More than 8,244 students return to schools from Asheville to Charlotte to Greensboro starting this week, with most of the diocese’s 20 schools at or near capacity following years of steady growth.

Bishop Michael Martin urged them and their parents via a series of video messages to put Jesus at center of their lives and to share Him with others in their classrooms and communities. His uplifting message “let them hear your voice” set the tone for a new academic year filled with faith, fellowship and a love of learning.

Read about some improvements and upgrades at the Catholic schools. 

— Photos by Troy C. Hull, Brian Segovia, Lisa M. Geraci, Christina Knauss, Kevin Eagan and provided 

Holy Trinity Catholic Academy

Holy Trinity Catholic Academy’s eighth graders kicked off their school year this morning with a warm welcome from Principal Kevin Parks. The newly named academy will welcome seventh-graders on Tuesday, followed by sixth-graders on Wednesday.

The diocese’s only standalone middle school has a new name to reflect its new approach. Holy Trinity Catholic Academy in Charlotte has begun its transition toward blending the advantages of single-sex and co-ed classes for a more tailored educational experience. 

Our Lady of the Assumption School

St. Matthew School

 All smiles as students return to St. Matthew School in Charlotte for the new school year. 

St. Michael School

 The sound of “Happy first Day!” greeted parents and students alike as St. Michael School teachers and staff welcomed everyone back for the 2026-27 school year in Gastonia.

Charlotte Catholic High School

Charlotte Catholic High School is completing the first phase of an $8.5 million program of improvements that include upgrading the football field and sideline to premium artificial turf and renovating its media center into a multi-faceted student life center. Charlotte Catholic has also been raising money to help transform a recently acquired building next to the campus into a Computer, Technology and Engineering Innovation Center, which will house career and technical education. Telford said work on that project is expected to begin this fall. 

Across the diocese 

Before speaking with students, Bryan reflected on the role his Catholic faith has played in his journey from athletics to co-founder of the Lay Mission Institute, an apostolate devoted to inspiring lay Catholics. A former UC Berkeley gymnast, Bryan found success on NBC’s reality show where competitors tackle complex obstacle courses.

He became known as “The Papal Ninja” due to his yellow and white wardrobe emblazoned with the papal crest and his desire to use his platform to convey a deeper message. He encouraged students to recognize that their talents can serve a purpose beyond personal achievement.

“The gift of faith isn’t just about me and Jesus,” Bryan said. “It’s about walking and doing with Him, and you can’t ask for anything better than that.”

During a school-wide question-and-answer session, students eagerly quizzed Bryan about everything from how long he has been an athlete to the challenges he has faced in competition. The conversation also included lighter moments, including a student challenging Bryan to a push-up contest.

Bryan welcomed the questions and interacted with the students enthusiastically, giving them an opportunity to learn about the discipline required to become an elite athlete. He taught that success is not simply about physical strength. It also requires commitment, patience and the willingness to keep moving forward when obstacles arise, he said.

The event offered St. Ann students a glimpse into the world of American Ninja Warrior while imparting a deeper lesson about faith and using one’s gifts with purpose.

—Troy C. Hull

Bishop Michael Martin joined school officials, diocesan staff, students, parents and benefactors for the blessings and ceremony, which included prayer, Scripture readings and reflections.

Michael Seeley, the new president of Charlotte Catholic, remarked on what the improvements mean for the school’s tight-knit community.

“Today is about much more than a remodeled building and new turf,” Seeley said. “Today is about the people of our Charlotte Catholic community. It’s about the people who had a vision for what Charlotte Catholic could and can become…the people who believed in that vision enough to invest in it, and about the young people who will make memories here for years to come.”

Seeley started his position while the premium turf was being placed and work on the student life center, located in the former library space, was going on.

“When I arrived at Charlotte Catholic this summer, one of the things that struck me immediately was the strength of this community,” Seeley said. “There is a deep affection and passion for this school, a pride in its history, a commitment to its Catholic identity and a genuine belief that what happens here matters.”

He noted that the field, which will serve sports ranging from football to lacrosse and soccer, offers something for every student: “A freshman who’s not sure she belongs finds a team. A kid who has never been pushed that hard finds out what he is capable of…a group of teenagers learns that they are responsible to somebody other than themselves.”

The Student Life Center, which offers expansive space for collaboration as well as quiet spots for individual study, will be “a place for students to gather…to connect …to serve … to build community.”

Bishop Martin talked about the Aug. 21 football game he attended and the fan excitement he saw. He noted that he met a group of students who were enjoying the Friday night game and then had to get up the next morning to take SATs in preparation for college. That kind of commitment, he said, illustrates the life Catholic students should try to live.

“Don’t’ be afraid of hard things and don’t think are the last hard things you’re going to have to do,” he said. “Throughout our lives, Jesus invites us to the cross … Learn that and embrace it the way Jesus did. Say ‘I’m willing to do what’s hard for the sake of a greater glory.’”

After the ribbon-cuttings, a reception was held in the Student Life Center and guests were invited to the new student commons area, which gives students a place to rest and gather during breaks between classes.

Senior Liana Grasso, who is on the dance team and serves as student body vice president, said the improvements have brought a real sense of excitement to the school.

“I honestly can say this is bringing us in the right direction – there’s a fun-filled school spirit vibe,” she said. “You could really tell the excitement the students had when they were around the new football field on Friday night.”

The improvements are being funded by “Grounded in Tradition: Focused on the Future,” an $8.5 million capital campaign launched in February for the multi-phased project. Its next phases will include transforming a small office building adjacent to the campus into the Computer, Technology and Engineering Innovation Center, which will support classes in engineering, robotics and other technologies.

