The diocese, founded on Jan. 12, 1972, now has 530,000 Catholics in 92 parishes and missions and 20 schools.

The custom statue depicts Mary, Mother of God, the patroness of the diocese.

Catholics honor Mary as the mother of Jesus, and this custom statue that traveled around the diocese offered people an opportunity to remember her role in salvation history and pray to her Son, Jesus.

Other celebrations included Catholic Family Day at Carowinds, a celebration at the Whitewater Center, a Charlotte Knights baseball game and more. Take a look at the celebrations in photos.

In his proclamation of the 50th anniversary year, Bishop Peter Jugis noted that as “Mary, the patroness of our diocese is so closely connected with her Son’s work for our salvation, we also draw close to her in this special year of grace.”

The Marian Pilgrimage was one of the signature events of the diocese’s 50th anniversary activities. The statue traveled to more than 100 locations across the diocese during the year – visiting churches, schools, events and sites of significance to Catholics in western North Carolina.

Read more about all of the acts at https://50years.charlottediocese.org/list-acts-of-charity.

The diocese’s golden anniversary year, themed “Faith More Precious Than Gold,” included a diocese-wide Marian statue pilgrimage that traversed western North Carolina, hundreds of “50 Acts of Charity” initiatives by parishes and schools, family-friendly events, and historical documentaries of the Church in western North Carolina. Parishes across the diocese also held their own Holy Hours and closing Masses – imparting similar aspirations – to recognize and close out the 50-year milestone.

During the closing Mass of the anniversary year, Bishop Jugis reflected on the impacts the anniversary celebrations have had on the people of the diocese.

“It’s been a Year of Faith, celebrating the gift of our Catholic faith which is more precious than gold,” he said during his homily in the chapel inside the Family Life Center adjacent to St. Patrick Cathedral, which is temporarily closed for renovations.

“It’s also been a Year of Thanksgiving to God for blessing the amazing growth of the diocese through the years,” Bishop Jugis added.

This past year has also been a Year of Mission, to bring the Light of Christ to others in our society, he continued, noting that it has also been a Year of Prayer and Devotion to the Spiritual Life, to deepen our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Another theme of this year is the 50 Acts of Charity, through our practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. It has been a joy to read all year long about all the Acts of Charity that have been undertaken by our parishes, our missions, our schools and diocesan institutions,” Bishop Jugis said, smiling.

“So, in this Mass we are grateful, but as we look forward, let us continue this spirit that we celebrated this past year and carry it with us in the future,” he said. And citing a Scripture passage from Hebrews 12:1-2, he encouraged the faithful, saying, “Let us persevere running the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus the leader and perfecter of faith.”

At the end of Mass, the bishop’s announcement that Mary, Mother of God had been formally approved by the Vatican was met with joy from the congregation.

The formal process to name a patron began with a diocese-wide survey conducted over a 6-week period last summer and publicized through social media, parish bulletins, the Catholic News Herald and at the Eucharistic Congress. Responses were received from more than 1,400 parishioners at 81 parishes and missions.

“Every parish, mission and school has made its own unique contribution to the history of Catholicism in North Carolina. Every parish, mission, and school has its own unique story to tell. Let us commit ourselves to proclaiming the Kingdom of Christ by the witness of our lives,” Bishop Jugis said.

— SueAnn Howell. Photos by Troy Hull

Read more

Check out the Diocese of Charlotte’s rich history and learn how parishes and the people of western North Carolina commemorated the diocese’s 50th anniversary online at www.catholicnewsherald.com/news/golden-anniversary. See all of the 50 Acts of Charity at faithmorepreciousthangold.com.

See photos for the anniversary year

Pilgrim Marian statue travels through the diocese in photos

50 Acts of Charity in photos

 Events for the 50th anniversary in photos

Because of ongoing renovations at the cathedral, the Holy Hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the closing Mass will be celebrated in the parish’s Family Life Center adjacent to the cathedral. It has a very limited seating capacity, so people are encouraged to arrive early.

During the diocese’s 50th anniversary year, a Marian Pilgrimage of the image of Mary, Mother of God, has traveled across western North Carolina to parishes, Catholic schools, convents and St. Joseph College Seminary, offering the faithful an opportunity to pray the 50th anniversary prayer and ask Our Blessed Mother for her intercession.

Over the past year, parishioners and clergy have also marked the 50th anniversary by performing 50 of Acts of Charity, and then some, benefiting community partners who assist the poor, those experiencing homelessness, women and children, and neighbors experiencing food insecurity – just to name a few.
St. Patrick Cathedral is located at 1621 Dilworth Road East in Charlotte. The Family Life Center is located behind the rectory.

— SueAnn Howell

Ron Swanson and his family contribute to the food drive. (Provided photo)

Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor, said the initiative demonstrated the Greensboro parish community’s mission to know, love and serve the Lord.

“The Apostle James said, ‘Faith without works is dead.’ Therefore, our goal in the celebration of the diocesan jubilee anniversary was to show that our faith is very much alive,” he said. “And we wanted to share that gift, ‘more precious than gold,’ through our stewardship of service.”

“Some were skeptical we could reach such a large goal,” he continued. “To put it in perspective, it is equal to 25 tons or the equivalent of the weight of five pickup trucks. Not food filling their beds, but the weight of the trucks themselves. And we have exceeded that amount.”

Parishioners collected the 25 tons of food – canned goods, non-perishable items, beans, rice and more – over the course of 10 months. Donations went to Greensboro Urban Ministry, which operates a food pantry for local families in need four days a week.

Greensboro Urban Ministry has provided food for people at risk of hunger in Guilford County for more than 30 years. St. Pius X Parish has been a longtime supporter of the local non-profit agency for decades, but this year parishioners were determined to do more. And when they learned that Greensboro Urban Ministry was changing the approach of its food assistance program and that local demand for food aid was rising, it was a providential opportunity to step up their involvement.

“We are so grateful for our partnership with St. Pius X over the years and their efforts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the diocese through their campaign to collect 50,000 pounds of food,” said Mary Gorman O’Neill, director of Greensboro Urban Ministry’s Client Choice Pantry. “This challenge coincided perfectly with the opening of our Client Choice Pantry and the acute shortage of food that we experienced last summer.”

O’Neill said the food pantry is an ecumenical effort in which Guilford College United Methodist Church members helped Greensboro Urban Ministry create the space and St. Pius X parishioners stock the shelves.

“Our Client Choice Pantry provides dignity for people because it is a shopping experience – a hand-up rather than a handout of a box of food,” O’Neill explained. “It also eliminates food waste in so much that clients choose only what they need and can use.

“Not only does St. Pius X supply us with the staples we need, but their volunteers give hours of impactful service behind the scenes and with our clients. Making the pantry a transformative experience for our clients and volunteers alike, as they embrace what we believe to be a work of mercy and justice.”

Monsignor Marcaccio noted, “Our long history of helping local and global food initiatives, and our tradition of stewardship and outreach, gave me the confidence that we would not be outdone in kindness. It was truly a community effort – from our seniors to our school community, from our Cub Scouts to our Knights of Columbus.

