ministry of more than 90 volunteers is committed to doing whatever it takes for their clients.

“I do this because they need it. We’ve got this crisis in this country as far as homelessness. This happened to them, as it could have happened to me,” St. Vincent de Paul parishioner and long-standing volunteer Nancy Kopfle said, as she plugged in a new coffee maker and showed off plastic children’s plates in a freshly stocked cabinet.

“This gives them dignity because now they will have their own belongings,” Kopfle said. “The point of all this is for them to have the tools to pick themselves back up. This makes their new place into a home. It is very moving.”

On move-in day, an HRM team typically meets early at St. Matthew’s warehouse in Wesley Chapel to load their moving truck with furniture and beds that match the client’s needs, while other members of the team load their cars with housewares and bedding that is stored in large closets at St. Vincent de Paul Church. The teams roll out and converge on their destination. There, they spend several hours moving in and arranging furniture, assembling beds and cribs, hanging pictures and shower curtains, plugging in lamps, and providing all the little details that create a cozy living environment.

Client Denise, whose last name is withheld to preserve her privacy, was introduced to the Homeless Relief Ministry by The Relatives, a local nonprofit that is one of many partner organizations that provide wrap-around services for clients.

For about seven months, Denise and her children were living in an unstable environment, moving from place to place, spending nights with relatives or at hotels.

She moved here from Georgia to get her life together, but the neighborhood she was barely able to afford was riddled with violence to the point where she fled in fear for her children’s safety.

“There were shootings and loud noises; people were outside all night,” she said. “It was just a bad situation.”

Her caseworker, Shanetta Black from The Relatives, works with 17 clients, helping to remove barriers so clients become financially stable enough to pay their rent and other bills. Yet, she notes this is not a homelessness problem but a housing problem.

“You have people who work two to three jobs but still stay outside because they don’t make three times their rent monthly (a common lease requirement), so they can’t afford to live,” she said.

With the average monthly rent in Charlotte at $1,600 or more, according to RentCafe.com, the scenario is not uncommon, so Homeless Relief Ministry works to ensure that once those in need find a safe place to live, they can move into a comfortable, fully furnished home.

“I like going to ground zero and helping from there,” said volunteer and St. Matthew parishioner Bill LeMay. He lives by Mother Teresa’s philosophy by finding his own Calcutta – a place where people need help – right in Mecklenburg County.

“Like Sister Teresa said, the people that need help are here, so that is where I love and help them.”
— Lisa M. Geraci