The final phase of the project is a new field house with flexible space for sports performance, recovery and athletics training as well as other classes and activities.

The total cost of the improvements is expected to be $10.5 million, including a $2 million contribution from the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Capital Fee. Choate Construction is the contractor of the project and Little and Associates are the architects.

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull

Eaton brings nearly three decades of experience in Catholic education, serving as a teacher, principal and diocesan leader. She holds a master’s degree in School Leadership from St. Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

“I am excited and blessed to serve as the next principal of St. Matthew Catholic School,” Eaton said. “Throughout my years in Catholic education, I have been grateful for the opportunity to help students grow academically and in their faith. I look forward to partnering with the faculty, staff and families of St. Matthew as we continue the tradition of educating saints and scholars.”

Eaton previously served as Director of Educational Services for the Diocese of Des Moines, supporting schools in curriculum development, professional learning and student services.

From 2011-2014, she was principal of St. Patrick Catholic School in Perry, Iowa. She led the led the school as it grew from 85 to 125 students, strengthened academic programs and built community partnerships. In 2014, she served as the first principal of St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School in Ankeny, Iowa, guiding the school through its early development and growth until 2019.

She then returned to her roots, working with students scoring below grade-level in math and reading and the teachers who support them as an interventionist/student support teacher at St. Anthony Catholic School in Des Moines. There, she was also a member of the St. Anthony Leadership Team.

“It was clear from our first conversations that Mrs. Eaton has a real love for her faith and a genuine joy in working with children,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, the diocesan superintendent of schools, “and she will be a great fit for our school system with her past experiences and skillset.”

The search for a new principal at St. Matthew began Jan. 1, when Kevin O’Herron, who served as principal for 27 years of the school’s 33-year history became assistant superintendent of schools for the diocese. Suzanne Beasley, who stepped in as interim principal, will continue her leadership as assistant principal.

“I am grateful to Mrs. Beasley for her steady leadership as interim principal over these many months, and to the search committee for the time, prayer, and discernment they gave to helping us land the next principal of St. Matthew,” Monroe said. “I look forward to working closely with Mrs. Eaton as we build on the great legacy and traditions of St. Matthew and keep pursuing excellence as we look to the future.”

— Trish Stukbauer 

Students honored their heritage by wearing traditional attire at Mass Thursday, showing the richness of a community united in faith. The celebration continued with a food tasting featuring flavors from around the world.

The week was a joyful reminder that while we come from many places, we are one in Christ.

— Troy C. Hull

The Sophia Institute for Teachers was founded in 2013 to renew and rebuild Catholic culture through service to Catholic education.

The Institute’s Master Teacher Council recognizes teachers and administrators nationwide who demonstrate exceptional instructional expertise, strong student outcomes and a proven ability to mentor and support fellow educators.

Members serve as instructional leaders, content experts and partners to teachers seeking to grow in pedagogical skill.

Charlie McKinney, president of the Sophia Institute, explained, “Selection to the Sophia Master Teacher Council reflects both professional excellence and a deep commitment to strengthening Catholic education through mentorship, collaboration and faithful witness.”

At a time when Catholic educators face increasing academic expectations, cultural pressures and the responsibility of forming students in faith and reason, the Sophia Master Teacher Council provides concrete, classroom-tested support by offering mentorship, practical resources and real-time guidance that strengthens and develops teachers and the students they serve.
— Catholic News Herald

The annual Book Battle sees teams of students from Catholic schools face off against each other at MACS Fine Arts Center at Charlotte Catholic High School. It’s similar to Quiz Bowl, a national competition that tests knowledge of general academic subjects. The difference is these questions are focused on literature – a book lover’s dream.

Dru Edwards, a fourth-grader at Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, said the contest helped him get out of his reading comfort zone.

“I like reading, and through this I read a lot of books I would not normally have been interested in, but discovered were really good,” Edwards said.

The St. Jerome Book Battle was created by the diocesan Catholic Schools Office to encourage students to read books “that promote the true, the good and the beautiful and foster growth in virtue.”

Each school year, lists of 15 books are provided for fourth- and fifth-grade students and sixth- through eighth-graders. Guided by team coaches, the students spend months reading the books and participating in activities to increase their understanding of the works.

This year’s lists featured everything from historical and adventure novels to fantasy and mystery offerings, and two books focused on the lives of famous Catholic saints.

All of the books explore important themes such as faith, family, resilience, community, friendship and loyalty.

For Monday’s Book Battle, each school sent one team of 12 students who were asked questions about their books and awarded points for their answers. Teams compete against each other in preliminary rounds. The two highest scoring teams from the preliminary rounds compete head-to-head in a championship round.

Defending fourth and fifth grade champion St. Ann School edged out St Mark in a sudden death match to reach the championship round. St. Ann then won first place in today’s competition, with Our Lady of the Assumption School as the runner-up. Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte won the middle school competition held on March 9, and the runner-up was St. Mark School in Huntersville.

During a break between rounds, the team from Sacred Heart enjoyed snacks and talked with coach Leigh Yelton about how things were going. A book lover herself, Yelton teaches third grade but volunteered to handle the fourth- and fifth-grade team because it gives her a chance to interact with many of her former students.

“I’ve got a real love for literature and the language arts, so this is a wonderful thing to do,” Yelton said. “It honestly takes a lot of time and effort because our students start by reading the books the previous summer, and then our team meets frequently to prepare for the competition.”
Peyton Bloxsom, 11, a fourth-grader at Sacred Heart, said she enjoys the Book Battle because it not only gives her a chance to read but also to make some new friends.