It was edifying watching our parishioners as they entered the church, carrying their contributions to this effort. They were providing ‘bread’ for the community as they were coming to Mass and preparing to receive Jesus, the Bread of Life.”

“We enlisted the help of some of our skilled shoppers and coupon clippers to maximize the impact of the monetary gifts that were given to the effort. They developed wonderful relationships with local retailers who were supportive of our effort,” he added.

“Through the generosity of our parishioners, we were able to honor every request for Thanksgiving and Christmas meals, to meet specific, immediate needs of our own community members, and to provide, in large part, the requested resources for the Client Choice Food Pantry at Greensboro Urban Ministry – a model that we endorse as a parish,” he said.

Therese Chase, the parish’s pastoral associate of parish and community life, added, “We have a parish that when there’s a need, our parishioners come through – there’s such generosity and such kindness.”

— Georgianna Penn. Photos provided by St. Pius X Parish

This pilgrim statue of Mary, Mother of God has visited all of the diocese's parishes and schools during the diocese's 50th anniversary year. (SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald)

Bishop Jugis announces survey results during special Jan. 1 Mass

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has petitioned the Vatican to officially designate “Mary, Mother of God” as its patroness, Bishop Jugis has announced in a special letter to the faithful and during Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral.

The bishop’s letter was read out at all Masses across the diocese on Jan. 1 – the feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title as “Mother of God.”

“Today's Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, has special importance for us in the Diocese of Charlotte,” Bishop Jugis declared, releasing the results of a diocese-wide survey held as part of the diocese’s 50th anniversary.

The survey, conducted over six weeks last summer, garnered more than 1,400 responses from people at 81 of the diocese’s 92 parishes and missions.

“I am pleased to announce that the Blessed Virgin Mary was the choice of an overwhelming plurality of the respondents, receiving almost twice as many votes as any other option,” Bishop Jugis announced. “Of those who selected the Virgin Mary, they indicated the title ‘Mary, Mother of God’ as the most fitting for our patroness.”

The diocese’s petition is being submitted to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for formal approval.

The Vatican is expected to approve the petition, diocesan officials said, but they do not know how long that process might take.

• > Read the full letter from Bishop Peter Jugis
• > Related story: Bishop Jugis closes out 50th anniversary year, announces patroness

During a Jan. 1 Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, Bishop Jugis commented further on the effort to designate an official patron for the diocese, as the diocese's 50th anniversary celebrations come to a conclusion later this month. Celebrations have included dozens of acts of charity, special family events, and a Marian statue pilgrimage that has crisscrossed western North Carolina since the 50th anniversary year kicked off Jan. 12, 2022.

“The Lord definitely has given us many blessings, and this will be one more tremendous blessing the Lord will give to us in formally designating – finally, after 50 years – an official patronal feast for the diocese,” the bishop noted in his homily. “May God continue to bless us through her powerful intercession.”

Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is deeply rooted in the Catholic history of western North Carolina. Yet during historical research in preparing for the 50th anniversary, officials discovered that the diocese did not have an official patron – even though bishops over the years have invoked Mary as patroness under various titles.

“When Irish gold miners built the first Catholic church in Mount Holly in 1842, they chose to honor Mary by name,” Bishop Jugis said in his official announcement letter. “The Benedictine monks who established Belmont Abbey chose Mary, Help of Christians, as their patroness and named the church they built with their own hands in her honor. With the creation of the Diocese of Charlotte in 1972, Bishop Michael Begley, our first bishop, publicly entrusted the new diocese to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

By the time Bishop Jugis was appointed to lead the diocese in 2003, “Mary, Mother of God” was already commonly referred to as the diocese’s principal patronness in liturgies and prayers.

“We in the Diocese of Charlotte delight in the special privilege to proclaim many times over in our daily prayer our special loving bond with her as our Mother and the Patroness of our diocese,” the bishop noted in the letter.

Catholics invoke the name of Mary as “Mother of God” when praying the Hail Mary and the Litany of Loreto, and by the priest in the Eucharistic Prayer at every Mass. Mary is also referred to as “Mother of God” in the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, “Lumen Gentium” (“Light of the People”).

The phrase “Mother of God” goes back to the third or fourth century, but the Greek term “Theotokos” (“The God-bearer”) was officially consecrated as Catholic doctrine at the Council of Ephesus in 431, thus becoming the first Marian dogma. At the end of the Council of Ephesus, crowds of people marched through the streets shouting: “Praised be the Theotokos!”

The dogma is based on the doctrine of the Incarnation, as expressed by St. Paul: “God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal 4:4).

— Catholic News Herald

Every homeroom adopted a family from among clients served by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte through its food bank and other direct assistance programs. Over two weeks, the homerooms raised more than $13,000 in cash and gifts on wish lists from recipient families.
Students donated from their allowance, earnings and parent gifts. They joined teachers in shopping to fulfill wishes large and small – from Baby Alive dolls and Superhero fatheads, to Ugg boots and Jordan sneakers, to jewelry and a drone with wide-angle lens and 18-minute flight capability.

“(I) REALLY need a laptop for college,” one young woman wished.

Others wished for a drum set, art set, karaoke set.

Tech “toys” included Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Play Station, Fitbits and tablets.

A toddler wished for stuffed animals.

A teenage girl asked for a hair dryer.

A young mother wished for baby books, puzzles and a Baby Einstein Me Reader.

And clothes for Christmas were highly sought after.

“We invited our students into the ministry of service – and they responded in a big way,” said Dr. Lincoln Sigwald, a Charlotte Catholic teacher who, along with the student council, helped coordinate the project for the high school. “It is a blessing to have the opportunity and be in a position to help others, and for our students to be part of the ministry of the Church.”

Charlotte Catholic’s project is among the diocese’s “50 Acts of Charity” initiative underway as part of its yearlong anniversary celebration that ends Jan. 12, 2023. Schools, parishes and ministries across western North Carolina have participated, collecting food, diapers, blood, toiletries, cleaning and school supplies.

Volunteers have also jumped in, repairing a playground, women’s shelter, retreat center, prayer garden and other church and community facilities. And in partnership with Roof Above, Charlotte’s homeless services agency, more than 100 diocesan employees spent two days repainting the living quarters of an apartment complex for men in treatment for substance.

Charlotte Catholic students and staff delivered gifts to their “wish families” unwrapped – so parents could do the honors and acknowledge Santa, his elves, or others. The families are already connected to the diocese through Catholic Charities’ veterans, refugee, homeless and Transition Out of Poverty programs.

Clothes were popular as families wished for pint-sized undershirts, underwear, sweaters, “cozy pajamas,” socks, shoes (size 1), and a winter coat for dad.

Some recipients were all business, such as the 23-year-old mom who hoped for “clothes (size small), pants (size 9), sweatpants (size medium), shoes (size 8), backpack, purse, socks, blouses (size small), set of pots and blender.”