— Christina Lee Knauss

Interested in reading the books featured in the St. Jerome Book Battle? Here are the books students read for this year’s event:

4th-5th grade reading list:

“A Little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

“All-of-a-Kind Family” by Sydney Taylor

“The Big Wave” by Pearl S. Buck

“Breaking Stalin’s Nose” by Eugene Yelchin

“The Buried Bones Mystery” by Sharon M. Draper

“The Courage of Sarah Noble” by Alice Dalgliesh

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” by Roald Dahl

“Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingalls Wilder

“The Island of Two Trees” by Brian Kennelly

“The Magician’s Nephew” by C.S. Lewis

“Princess Academy” by Shannon Hale

“Saint Clare of Assisi – Runaway Rich Girl” by Kim Hee-Ju

“Snow Treasure” by Marie McSwigan

“Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin

“The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown

Middle School:

“100 Cupboards” by N.D. Wilson

“Fever 1793” by Laure Halse Anderson

“Freckles” by Gene Stratton-Porter

“Ghost: Running for His Life, or From It?” By Jason Reynolds

“The Golden Thread: A Novel about St. Ignatius Loyola” by Louis De Wohl

“Guardian Angel House” by Kathy Clark

“I, Juan de Pareja” by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino

“Kon-Tiki” by Thor Heyerdahl

“On the Far Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George

“Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper

“Saving Mount Rushmore” by Andrea Jo Rodgers

“Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster” by Jonathan Auxier

“Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss

“Thirst” by Varsha Bajaj

“The Wednesday Wars” by Gary D. Schmidt

When school Athletic Director Greg Davidowitz learned Father Angermeyer had played goalie up through high school, he asked the priest to be the assistant coach. 

“I never formally coached soccer but did coach basketball at the seminary,” Father Angermeyer said. “It was a great blessing being with them, seeing them grow as human beings, and watching them be able to complement each other and grow in holiness and virtue. They progressed as soccer players and learned to play as a team.”

The girls liked having a priest coach them, he said.

“It was cool for them to experience a priest in that way, because everyone thinks about us like we are in some kind of box,” Father Angermeyer said. “Like we are exactly a certain way and don’t have interests and hobbies, but that is entirely not true.” 

They called him Father, not coach, and even in 90-degree weather, he wore his cassock through long practices and two-hour games that all began the same.

“We always start in prayer, which is one of our big foundations,” he said. 

All the priests at St. Mark Church make it a point to attend at least one game for every team. 

“We try to have a presence in each domain. We keep telling them that the game is where we show that we are virtuous,” he said. “It helps the kids, they love when the priests come.

But I am very proud of them and the whole experience was a great joy.” 

— Lisa M. Geraci

He won’t be far as he transitions into his new role as executive director of Catholic Identity, Operations and Capital Improvements for the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic Schools office.

His fan club of 435 students and 60 staff gobbled down donuts decorated in Crusader colors –  white frosting and blue sprinkles –  while students repeating the pun, “'Donut' know what we’re going to do without you.”

Greg Stump, art teacher and stained-glass artist, designed a memento for Semmler, a commemorative plaque made from Polish blue glass. 

“This is the same glass used to make the St. John Paul II glass window in the chapel, something Dr. Semmler has admired for years,” Stump said. 

Embedded in the glass is the white CTK crest with its mantra, “Crede + Cogita + Servi,” Latin for “Believe, Think, Serve.” 

Although he is leaving the school, Semmler ended the event by reassuring all, “once a Crusader, always a Crusader.”

— Lisa M. Geraci

GREENSBORO — Grandparents filled St. Pius X Church for a morning of laughter, tickles, hugs, and fun during this year's Grandparents’ Day celebration.

With grandchildren by their sides, they prayed a living rosary.

Fifty seventh and eighth grade St. Pius X students represented each bead and led the prayers, offering their individual prayer intentions—most using the occasion to pray for their grandparents present in the church.

Afterward, grandparents followed students down hallways that were covered with appreciation notes and drawings addressed to them.

Grandparents then visited classrooms and watched their little ones sing and dance or sat together while they colored or played games.

— Lisa M. Geraci

“I think Antonette is doing a wonderful job, and I am so proud of her,” Cowan said. “I have two good daughters. Each one of them has such beautiful qualities. The Lord truly blessed me.”

During her stay, Cowan was also able to spend time with her grandchildren – Aguilera's son, John, an 8th grader, and her other grandson.

Cowan loves the feeling she gets every time she steps on the campus of St. Pius X, explaining how it matches the ideals of their hometown of Reggio Calabria, Italy.

“We came from a traditional Italian family, and this school matches so well with Antonette. When she was little, she learned tradition and her Catholic faith. She went to school with the nuns, and this place brings it all together,” Cowan said.

A mother knows best, and Aguilera agrees the Catholic school she attended as a youth in Los Angeles reminds her a lot of St. Pius X.

Yet, instead of mirroring her childhood memories at St. Pius the X, she takes direction from a different inspiration – the late Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, former pastor of the parish. 

“We make sure Monsignor’s vision for this school is always alive and well,” Aguilera said. “A beautiful campus, a spiritual place—that is what I am trying to create. If I can accomplish that, I feel like I am doing a good thing.”

— Lisa M. Geraci

It was an appropriate sound because the Mass, celebrated by Bishop Michael Martin, was dedicated to homeschooling families, and many of the moms and dads in attendance had multiple babies and small children in tow.

It’s an annual tradition to start the school year that enables homeschool families to get together for worship and fellowship.

A choir made up of homeschool students sang along with the hymns for the day which included “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” “Now Thank We All Our God,” “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” and “For the Beauty of the Earth.”