“Our families were overwhelmed by the generosity of Charlotte Catholic, as they are every year,” said
Sylvia Sekle, direct assistance coordinator at Catholic Charities. “Right down to the last little detail, these students put their hearts into this special outreach.”

“What better way to celebrate the anniversary of this diocese,” she said, “than with the gift of giving for these young people, and the granting of wishes for families who too often may go to bed cold and hungry and hurting. We are called to help other people because of our love for Jesus, who tells us: ‘Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for Me.’”

— Catholic News Herald. Provided photos.

One noteworthy example of the positive impact of repeating an Act of Charity is the Senior Luncheon hosted by St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro. The Senior Luncheon has been a long-standing tradition at the parish and is held monthly in the Simmons Family Parish Center.

Typically, 75-95 senior citizens from the parish attend every month, and it has become an important event on the attendees’ social calendars. Many seniors who have lost spouses or live alone can become very isolated, which can be detrimental to their health. The monthly luncheon is a lovely opportunity to attend Mass and share a meal with their fellow senior parishioners, and it gives them something to look forward to each month.

A few years ago, the luncheon started to include the addition of student helpers from St. Pius X School. Each month eight to 10 eighth-grade students volunteer to plate the meals and serve them to the seniors at their tables rather than the seniors having to stand in a buffet line. This creates a restaurant feel for the luncheon and elevates the attendees’ experience.

The student volunteers benefit from this stewardship opportunity, and their participation in this Act of Charity also builds a stronger connection between the parish, its parishioners and the school.

“Our students love the opportunity to serve our parish’s seniors,” said Principal Chris Kloesz, adding that the seniors look forward to attending each month and love how polite and helpful the students are.

This Act of Charity is a positive experience for everyone involved and is sure to remain a monthly tradition of service for many years to come.

— Virginia Garramone

Parishioners of St. Joseph Church in Newton held a diaper drive in November. (Photos provided by Joe Purello)

The organization’s Wee Care Ministry has especially been a godsend for one young woman who was left to care for her little brothers after their mother died. She sent her heartfelt thanks to Silvia Echeverria, a case manager for Catholic Charities.

“We have many families who are always very grateful to the Wee Care program because we have helped them through difficult times in their lives,” Echeverria said. “Wee Care has helped this young woman with diapers, clothes and things for the home, and she says with the money she saves on diapers she can now pay bills and buy other items for her family.”

Case Manager Gina Cabrera added, “They also feel that they are not alone, they feel that they are accompanied. They not only appreciate the material but also the humane treatment that we provide to them.”

The same is true for hundreds of families across the region.
Joe Purello, director of social concerns and advocacy for Catholic Charities, and Jesse Boeckermann, western region director for Catholic Charities, worked together to organize a variety of diaper drives at churches and schools throughout the diocese in 2022. The charitable acts marked this year’s 50th anniversary of the diocese.

With the help of volunteers and donors, Catholic Charities supplied essential baby care items and other necessities to more than 500 families with infants and small children. The Wee Care Collections initiative is an outgrowth of Catholic Charities’ Wee Care Ministry that has been serving families for 25 years.

“Catholic Charities’ Wee Care Ministry is one of the many ways that the Diocese of Charlotte walks with moms, dads and children in need,” said Purello. “Providing such assistance helps families with young children who are struggling on limited budgets, and Catholic Charities is very grateful to all the parishes and schools that help make the work of Catholic Charities possible.”

The donations of diapers and wipes were quickly distributed through Catholic Charities’ offices. Asheville-based Catholic Charities staff and volunteers also participated in two community fairs – the Health, Hope and Recovery Rally at Riverfront Park in Bryson City, and the Cherokee County Resource Fair in Murphy – to distribute many of the diapers and wipes, as well as feminine hygiene products, pet food, toiletries, toilet paper and other supplies.

The items come in blue-cloth Catholic Charities bags, a welcome sight for the families in need.

“Thank you for all the help. May God continue to bless you. The assistance of diapers and the blue bag of things for me are what I wanted. Thank you,” said one mother.
Students from Asheville Catholic School load diapers from the collection they held in April.Another added, “All the services are excellent. My family and I are very blessed to have the aid of diapers and jackets for my children.”

“Personally, everything I have come to Catholic Charities for, they have helped me with,” said one young woman. “The folks are very nice and listen to my requests.”

Parishes and schools taking part in the year-long collection effort included: St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir, St. Margaret of Scotland in Maggie Valley, Holy Trinity in Taylorsville, St. Charles Borromeo in Morganton, St. Margaret Mary in Swannanoa, Asheville Catholic School, St. John the Evangelist in Waynesville, St. Aloysius in Hickory, St. Mary Mother of God in Sylva, St. Peter in Charlotte, Sacred Heart in Brevard, St. Joan of Arc in Candler, St. Andrew the Apostle in Mars Hill, Sacred Heart in Burnsville, St. Jude in Sapphire Valley, Our Lady of the Mountains in Highlands, Our Lady of Consolation in Charlotte, St. Barnabas in Arden, Queen of the Apostles in Belmont, St. Joseph in Newton and the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Charlotte.

— Annie Ferguson

How you can help

If your parish or school would like to host a diaper drive to help stock Catholic Charities’ Wee Care Ministry shelves, email Catholic Charities at info@ccdoc.org. Individual donations of diapers and baby wipes are also welcome. Go to www.ccdoc.org/contact-us to schedule a donation drop-off. For financial donations, go to www.ccdoc.org/donate.

From community service projects to prayer initiatives, the school community has taken to heart the anniversary theme emphasizing that our faith is a prized gift meant to be shared with others.

The Christ the King community has collected donations for the diocese’s seminarians, organized a “3v3” basketball tournament for charity and a kickball tournament to benefit youth sports leagues, and overseen projects such as an Eagle Scout project that added Stations of the Cross to the hiking trail on campus.

They have held blood drives, clothing drives, meal packaging events, park clean-ups, and a snack packing event benefiting the Salvation Army. Students have also spent hours in Eucharistic Adoration, prayed school-wide rosaries, and consecrated themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“Our students participated in more than 8,600 hours of service during the past school year,” noted Nicole Seeling, the school’s marketing and development coordinator. “We are so proud of our students’ generous hearts.

They are truly the light of Christ in the world.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle. Photos provided.

As an act of charity for the diocese’s 50th anniversary, the parish sponsored an event Sept. 24-25 to broaden awareness of the need to assist refugees in the Asheville community.

Monica Blankenship and several volunteers from the Loving Neighbors ministry greeted St. Eugene parishioners after all Masses on Sept. 24-25, distributing pamphlets about the refugee assistance efforts by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and nearby St. Mark Lutheran Church in the area.

Volunteers from both churches work together to form a “Circle of Welcome” around refugees resettled locally by the two charities to help them acclimate to life in the United States after arriving from places such as Afghanistan, the Republic of the Congo and Ukraine. St. Eugene parishioners donated $3,700 in cash and gift cards, which was split evenly between the charities.

Parishioners also made greeting cards welcoming refugees to the community. Father Pat Cahill, pastor of St. Eugene Parish, says this was an effort everyone could get behind.

“The Christian calling is to serve however and whomever God puts in our path. What better way than to welcome someone to our community? The mountains here have a therapeutic history and a reputation to heal. We intend to keep celebrating that as part of our culture at St. Eugene Parish.”

— SueAnn Howell. Photos provided.

Over the course of 10 months during the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary year, the prayer shawl team has made and delivered 50 prayer shawls to members of the parish community who are homebound, bereaved or in adult-care facilities, hospitals, hospice care and residents at a local pregnancy resource center.

On Oct. 17, the ribbon was tied on the last of their 50 prayer shawls, and the shawls were blessed by the church’s pastor, Father Herbert Burke, and Deacon Andy Cilone. During the time they were working on the prayer shawls, the team prayed for each recipient, remembering all those in the parish who were sick or lonely, or who just needed a pick-me-up.

This project came together as a suggestion from one of the members of the Ladies Guild at Immaculate Conception Parish, Betsy Jackson. The team is a small one, but the purpose was pure, so the fingers were nimble.

Occasionally a parishioner not able to come to meetings would send in a finished product for the team to pass along.

— Penny Watkins. Photos provided by Father Herbert Burke.

Try this family project: a Christmas crèche (or manger) that children can make from popsicle sticks, then fill with straw to soften the bed where the Baby Jesus will lay – placing a piece of straw for each good deed, alms, prayer or sacrifice done for others they do during Advent.

Follow the steps below to make your own crèche, and start a new Christmas tradition to grow in holiness and prepare for the birth of Jesus.
— Catholic News Herald
At www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com: Download and share instructions for this fun project with friends and family.

Supplies

12 popsicle sticks

Non-toxic glue or hot glue gun

Straw (sandwich bag amount)

Miniature plastic or wooden baby figurine

Fabric (little piece to wrap baby doll in)

Instructions

STEP 1

Glue 4 popsicle sticks together lengthwise. Adult supervision recommended, and adults only should use a hot glue gun. Repeat.

STEP 2

Glue 2 separate popsicle sticks together in the shape of an X. Repeat.

STEP 3

Stand each X upright and lay the sets of 4 glued sticks across the top as shown in the photo. Secure using strong glue.

STEP 4

For each good deed done during the four weeks of Advent, lay one piece of straw in the manger.

STEP 5

Hand-craft or buy a 2- to 3-inch baby figurine, and wrap it in the fabric as swaddling. On Christmas Eve, lay the Baby Jesus figure in the manger in celebration of Jesus’ birthday.

STEP 6

Share your creativity with other Catholic News Herald readers! Email a photo of your family’s Christmas crèche to us at 50years@rcdoc.org.

The students participated in this Act of Charity in honor of the 50th anniversary year of the Diocese of Charlotte during Catholic Schools Week. Over the course of a school day, classes rotated through the gymnasium in one-hour shifts to complete 60 blankets for delivery to Homeward Bound, a community partner that serves persons experiencing homelessness.

Religion teacher Yasmin Santschi recounts the day’s marathon of blanket-making: “In the morning, our middle school students came in and cut strips in the fleece. In the afternoon, our younger students came in with an older student ‘buddy’ and worked on tying the knots in the blankets. Lastly, our youngest students, who are still learning to tie knots, assisted their big friends to fold the blankets and prepare them for delivery.”

Sixth-grader Victoria Arquez says she loved making the 5’ x 6’ blankets, “because we got to help people who don’t have shelter during the winter. Also, we got to do it with our little friends (younger children), so I’m happy that they were able to participate in this experience, too.”

Santschi says community service and giving of one’s time “is a key element in our learning and growing. Having students participate in these events helps them to build a sense of empathy and understanding for the struggles others may face in our community.” She wants Asheville Catholic students to feel empowered to help others, even if it is just through a blanket. “We can always do something to help others and it always makes a difference, no matter how small,” Santschi explains.

Principal Mike Miller agrees: “Children are not too young to be the difference for someone else. These blankets could literally save lives and bring some comfort to those who need it most.”

— SueAnn Howell. Photos provided by Asheville Catholic School

The Greensboro-based project provides meals to students in Guilford County for the weekend, as part of Operation Backpack. Out of the Garden also hosts fresh mobile markets and runs an urban teaching farm.

Besides distributing fresh food, reclaimed food is donated from local grocery stores and businesses in an effort to prevent food waste.

This aligns with Pope Francis’ call for everyone to reorient their lifestyles in a conscious, responsible manner to ensure that no one is left behind and everyone receives food, both in quantity and quality.

“To throw food away means to throw people away,” the pope has said. Bishop McGuinness students have spent time sorting and packaging food for students in public school as well as families who attend community shopping events. Beyond their support for Out of the Garden, the school community has also worked on two Habitat for Humanity houses in the Winston-Salem area, cleaning and laying wood floors.

“The Family Association’s Service Committee has made it a priority to find and present opportunities for parents and students to serve the local community through organized days of service,” said Katie Williams, Bishop McGuinness High School’s director of advancement.

“Out of the Garden Project, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House and local parishes have been the beneficiaries of hundreds of hours of service already this year. We are grateful for the students and parents who have stepped up with their time, talent and treasure to make these initiatives a priority.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle. Vatican News contributed. Photos Provided

The Haven provides a place of respite – sheltering 810 people in their community, including 186 children, in 2021. The Haven’s existing playground was old and no longer safe for children to use, so Sacred Heart parishioners committed to helping raise the $28,000 needed to remove the old, unsafe playground and replace it with a new one.

The entire parish community rallied behind the project. Thanks to parishioners’ generosity and a partnership with the Bikulege Foundation, Sacred Heart raised the necessary funds in less than a month. There was also a little extra available to assist with funding the landscaping surrounding the playground. On Aug. 3, The Haven invited its supporters to a ribbon cutting to celebrate the new playground.

Everyone who attended was so happy and excited because they knew what a blessing the playground will be for children who live at The Haven. The new playground will provide a safe place for them simply to be children amid circumstances beyond their control.

The Haven’s staff conveyed their deep-felt gratitude for Sacred Heart Parish’s help and were excited about what the playground will mean for the families they serve. The Haven thanked them for their generosity and prayers and acknowledged that without Sacred Heart’s support, the new playground would not have become a reality so quickly.

The people and staff at Sacred Heart Church said they were excited to be a part of something important within their community and show the heart of their parish. By coming together, they were able to make a meaningful difference in their community.

— Virginia Garramone. Photo provided

Pictured are Carmelia Stephens and Colin Patcha, a member of St. Peter Parish and a sophomore at Charlotte Catholic High School. (Photos provided by Jenny Cox)CHARLOTTE — Some 70 members of St. Peter Church and the larger community came together Aug. 27 to put themselves in the shoes of those formerly incarcerated.