“I’m so grateful for this chance for homeschooling families to come together at the beginning of the school year for the Eucharist,” Bishop Martin told congregants at the beginning of Mass.

Bishop Martin started his homily by asking all the children to raise their hands and then asked if any of them had on a watch. One boy, Kyle Mancuso, 8, raised his hand.

“What time is it Kyle?” the bishop asked. “12:25,” the boy responded.

Bishop Martin used the telling of time as a launching pad to tell the kids about the importance of time in their daily lives: a time to eat, a time to study, a time go to Mass, a time to pray, etc. He reminded them that there are always going to be specific times when they need to do things even if they might not want to, such as do their chores or go to bed. He reminded them that their parents also have to do things at specific times each day, such as wake up and go to work.

All of those things, he said, mean nothing without relying on Christ, whose love transcends time.

“We’re never ever too late to listen to our parents, and we’re never ever too late to listen to Jesus,” Bishop Martin told the children. “Even if we first say ‘no,’ we can still then say ‘yes’ to whatever Jesus wants us to do.”

He told parents that it might be hard for them to keep to a strict schedule all the time, especially if they have infants or toddlers to manage. Despite the stress, he said, never give up on God.

“You’re on some other schedule that is not of your choosing  – simply understand that you can’t schedule a real life,” he said. “Jesus is saying to you to relax. He’s with you all the time. You’re trying to juggle finding children and getting meals together and learning what you need to learn in order to teach your children. Even when you feel like you’re not getting it all done, it’s okay. Turn to Him.”

After Mass, Kyle’s mom Elyse Mancuso stopped on the Cathedral steps with her other four children: Kira, 12; Joshua, 11; Ryan, 6; and Digny, 4. The Mancuso family, who attend St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, has been homeschooling their children for seven years.

“We wanted to homeschool so we could focus on traditional academics, rigorous academics,” she said. “It gives us a chance to do things like read the classics together as a family. I loved the chance to attend this Mass, especially listening to the choir.”

Kelly Hudspeth drove from Winston-Salem with three of her five children to attend the Mass: Cosette, 12; Arthur, 10; and Torin, 7. The other two – Oliver, 5, and Dorothy, 20 months, were home with her husband Caleb. The family attends Holy Family Church in Clemmons and has been homeschooling for 10 years.

“We homeschool because we want to incorporate our faith in everything our children learn, and also as a way to build up our personal relationships as a family,” Hudspeth said.

The entire family called the homeschool Mass “beautiful” and Cosette offered a positive review: “I especially liked the bishop’s homily!”

— Christina Lee Knauss. 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

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

“I love that it’s like Chuck E. Cheese,” said Principal Margaret Beale. “You earn tickets and then cash them in to do more fun things.”

Elementary and middle schoolers earned one ticket each for participating in events that included everything from cornhole to badminton to sack races. They could then use those tickets to purchase snacks, trips down a water slide, or the opportunity to dunk a teacher perched above a water tank.

“I think it’s been really fun because you have to work for things,” explained Catherine, a fifth grader.

Athletics Director Matthew Tanner added, “I just like seeing everyone busy and having fun.” His inspiration for the setup stemmed from a field day he remembered as an elementary school student in Alabama.

ICS organizers set up event stations in front of and behind the school, allowing rotation between younger and older students.

“I like this a lot,” said Valentina, an eighth grader. “I go to whatever station I want without a teacher telling me what to do.”

That flexibility ultimately allowed students to map their day, make memories and maximize their fun.

— Catholic News Herald

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

The existing athletic field will be regraded, a drainage system added and then topped with synthetic turf, new lighting, team benches and markings.

The fine arts classroom upgrades include upfitting the current chorus, art and band rooms and hallways with modernized flooring, lighting and instructional equipment.
Holy Trinity and the diocese will be responsible for the remaining $572,000 of the $1,572,229 cost of the project, which is slated to be completed this summer.

“We are overwhelmed by the continued support from the Shea family and appreciate their commitment to Catholic education,” the school’s President Kevin Parks said. “As the second largest school in the diocese, we are excited for these upgrades and renovations that will help better educate our students for upcoming generations as well as today.”

The facility upgrade is one piece of a larger $11.5 million three-phase, multi-year enhancement project focused on readying the school to launch a blended learning model to better serve its growing student body of 1,038.

The new learning model is expected to be unveiled for the 2026-2027 academic year, when the school is set to be renamed “Holy Trinity Catholic Academy” to reflect its continued commitment to an inclusive, faith-based learning environment.

Phase I, completed in August 2025 for $3 million, remodeled an outdated 1950s administrative building, creating innovative spaces for science labs, modern faculty offices and conference areas and added a classroom dedicated to theology studies.

“After seeing the benefits of the administrative building this past summer, our community is very excited for these enhanced learning spaces,” Parks said.

This past April, the Bulldogs broke ground for Phase II, the $7 million Begley building renovation and expansion that is anticipated to be completed this summer.

Existing classrooms and restrooms will be remodeled, eight classrooms will be added in a new second floor above the library and hallways will all connect to an upgraded internal stairway for improved access.

Shea Homes is one of the most significant philanthropic supporters of Catholic education across the country, assisting more than 1,000 Catholic schools with grants providing for renovations, new construction and expansion projects.

Over the past 30 years, the charity has granted an estimated $12.2 million toward school projects in the diocese, assisting Holy Trinity Middle, St. Ann and Our Lady of the Assumption schools in Charlotte, Immaculata in Hendersonville, St. Michael the Archangel in Gastonia, Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro, Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem, and Sacred Heart in Salisbury.

“This extraordinary gift will allow Holy Trinity to address needs that impact students’ educations,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “We are so grateful to John Shea Jr. and his family for the transformational partnership we have with Shea Homes.”

Though the grant was a major stepping stone, a future Phase IV will require additional funding. It includes new landscaped walking paths, a cafeteria and outdoor dining upgrade, and upgraded stage fixtures for the school’s performing arts program. Along with structural changes, curriculum and leadership goals have shifted, adding three theology teachers and a dean of student life.

This past year, the school also moved to a president-principal leadership model that saw former principal Parks taking on the role of president.

The new curriculum will use a co-divisional approach, with single-sex (all-girl or all-boy) core classes and co-ed electives. While currently being used for theology and social studies classes, this instructional method will be phased in over the next three years, being fully implemented in the 2026-2027 academic year for the sixth grade, the seventh grade the following year, and the eighth-grade level during the 2028-2029 year.

— Lisa M. Geraci

AURORA, Colorado — The prayers of people from Charlotte and around the world played a part in the recovery of a 2-year-old girl – the niece of Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools – after two bites from a rattlesnake nearly took her life.

“Thanks be to God, she is now experiencing what can only be described as a miraculous recovery,” Monroe said. “Doctors were flabbergasted.”

It was a blessed end to a terrifying seven days. 

The last week of May should have been joyful. Relatives were beginning to gather in Colorado for a family wedding, and Quinn Robertson eagerly anticipated her role as a flower girl. But tragedy struck on Monday when she stepped on the venomous snake outside her family’s Airbnb. 

Her mom, Colleen Robertson, who was 8 months pregnant, immediately started CPR until medical personnel arrived 20 minutes later, according to CBS News. Quinn was then swiftly airlifted to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, where she received almost 40 vials of anti-venom – – generally far more than the average amount  – as well as a blood transfusion. A team of 30 medical providers gave her round-the-clock care as her body processed an allergic reaction to the venom.

Monroe said it was scary in the beginning with Quinn “unable to breath on her own, falling in and out of consciousness.” 

But by the weekend, Quinn began sitting up and using her hands. On May 30, the day of the wedding, the bride and groom came to the hospital and re-enacted the walk down the aisle so Quinn could take part. It was one of many moments of grace, Monroe said.

And on June 1, exactly one week after the snakebite, Quinn went home to Kansas.

Quinn’s mother is so appreciative of the care she received from Children’s Hospital Colorado, which is one of the nation’s leaders in treating snake bite victims, and the incredible team of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurses, doctors and toxicologists who treated her.

Monroe gives credit not only to the excellent medical care she received but to the prayers of people near and far. 

“That meant so much to us,” he said. “People stopped what they were doing to pray for this little girl. That grace is truly what made the difference in helping her not have complications that would lead to terrible outcomes.”

Monroe said he is grateful for the support he received from the diocesan office and from all those who not only prayed for Quinn themselves but asked others to pray as well. Church groups, an influencer on Instagram, military prayer groups and many people with no relationship to the family spread Quinn’s story. . From there, social media pages around the world spread the story and prayers poured in.

The niece he describes as a “super vivacious, super energetic” girl who “loves animals, people and running around outside” faces a long recovery. 

Quinn’s mother told CBS News, “There’s a lot of tissue damage from the bite since it was so severe and deep.. There’s still a lot of unknowns right now as far as when she’ll be able to dance and jump again.”

What does the school superintendent want others to learn from his family’s experience?

“First, you can’t underestimate the power of prayer,” Monroe said. “Second, God’s providence can be trusted through everything. Although this was a tragedy, good has come out of it. Visiting doctors have been coming to the hospital to study her case, and we have been told that a new protocol for treating venomous snakebites in children is being developed, thanks to Quinn. This will help other kids in the future.”

“Third, it emphasizes the importance of family and the Christian community. Her story can uplift other people in terrible times. We don’t believe she would be where she is without the prayer warriors who said rosaries and prayed Masses.”

— Jane Pope. Photos provided

The grant comes in response to a Jan. 7 incident in downtown Belmont, where the absence of nearby Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) contributed to the emergency in which Nancy Litwak, 39, lost her life. Her death highlighted a critical gap in the community’s emergency response resources, inspired changes to the downtown policy, and motivated Belmont Abbey College to pursue this grant to help prevent future tragedies.

In collaboration with the City of Belmont, the grant will fund a public AED initiative. The project will:

> Install nine AEDs: Six in downtown Belmont locations and three on the college campus, ensuring any point in the downtown corridor is within a two-minute walk to an AED, well within the critical four-minute window for defibrillation.

> Train faculty and the community: Four nursing faculty will become certified American Heart Association CPR instructors. Recurring CPR and AED training will be offered to local employees, organizational staff and community members.

> Establish sustainable preparedness: The initiative will create a faculty-led model for ongoing community cardiac emergency preparedness and education.
“The safety and well-being of our community is always a top priority,” said Belmont Mayor Joe Jordan.

“This collaboration with Belmont Abbey College and the support of the CaroMont Health Foundation will ensure that lifesaving resources, like AEDs and CPR training, are accessible to everyone in our town. ”

As Dr. Lee-Ann Kenny, chair and nursing program director at Belmont Abbey College, said, “This grant from the CaroMont Health Foundation equips both our students and our community to respond effectively in life-saving situations.”

— Belmont Abbey College

When students returned to school in August, they walked into a school completely transformed in 11 weeks by workers from Charlotte-based Choate Construction.

The $5.1 million renovation that touched every part of the 70-year-old school, which opened in 1955 and hadn’t received such a significant update since then.

The work included new paint in hallways and classrooms, a new HVAC system, improvements to the library and playgrounds, new cabinets, flooring, lights, acoustic ceiling tiles, tutoring classrooms and more.