They participated in “30 Days Out: The Re-entry Simulation,” a program sponsored by Re-entry Partners of Mecklenburg County that simulates the struggles faced by more than 20,000 people returning home from prison in North Carolina each year.

The project was one way the parish is contributing to the Diocese of Charlotte’s “50 Acts of Charity,” a yearlong initiative by the diocese’s parishes, schools and ministries to give back to the community while celebrating the diocese’s 50th anniversary in 2022. Acts of Charity have included corporal and spiritual works of mercy – everything from food and diaper drives to prayer and taking action in solidarity with the poor and others in need.

“As a Jesuit parish, one of our apostolic preferences is walking with the excluded,” said Joanna Patcha, a member of St. Peter’s Social Justice Ministry who helped organize the event. “The re-entry simulation provided just a glimpse into the struggles suffered by those formerly incarcerated, some of the most stigmatized in our society. We hope people walk away with more understanding, compassion and awareness of the need for change.”

Each participant was given an identity – complete with name, criminal background, family situation and life scenario. Some began with resources and family support. Others did not. All had to navigate one month post-release, broken up into four 15-minute segments. Tasks included getting identification from the DMV, finding a job, securing housing, managing childcare, buying food, going to the bank, meeting with a probation officer, seeking public assistance and other tasks that people just released from prison have to tackle.

Every station required a bus ticket before any service was provided, as many returning from prison do not have transportation. Some participants were given crying babies to carry. Others were provided with peer support specialists to guide them. Vague and confusing directions, limited time to complete tasks, and the warm Members of St. Peter Church who organized the event in collaboration with Re-entry Partners of Mecklenburg County are (from left) Carmen San Juan, Joanna Patcha, Kate Dennstaedt, Stephanie Fielder, Mary Stokes and Jenny Cox. temperature of the building (the air conditioning system broke, unplanned) made for a taste of the harsh reality many people experience as they start to rebuild their lives.

“What I felt today was emotional. I was uncomfortable, frustrated and even a little desperate,” said Major David Robinson of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, who joined Charlotte City Council member Reneé Johnson at the simulation. “I haven’t experienced that kind of struggle in my own life because of where I was born. The most important tool I carry every day is not anything on this belt, not my bulletproof vest, not my radio and certainly not my gun. It’s empathy.”

The two-hour event ended with a group debrief and a testimonial by Ebony Thomas, who served 10 years in prison and shared her experience of the struggle to return home.

“There’s way more to it than breaking the law. A felony follows you – 20 years later they still want to know and you have to check that box,” she said.

Thomas, who now owns V.M. Transportation Service and another company that hire those who have been in prison, said she never wants others to experience the rejection and depression she felt returning to society.

“I was denied a job and housing and was in a really depressed state. I never want anyone to experience what I did.”

Participants left with resources to learn more and take action in helping those returning to society.

— Jenny Cox

Ebony Thomas, who spent 10 years in prison, shares her personal story of struggle in returning home. She now owns two businesses that hire ex-felons and gives second chances.

During a full day’s work, a group of more than a dozen volunteers covered a 320-square-foot area with topsoil and renovated more than 360 square feet of landscaping.

The new patio, which has been furnished with benches, serves as a place of meditation for those attending the different spiritual activities hosted by the Catholic Conference Center, while the green areas look more orderly and clean.

Brother Freddy García, who coordinated the execution of the work with Deacon Scott D. Gilfillan, the center’s director, said, “The brothers of the Emmaus Family were enthusiastic about the project, they worked with joy and zeal in the execution and were very happy with the results.”

“Everyone brought food, sandwiches, fruit, ice water and shared lunch. It was a true community work party,” he added.

— Photo provided by Freddy Garcia

Did you know that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood? Patients of all ages need blood donations – accident and burn victims, patients undergoing heart surgery or organ transplants and those battling cancers can receive lifesaving medical care thanks to blood donors.

Helping to support this ongoing and vital need for blood, St. Mary Mother of God Parish in Sylva and St. Therese Parish’s Knights of Columbus in Mooresville are among those that recently hosted blood drives to support the American Red Cross. More than 60 people participated in the blood drives, with a total of 65 pints collected – potentially saving 260 lives! Pictured are members of St. Mary Mother of God Parish at their blood drive.

These blood drives are one way our parishes have participated in “50 Acts of Charity,” a diocesan-wide initiative to manifest the love of God to others through charitable acts, in celebration of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org to learn more about participating in or hosting a blood drive to help save lives in our community.

— Photos provided by Susan Szarek

Torrential rains providentially stopped just before the procession began at 3 p.m., and the skies stayed clear until the event’s end at 4:30.

The Marian statue pilgrimage continues throughout the diocese, with information about future stops and more details available on the 50th anniversary website, www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com. 

Watch a video highlight of the procession in Black Mountain, created by parishioner James Vrazel.

— Photos provided by LeAnn Wilson and Claudia Graham

See the Black Mountain procession 

Hundreds of St. Mark parishioners joined their pastor, Father John Putnam, to gaze upon the bell tower and façade of the church after sunset to see the unique 3-D laser projection produced by Highland Media-works of Asheville.

The augmented reality, 3-D projection mapping is a digital art form using video projectors to cast customized images onto a target sculpture.

During the laser light show, the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary logo, timelapse photos of St. Mark’s construction in 2009, and several of its stained-glass windows that grace the nave were projected on the bell tower.

— SueAnn Howell. Photos by Amy Burger.

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated a Mass Sept. 4 commemorating the 83rd anniversary of the church’s dedication and the 50th anniversary of its elevation to a cathedral.

St. Patrick Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in Charlotte, N.C., and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1939, it is the mother church of the Diocese of Charlotte and is the seat of its bishop. It was consecrated under the patronage of

St. Patrick on Sept. 4, 1939, by Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness of the Diocese of Raleigh, which at the time covered the entire state. In 1972, when the Diocese of Charlotte was carved out of the Raleigh diocese, Charlotte Bishop-elect Michael J. Begley selected St. Patrick Church as the cathedral for the new diocese, and the church was elevated to a cathedral when the diocese was born on Jan. 12, 1972.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the diocese’s founding, and St. Patrick Cathedral is hosting several golden anniversary events, including the opening and closing Masses of the jubilee year. The cathedral is also home to many of the diocese’s most important liturgical celebrations – including the annual Chrism Mass, in which the bishop consecrates the sacred oils used in the sacraments at every church in the diocese.

During his homily at Mass Sept. 4, Bishop Jugis touched on the history of St. Patrick Parish, created by and for the growing Irish Catholic community in what is now the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte.

St. Patrick’s – like any Catholic church – is dedicated to three purposes, he said.

“First of all, we build a church building for the worship of Almighty God,” he said. “The worship of Almighty God is the first duty of every human being regardless of whether they are a believer or not – to worship God who gives us life and has redeemed us.”