This was made possible by a $3.5 million grant from Shea Homes, part of the Shea Family of Companies, one of the most significant supporters of Catholic education nationwide since the 1980s. Funds for the renovation also included $600,000 from the Mecklenburg Area Catholic schools systems, $700,000 raised by the school and $300,000 by the parish.

Principal Celene Little fought back tears of joy as she opened the ceremony attended by Bishop Michael Martin, diocese schools superintendent Dr. Gregory Monroe, other diocesan staff and donors from the parish and school community.

“It’s unbelievable what has taken place in this school,” Little said. “We have a safer, brighter, more inspiring place for our children to learn.”

Bishop Michael Martin offered a prayer.

“As blessed as we are this day to realize the great ways in which so many people have worked together, have brought their gifts to bear so this school can be a better place for learning … we’re even more grateful for what transpires here every day,” he prayed to God. “…Our teachers, our assistants and our parents all work together so we can find even more creative way for your children to grow as disciples of Your Son Jesus.”

Father Timothy Reid, St. Ann's pastor, reflected on the school’s history and how the renovation changed the building he has known since becoming he was appointed in 2007.

“For years and years and years I walked through these halls and I’ve always thought I would love to renovate this school,” he said . “…What is amazing about this project is that so many different groups came together to pull this off. The money was one hurdle, and the other was getting this done in the course of a summer. I was amazed at how this building got transformed…truly a very beautiful testament to God’s work.”

The St. Ann student choir sang a moving tune called “Graditude” by songwriter Brandon Lake.
John Shea Jr., who lives in the Charlotte area, represented his family’s foundation at the ceremony and took of a tour of school alongside Bishop Martin and others.

After the ribbon-cutting, students presented him with a special gift – a photo of all 356 students surrounded by thumb-prints gathered from every student, with a different color representing each grade.

“It’s exhilarating to see what has happened here at St. Ann’s, and amazing to see that it happened in such a short time,” Shea said.

In a 2024 interview with the Catholic News Herald, Shea said the family’s commitment to Catholic education is motivated by belief in what Catholic education can do for children and society as a whole.

“Learning Catholic values in school and, for me, at home – like loving your neighbor – is key,” he said. “We believe the more kids educated in the Catholic system, the better our future world will be.”

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull 

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel uncertain about what lies ahead. Yet, every day in our Catholic schools, we’re reminded of the uniting power of faith and hope – values that guide us, even in tough times.

You see, hope is more than just wishful thinking. It’s the belief that no matter what we face in life – good times and bad – Jesus loves us and remains with us. And when we share our hope and faith by encouraging and helping each other, we make our world a brighter, better place.

That’s what makes our Catholic schools so special. Here, students are challenged to pursue excellence, with caring, highly qualified teachers and staff who work closely with students and their parents. But it’s not just about academics. Catholic Schools are about educating the whole child – mind, body and spirit – so students can grow closer to God and each other, then go out to transform the world.

I challenge you to think about what faith and hope mean to you. Whether it’s working as a team, being kind to your classmates or simply doing your best on homework – when you act with faith and hope, you help build up our entire school community and you begin to change the world.

As we go through this week, let’s lean into hope – hope for each other, hope for the future, and hope in the One who loves us: Jesus.

Thank you for being part of what makes our Catholic schools truly special. Let’s make this week – and this Jubilee Year – a beautiful example of being united in faith and hope.

Bishop Michael T. Martin delivered this video address to students, teachers and school staff across the diocese in honor of Catholic Schools Week.

Catholic Schools Week in photos:

To begin October, the month of the Holy Rosary, students came together to pray a living rosary, deepening their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thanks to the diversity of the student body, the rosary was prayed in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tigrinya, Burmese, Hakha Chin and Arabic — a true reflection of the school’s universal Catholic faith.

— Troy C.Hull

The addition includes two classrooms, a band room, a shop and a cafeteria. Additionally, spaces in existing buildings such as the cafeteria, kitchen and shop will be transformed into classrooms.

As Principal Mark Tolcher explained, “This new extension will provide more space for teachers to help transform the lives of students and help these young people grow into the sons and daughters they were created to be.”

The addition will also feature a fitness training area, administrative offices, a larger entry point to the gym and a north lobby equipped with concession stands, ticket booths and a Crusaders Spirit Store.

The additional 17,000 square feet will allow the school to accommodate up to 650 students instead of its current capacity of 450.

“We are really excited about the beauty of the building, the size of the building, and the grandeur of the building,” Chist the King President Carl Semmler told the crowd of teachers, clergy, students and community members.

Semmler quoted Psalm 127, "But, ‘the Lord does not build the house in vain that the builders labor.’ What this building is really all about is the smaller Church…the children that form the Body of Christ. They are the future of the church. They’re the real edifice… this building is going to create the Church of the future.”

The Oct. 2 groundbreaking was also attended by Bishop Michael Martin who celebrated an All School Mass prior to the event.

Bishop Martin emphasized that point in his earlier homily, which focused on the Feast of Guardian Angels.

He asked, “Don’t you feel like I would probably have a better homily if I had a student up here assisting me?” and the congregation adamantly agreed.

Sophomore Noah was called upon but did not know the answer to Bishop Martin’s question: What the word sophomore meant. He was able to phone a friend, ironically on this Feast day a freshman named Raphael, who responded with the correct oxymoron, “wise fool.”

The bishop used the exchange to illustrate his point that God wants us to guard one another.

“God does not want us to go through this life alone; instead, he gives us people to go through this life with,” the bishop said. “God is trying to teach us, the wise fools that we are, this very simple message…that God doesn’t leave us alone.”