Second, he said, “this church building also serves a purpose of your sanctification to make you holy, to assist you on your way to eternal life. Through the sacraments that we celebrate here, through the Gospel of Christ which will be proclaimed here and preached here … you become the living body of Christ, the spiritual temple of the Holy Spirit.”

Bishop Jugis also explained that a church is also important because it serves as a visible, tangible sign of the presence of the Catholic Church in its community.

“We all are spiritual beings, we have souls, but we are also physical beings, and we need visible, tangible, physical things that speak to us,” he said.

“A church building is a sign to others that God is here. It stands as a perpetual, perennial, permanent presence to that witness. It is a sign of God’s mercy, a sign of God’s truth, a symbol of God’s holiness and a constant reminder to follow God’s ways, to live according to God’s ways.”

“On this day, the 83rd anniversary to the day of the dedication of this church to Almighty God, we do pray and give thanks to the Lord for this beautiful gift that He has given to us,” Bishop Jugis said. “And using the words He gives us in the responsorial psalm (Psalm 95): ‘Let us come before the Lord and praise Him for His goodness.’”

Concelebrating the Mass with the bishop was Father Ernest Nebangongnjoh, who serves as parochial vicar at the cathedral. The cathedral’s three deacons, Carlos Medina, Brian McNulty and Paul Bruck, assisted, along with parish altar servers and seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly.

For more information about the history of St. Patrick Cathedral, go online to www.stpatricks.org.
— SueAnn Howell. Photos by SueAnn Howell and archives

On two days, Aug. 22 and 24, staff members from every department at the diocesan Pastoral Center picked up brushes and rollers to repaint 85 bedrooms at Centre Terrace Apartments on Central Avenue.

The apartments, owned by Roof Above, house men who are working to improve their lives.

The residents worked alongside 108 volunteers, forming bonds that will endure.

“The diocese has really lifted our self-esteem and gave the (residents) purpose,” said program director Ronica Foster.

“Now they know they are being seen, and we’re so grateful.”

The “Painting with Love” Act of Charity was part of the diocese’s quest during its 50th anniversary this year for parishes and schools to perform 50 Acts of Charity in communities across western North Carolina.

— Catholic News Herald. Provided photos.

Catholic education and the priestly vocation of Father Edward Sheridan have been intertwined since the earliest days of his calling. Born in 1937, he first felt the nudge as a grade schooler at Good Shepherd School and Church in New York City.

“I was a choir boy – in the parish choir. I sang so beautifully,” he says with a mirthful laugh as he reminisced about his youth.

Continuing in complete earnestness, he explains, “I just had it in my mind when I was in Catholic school, and I think that the whole idea of serving people, helping people, just came to me, and that’s basically what it is, you know. It wasn’t a divine revelation per se. I just had it in mind that this would be a good thing to do for life, and it turned out that way.”

It certainly did. This year marks the 59th anniversary of Father Sheridan’s ordination to the priesthood. To prepare, he studied at St. Bonaventure University in upstate New York, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in sacred Scripture and Church history.

“I wanted to serve the Church in a missionary area, and North Carolina was, at that time, less than 1 percent Catholic,” he says. “So, I applied and was accepted into the seminary as part of the Diocese of Raleigh,” he says.

On May 23, 1963, Bishop Vincent Waters ordained him a priest of the Raleigh diocese at Infant of Prague Church in Jacksonville, N.C.

“Bishop Waters, at that time, moved the ordinations around,” he recalls. “Wherever there was a new church built – no matter what size it was – the ordination was celebrated at that particular church.”

His first assignment was to the missionary apostolate in Newton Grove, Mt. Olive and Wallace. One year after his ordination, he also became administrator of William Gaston High School in New Bern. Two years after his ordination, he was assigned as administrator of Bishop McGuinness High School in Winston-Salem.

In another two years, he was named pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Brevard as well as parishes in Sapphire and Highlands. During this time, Father Sheridan also was the diocesan youth director.

In 1972 he was serving as administrator of Asheville Catholic High School when big news came: a new diocese for North Carolina.

Building From the Ground Up

That year, the Charlotte diocese was formed with Bishop Michael J. Begley leading the way. He appointed Father Sheridan, who was set to complete his master’s in education administration in 1973, as the diocese’s first superintendent of schools. So he’d be closer to Charlotte, Bishop Begley transferred him first to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe and later to St. Ann Parish on Park Road.

“It was an exciting time. It was in the midst of all of the changes in the Church, and I think that we saw Bishop Begley as our bishop to bring about further development of changes from Vatican II, and he did a great job. He increased the understanding of the lay apostolate and parish councils. It was good to be a part of that process,” Father Sheridan recalls.

He continues, “We went into a period of time planning and tried to look at ourselves and see what we should do and involve the lay people in spiritual movements and other areas where they could help in many different ways.”

Father Sheridan was tasked with separating the Catholic schools in western North Carolina from the Raleigh diocese in the east, working with his counterpart in Raleigh, Father Donald Staib.

“It was good getting it started, and the people were very good as we worked with the leadership in the schools, the principals and the teachers. It was good to get it on its feet,” he says.

At the time of the opening of what was then called the diocesan Department of Education, there were 18 elementary schools, one private elementary and secondary school, and two high schools. The total enrollment was 5,688 with 176 full- and part-time personnel, including 94 sisters representing six religious communities.

The Diocesan Board of Education had nine members and was established under the direction and guidance of Father Sheridan. It was founded as the primary policy-making body for religious education within the diocese and derives its authority from the bishop.

Today, the diocese has 20 schools, including three high schools (in Charlotte, Huntersville and Kernersville) and an independent Catholic school in Asheville.

Over the years, the Catholic schools faced headwinds – finances became more challenging, religious communities departed, enrollment ebbed and flowed.

Two of the schools were forced to close while Father Sheridan was superintendent: one in Charlotte and another in Waynesville. “Those were sad times,” he says, adding that he is hopeful about the number of schools growing in the future.

“The atmosphere of Catholic schools is very important for many reasons. Our values are promulgated in so many wonderful ways. The support that we get from our teachers, curriculum and activities make a difference. It is a wonderful place to be assured a good effort is made to build a healthy and positive person in a world which has so many contrary – and sometimes negative and wrong – ways of life,” he explains.

“I wish every Catholic child would be able to experience a good Catholic education.”

Parish Life and Growth

Father Sheridan served as schools superintendent until 1976. The next year, he became pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Winston-Salem, where he remained until being transferred to St. Aloysius in Hickory in 1984. Two years later, he became the first director of the Catholic Conference Center, which was built under his direction. Then, in 1989, he became the pastor of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte. In 1998 he returned to St. Aloysius for six years and then returned to St. Gabriel in 2004. He retired in 2007.

“I would go back to any parish that I’ve had an opportunity to be part of,” he says. “I miss them all.”

In what he calls his “new era,” he remains active serving the lay faithful, offering “Mass in the Grass” at his home for the past two years to help serve those who wish to continue to attend Mass outside due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before the pandemic, he had been on staff at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory for five years and helped nearby parishes by offering Mass as needed on the weekends. This summer, he is taking a group of 40 on pilgrimage to Northern Ireland, one of 15 he’s led.

In a spirit of continual improvement, Father Sheridan shares his hopes for the future of the diocese, including a revitalization of lay ministry and a continued emphasis on youth programs – something he deems vitally important.

“We should be concerned about the Church’s benefit to the people rather than vice versa. I would like to see our parishes, priests and staff be more oriented to helping people to bring about an increase in our relationship with the good Lord,” he says. “I feel hopeful, and I look forward to the remaining years of my life to help in any way I can.”

— Annie Ferguson

The Sept. 9 baseball game at Truist Field is the final diocese-wide social event celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte.

The evening started with a special first pitch thrown out by Sister Lucia Palma of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother of Gastonia. Sister Lucia “bested” one of the diocese’s seminarians who played baseball for Belmont Abbey College in a recent pitching contest at the 18th annual Eucharistic Congress last month.

Tom Savoy, choir master of St. Joseph College Seminary, provided musical entertainment featuring a barbershop quartet-style singing everyone’s favorite baseball jingle, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

There was also a special Diocese of Charlotte 50th anniversary video presentation and Carolina Catholic Media Network broadcast live from the stadium. 

The Charlotte Knights lost to the Nashville Sounds 9-1, and the evening was capped off with a fireworks display.

— Photos by Alex Cason Photography and SueAnn Howell 

Patrick Schneider PhotographyCHARLOTTE — Thousands of people from across western North Carolina gathered with their bishop and clergy to celebrate their Catholic faith at the Eucharistic Congress – the Diocese of Charlotte’s “annual family reunion.”

The Eucharistic procession from St. Peter Church through uptown Charlotte culminated with a Holy Hour led by Bishop Peter Jugis in the Charlotte Convention Center.

During his homily, the bishop welcomed people back to an in-person celebration after two years of events held virtually and in parishes due to pandemic restrictions. Saturday was also the feast of the Transfiguration, he noted, and the day’s events offered everyone a chance to be transformed by an encounter with the Eucharistic Lord.

“This feast has something important to say to us during our Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration. At the Transfiguration, Jesus took His apostles Peter, James and John by themselves up a high mountain and was transfigured before their eyes,” he said.

“And so this morning, we can say that Jesus again has taken us, His disciples, off to a place by ourselves where we also can be alone with Him in this Holy Hour.

He is really, truly and substantially present with us in this holy sacrament, and we gaze upon Him in adoration.”

The bishop continued, “At the Transfiguration, St. Peter spoke to the Lord in words that are just as appropriate for us to say now in this moment of Adoration: ‘Lord, it is good that we are here’,” referring the scripture passage in Matthew (17:4).

“It is good that we are here with You in Your presence,” he said.

The Lord’s presence was a focal point of the Synod listening sessions held throughout the diocese earlier this year, Bishop Jugis said.

“In the Synod, people said that the most significant signs of the Lord’s presence in their lives are Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacraments and especially the Holy Eucharist and confession and prayer. They also acknowledged that their faith is nourished by their family life, by participation in parish life, by the good example of our priests and deacons, by Scripture study, and by works of mercy and service to others.”

“It is evident that across the diocese faith is strong, and that we desire to be with the Lord and to be close to Him,” he said. “And so we are with Him now. May these moments of Adoration nourish our souls and bring us Christ’s peace.”

When they witnessed the Transfiguration, St. Peter wanted to build three tents – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah to dwell in, the bishop added. “But now let us instead prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in our hearts once again. Behold, He stands at the door and knocks, and wishes to enter.

“Let us welcome Him into our hearts.”

— Catholic News Herald. Photos by James Sarkis, Patrick Schneider Photography, SueAnn Howell, Amy Burger, Liz Chandler and Giuliana Riley.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis' full homily:

Whoever eats this Bread will live forever.

This morning the Church celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and this feast has something important to say to us during our Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration. At the Transfiguration, Jesus took his apostles Peter, James and John by themselves up a high mountain and was transfigured before their eyes. The Lord’s face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

And so this morning, we can say that Jesus again has taken us, his disciples, off to a place by ourselves where we also can be alone with him in this Holy Hour.

He is really, truly and substantially present with us in this holy sacrament, and we gaze upon Him in adoration.

At the Transfiguration, the voice of God the Father was heard to say: This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. (Mt. 17: 5). Those same words of the Father can now apply to us in this moment of Eucharistic adoration: This is my Beloved Son. The Beloved Son of the Father is really present with us in the Holy Eucharist. “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Yes, the Beloved Son of the Father is really, truly and substantially here with us in this Holy Sacrament: Jesus’ Real Presence.

This is the Mystery of the Eucharist. This is the Mystery of Faith. This is the Beloved Son of the Father.

At the Transfiguration, Saint Peter spoke to the Lord in words that are just as appropriate for us to say now in this moment of Adoration: “Lord, it is good that we are here” (Mt. 17: 4). It is good that we are here with you in your presence. Saint Peter wanted to build three tents – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah to dwell in – but now let us instead prepare a dwelling place for the Lord in our hearts once again. Let us welcome Him into our hearts. Behold, He stands at the door and knocks, and wishes to enter. If anyone hears his voice and opens the door, then He will enter in and dine with him (Rev. 3: 20).

At the Transfiguration, the voice of the Father was heard to say: “This is my Beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” With joy we do listen to what Jesus tells us, and we believe. In this Gospel reading He told us: “I am the Living Bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6: 51). We listen to Jesus as the Father commanded, and we believe. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. Jesus gives his own flesh – his body and blood – for the life of the world, for your eternal life. This is the Eucharistic Faith of the Church.

In our Synod listening sessions this year we learned that in the Diocese of Charlotte, the Eucharistic Faith of our parishioners is strong and vibrant. In the Synod, people said that the most significant signs of the Lord’s presence in their lives are Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacraments and especially the Holy Eucharist and Confession, and prayer. They also acknowledged that their faith is nourished by their family life, by participation in parish life, by the good example of our priests and deacons, by Scripture study, and by works of mercy and service to others. It is evident that across the diocese faith is strong, and that we desire to be with the Lord and to be close to him.

And so we are with Him now. May these moments of Adoration nourish our souls and bring us Christ’s peace. We profess our Eucharistic Faith in the Lord’s Real Presence that this is the Beloved Son with whom the Father is well pleased.

 See highlights from the Holy Hour

See highlights from the Eucharistic Procession

The anniversary Mass, held outdoors to accommodate the large crowd, was followed by a cookout on the parish grounds. The diocesan pilgrim statue of Mary, Mother of God was also present for the parish’s historic celebration.

“It was a great parish-building event,” said Father Frank Seabo, pastor. Holy Infant Church (pictured below) was dedicated on June 26, 1962, by Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters.

It is probably the most unusual looking church in the diocese. Its architect was Richard Burke Schnedl of Reidsville, a North Carolina native who was in the first graduating class at N.C. State University’s School (now College) of Design.