God gives us guardian angels who remain with us all the time, he said, as well us people who sometimes take on their qualities in our lives – spouses, children and best friends.

“Am I my brothers’ keeper?” He asked and then responded. “Yes!”

“We are going to break ground for a new building today. The school’s growing; it is really great,” the bishop remarked. But he cautioned that he “wouldn’t give you a dime for it, not a dime, if I didn’t think what we were building here was students who were more concerned with building up the good in their classmates. That’s the school I want to build.”

He instructed the students to look out for one another, and to imagine what the school would look like if everyone became a guardian.

“Imagine a CTK where everyone has someone, where everyone is reaching out amid the difference to hold someone else accountable,” the bishop noted.

“That is what Christ the King came to establish on this Earth: a place where everyone, everyone, didn’t follow Him like a mascot but rather worshiped Him as Lord and accepted the responsibility of caring for those around us with a greater love…that’s the school we want to build.”

Principal Julie Thornley of St. Mark in Huntersville, a feeder school to CTK, with 98% of their students becoming future Crusaders, called the groundbreaking a blessing.

St. Mark Dean of Students and mother of two Crusaders herself, Hillary Shores, agreed with the bishop. “There is so much goodness in this school, and such a platform for building up the faith, I am just proud of it.”

— Lisa M Geraci. Photos by Troy C. Hull 

Miller, a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, took home his first title as conference champ at the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championship in Mill Spring while maintaining his evangelistic, God-warrior attitude, wherever his sneakers carry him.

“He is one of my very active Catholic students at High Point,” Father Harrison said. “AJ’s faith while also being a D1 athlete and conference champ is an inspiration to so many.”

The track champion, who is known for praying before runs, not removing his crucifix for races, and making the sign of the cross at meets is gaining attention for his speed and perseverance.

“I just try to keep God at the focus, remember why I am doing it, and hope that I can glorify Him,” Miller said. “I want to reach out to people and inspire them to do the same.”

Miller didn’t come to High Point University for its Division I track team.

“The weather is what brought me South,” Miller laughed. “I wanted a lot less of the winter than I usually would have back in Pittsburgh.”

As a freshman, he tried out for track not expecting much, even though he has run since he was in seventh grade and at Montour High School in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, where he won the Track and Field Most Valuable Player award in 2024.

“Throughout high school I was not bad at track, but not great. During senior year I was able to really focus and get better. I was able to barely make the team here,” Miller said. “Then last year, the standard got really strict, and I had to devote a lot of time to even stay on the team. Now, this year, I’ve kept that momentum, and I’ve come to be like our top runner for the 800.”

Though his success came as a welcome surprise, his competitive attitude and dedication were always a part of him.

“I started running as a dare from a friend. To prepare for soccer, my friend went out for cross-country, and he said I should, too,” Miller said. “I didn’t want to, and he said I was scared. So, I joined.”

Miller admits to initially hating running, taking years to like it even after he joined cross country.

“Once you get to a certain point, it becomes enjoyable. It is almost like a release, kind of therapeutic,” Miller said.

The college experience has brought him closer to the finish line faster and to God, who he credits with his successes.

“Throughout most of my life I didn’t really practice my faith much. I always believed, but I wasn’t big on doing stuff with it” said Miller, who was raised Catholic. “ But, then, when I got to college,

I decided to step it up. I actually started knowing why I believe what I believe.”

Miller’s dedication to both God and track is hardcore. He lifts weights and runs eight to 15 miles every day except Sunday, which he reserves for Mass and prayer.

While he runs, he often contemplates God.

“On runs, if I am on my own, I have some philosophical thoughts to keep me busy. But on race days, the night before I always pray, an hour before I’ll pray, too, and even at the start line I’ll make the sign of the cross – it focuses me on God instead of the pain I am about to go through,” Miller said.

Sometimes he is accompanied by his running buddy, Father Harrison, and in between breaths, they talk about faith.

“Father Harrison is so relatable, and he is a runner, too. He is training for Iron Man right now, and when I go on runs with him, he is fun to talk with,” Miller said.

Miller’s coach, Mike Esposito, who has coached for more than 20 years, is as impressed with Miller’s physical progress as Father Harrison is with his spiritual journey.

Miller’s personal-best time of 1:50.6 minutes 800-meter, puts him on track to be one of the elite collegiate contenders who may qualify as one of the top 48th on the East Coast, allowing him to later compete in the NCAA East Preliminaries on a national level.

Miller’s parents often come down to the Carolinas, not wanting to miss a beat of their son’s newfound stamina and faith. Miller credits God for his ability and with each step, runs closer and closer to Him.

“I’m all about pushing my limit and finding a new one, so I’m seeing how far I can take this,” Miller said. “Whatever the plan God has, I’ll trust that.”

— Lisa M. Geraci

CHARLOTTE — Students crowded into the gym for Mass at Charlotte Catholic High School this morning to hear from Bishop Michael Martin, who urged them to focus on Jesus with enthusiasm.

But first, the teens got a wake-up call from their new bishop at the start of the Mass. When the group responded with a weak “amen” during the introductory rites, he channeled his former coaching self.

“We’re going to try again!” he exclaimed. “Let’s put some heart and desire to praise our God into it and sound like we mean it! Our God deserves our attention!”

The students immediately perked up, responding with a loud “Amen!”

In his homily, the former Catholic educator and coach focused on three characters described in the day’s Gospel from Mark, which recounts the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. (Aug. 29 is the feast day, or memorial, of his death.)