Schnedl was a devotee of Frank Lloyd Wright, and his design for the church featured bold white stucco walls accented by piercing angular windows and high skylights, an outward-angled front door and a curved roof line. Inside, the white walls and geometric accents highlight the crucifix mounted behind the altar.

— Photos provided

Read more about the history of Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, its unique church architecture, and its growth over the years in Reidsville

Father Jason Barone is congratulated by parishioners after being formally installed July 5 as pastor of St. Jude Church in Sapphire. St. Jude, a former mission of Sacred Heart Church in Brevard, was officially elevated to the status of a parish at the same time. (Photos by Liz Chandler and Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald)SAPPHIRE — July 5 was an historic occasion for Catholics in Sapphire and for the Diocese of Charlotte, as St. Jude Mission was elevated to a parish and its administrator, Father Jason Barone, was installed as its first pastor.

The picturesque mountain church was filled with parishioners during a special Mass that featured both the official declaration of the new parish and the installation of its pastor.

Presiding over the Mass with Father Barone was Monsignor Patrick Winslow, representing Bishop Peter Jugis.

The occasion marked the first time in 15 years since the diocese created a parish out of a mission. The last time was in 2007, when four missions were elevated to parishes by Bishop Jugis: St. Joseph in Kannapolis, Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe, and Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph Vietnamese in Charlotte.

The new parish was formerly a mission of Sacred Heart Parish in nearby Brevard.

During the special Mass, Father Barone made a public profession of faith and took an oath of fidelity to the Church at the altar, in the presence of Monsignor Winslow.

In his homily, Monsignor Winslow reflected upon the momentous occasion, noting that it was 50 years ago – June 27, 1972 – when St. Jude Church was dedicated by Bishop Michael Begley. Only a few months earlier, Begley had been ordained and installed as the first shepherd of the new Charlotte diocese.

Monsignor Winslow also praised Father Barone’s “tenacity and conviction” in petitioning the bishop to elevate St. Jude to a parish. He recalled getting to know

Father Barone when still a seminarian, on a summer assignment to St. John the Baptist Parish in Tryon where then-Father Winslow was pastor. He has watched

Father Barone’s faith deepen over the years, he said, and he was grateful to have the opportunity to install him as pastor.

“With great sincerity and affection, I couldn’t be prouder,” Monsignor Winslow said. “I wish you, Father Barone, godspeed, and to all of you, good luck!”

Father Barone thanked Bishop Jugis and everyone who made the day’s celebration possible.

“I’m deeply honored. Thank you, and God bless you all.”

Catholics in the area have nurtured St. Jude over the years, starting in the late 1960s. The church owes its beginnings to Mrs. Gene Howerdd, who became ill and prayed to St. Jude that if she could regain her health, she would do all in her power to raise the funds for a chapel in Sapphire Valley, and if she could, have it named in his honor. Father Charles Mulholland, then the pastor in Brevard, petitioned the Bishop of Raleigh for permission to establish a new mission, to call it St.

Jude and to begin plans for building a new church. Permission was given: Mrs. Howerdd had fulfilled part of her promise and set out to complete her pledge.

The initial gift came from the Howerdds: several acres along Highway 64 on which the church could be built. The second gift came from Father Mulholland. Through his brother, a professor at Catholic University, he arranged for architectural students to take on designing the chapel as a class project. Scale models of the five best designs were sent to Sapphire Valley so parishioners could choose their new church. One – an octagonal chapel of fieldstone – was chosen as the perfect complement to the mountain setting.

Fifty years later, St. Jude remains a close-knit and welcoming community.

“It’s a special place, it’s heaven,” said Judy Manasseri, who moved from upstate New York two decades ago to make her home in Sapphire Valley amid the Smoky Mountains.

Fellow parishioner Julie Flick agreed. “It’s just such a loving community.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Editor

A History of St. Jude Church

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been offered in the Sapphire Valley area since the summer of 1964. In the beginning, Mass was celebrated in the meeting room of the Sapphire Valley Inn through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Howerdd and later through the new owners, the Sapphire Valley Development Corp. As a mission of Sacred Heart in Brevard, the people of Glenville, Cashiers, Sapphire and Lake Toxaway were responsible for the growth of the Catholic faith in this area.

The congregation, many of them seasonal residents, eventually outgrew these facilities – but was it now large enough to undertake the expense of building a new church?

At about this time, Mrs. Gene Howerdd became seriously ill. Praying to St. Jude for her recovery, she promised that when she regained her health, she would do all in her power to raise the funds for a chapel in Sapphire Valley, and if she could, would have it named in his honor. Father Charles Mulholland, then the pastor in nearby Brevard, petitioned the Bishop of Raleigh for permission to establish a new mission, to call it St. Jude and to begin plans for building a new church.

Permission was given. Mrs. Howerdd had fulfilled part of her promise and set out to complete her pledge.

The initial gift came from the Howerdds: several acres along Highway 64 on which the church could be built. The second gift came from Father Mulholland. Through his brother, a professor at Catholic University, he arranged for architectural students at that institution to take on design of the chapel as a class project. Scale models of the five best designs were sent to Sapphire Valley so parishioners could choose their new church. One, an octagonal chapel of fieldstone, appeared a perfect compliment to the mountain setting.

In the summer of 1969, the difficult part of raising money to cover the cost of the chapel began. Through donations and pledges from parishioners, many fundraising projects and a $15,000 grant from the Catholic Extension Society in Chicago, sufficient funds were raised to break ground in August 1971. Milton Pate, an Atlanta architect, was called upon to implement the students’ design.

On June 27, 1972, Bishop Michael Begley celebrated the first Mass at St Jude. Statues of the Virgin Mary (donated by Mrs. Richard Beymer) and St. Jude (donated by friends in memory of the Howerdds’ daughter) were carved of linden wood. The carved wooden doors originally fashioned in antiquity came from a monastery in Spain. The massive altar stone was cut by slaves and originally destined to become part of a railroad trestle over the Chatooga River until the Civil War interrupted those plans. When Father Paul Byron was at St. Jude, he made a gift of a ship’s bell to the church to welcome the faithful to Mass. In 1979, Fran Trainor completed the sculpture of the “Young Madonna – Full of Grace” and the clay stations of the cross. A small efficiency apartment, to be used by visiting priests, was added in 1990, courtesy of the Howerdd family.

The congregation continued to grow and recognized the need for classrooms, a parish hall and office space. So in 1999, plans began for an addition. Again, through generous donations from members of the congregation, funds were raised and plans were approved. The hall was completed in December 2001. On Aug. 18, 2002,

Bishop William Curlin was present for the dedication and blessing of the completed parish hall.

The St Jude Catholic community has grown – from a handful of parishioners in a meeting room in Sapphire Valley Inn to more than 400 parishioners attending Mass during the summer months – to be an integral part of the Glenville, Cashiers, Sapphire and Lake Toxaway communities.

— St. Jude Parish