The story of John the Baptist’s beheading may not seem relevant to students today, the bishop acknowledged, but it offers important lessons for navigating life’s challenges.

The Gospel story features three characters, he explained: Herod’s cruel wife Herodias, her daughter Salome, and St. John the Baptist himself.

Herodias wanted John the Baptist to be killed for criticizing her illegitimate marriage to Herod. She symbolizes people who ruin their lives by making wrong, selfish decisions, Bishop Martin said.

“None of us ... ever starts out thinking that we’re going to do something really, really bad,” he said. “Don’t think you’re not capable of doing something really, really wrong. You are, I am. It’s all part of the broken human condition.”

The bishop then asked the students to repeat after him: “I am one poor choice away from disaster.” Then he reminded them that everyone is accountable for their actions – to one other and to God.

The teenaged Salome, the bishop continued, was about the same age as many of the students and spent her time “gliding through life dancing for everyone, without ever thinking what she’s doing.” She ended up dancing for Herod’s guests and following Herodias’s suggestion to ask Herod for John the Baptist’s head on a platter.

Anyone could easily end up in a similar situation of being dragged without thinking into bad situations by their friends or others, the bishop said. He urged them to seriously consider their decisions so they can make good choices.

The martyred John the Baptist offers a model way of life, Bishop Martin said.

“John the Baptist focused on proclaiming Jesus as Lord – he recognized Jesus even from the womb,” he said. “Focus upon Him along the course of this year…show who you are and what you’re about. Be singularly focused on Jesus and willing to take small steps each and every day to say, 'This is who I am, this is who my God is, and this is how I choose to live.'"

At the end of his visit, Bishop Martin granted Charlotte Catholic students the following day off from school – in keeping with a tradition when the bishop visits a Catholic school.

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy Hull and video by César Hurtado.

The project will include new bleachers, restrooms, and an emergency access road, creating a safe and welcoming environment for students, families and visiting teams.

The joyful celebration, which included music, snacks and pizza, coincided with Senior Night for the women’s soccer team, making it a special time to honor student-athletes and celebrate their contributions.

—  Photos provided by Nicole Seeling

Holy Trinity Middle School football player Carter Russell scored a touchdown during the team’s game against Weddington Middle. Coaches, teammates and referees worked together to make the player’s dream come true. (Photos submitted)CHARLOTTE — The Bulldogs from Holy Trinity Middle School were playing football against the Weddington Middle Wildcats Sept. 27, and things weren’t going well for the Bulldogs. As halftime approached, they hadn’t scored.

But moments before the whistle blew, the team ran one more play. The quarterback handed Carter Russell, number 58, the ball and he ran it five yards into the end zone. His team cheered, chanted his name and lifted him on their shoulders.

That wasn’t an ordinary touchdown. It was a dream come true for the Holy Trinity sixth-grader – made possible by his coaches and fellow players.

Carter, 11, is a student in Holy Trinity’s Options Program for children with special needs. He was born with a rare medical condition that impacts nearly every part of his body and causes continual health issues. He also is physically smaller than most of his peers.

Carter is also a huge football fan. He cheers for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Cincinnati Bengals.

But Carter wanted to do more than just watch football. He wanted to play.

Both his parents and doctors were hesitant. But Carter persisted.

“We spent months trying to convince him not to join the team, talked through all the dangers and risks, but he had his own opinion,” says his mother, Michelle Russell. “When he found that anybody who wanted to be on the sixth-grade team could be on it, he assumed that meant him.”

Despite his challenges, Holy Trinity’s coaches said they wanted him on the team. Carter’s fellow players supported him from the moment he put on a uniform and stepped on the practice field.

“Carter makes you realize the true meaning of why you’re out there to coach,” says Ed Doughty, Holy Trinity’s head football coach. “In his case, with the magnitude of the medical battles he faces on a regular basis, it’s just so inspiring to see his level of dedication to the sport of football. He lifts up the entire team.”

One of Carter’s biggest supporters is Assistant Coach Ryan Arends, who appreciates his determination to play.

“We do our best in practice to make sure we give him a real experience, but we also make sure other kids don’t hit him at full speed,” Arends says. “It’s incredible to see the support the other players give him. He’s got 55 brothers that protect him like you would not believe. He’s just an incredible spirit. He always listens and has a smile on his face. God was showing off when He made Carter.”

It was Arends who came up with the idea to give Carter a touchdown opportunity.

When the coaches arrived at the Weddington game, Arends told Doughty and then coordinated with the Weddington team’s coaches and referees. Carter’s teammates and the Weddington players were excited. Everyone was on board.

Right before halftime, the referees threw a flag and said there would be one more play. The teams lined up, and Carter was handed the ball. He cradled the ball to his chest like a pro, ran it into the end zone and did a quick victory dance. The players chanted his name and lifted him on their shoulders. Weddington ultimately won the game, 32-0, since Carter’s touchdown wasn’t scored, but the final result didn’t matter. It was Carter’s play that everyone remembers.

“It was perfect the way it unfolded,” Arends says.

Michelle Russell happened to be the only person from her family in the stands because her husband, Michael, was with the couple’s two daughters, who also had games that day. She was overwhelmed by the reaction.

“Other parents who have known Carter since he was little were cheering for him,” she says. “One of the moms was sprinting down the field to get pictures and videos, sprinting full force to not miss the moment. I called my husband, and he was in tears when he heard what happened.”

She can’t thank the Holy Trinity coaches enough for what they’ve given her son.

“This whole season they’ve gone above and beyond to make the team such a supportive, inclusive environment, and then they go out of their way to coordinate a moment like the touchdown,” she says. “It’s so special that they gave him an experience like that. A lot of people don’t realize how much that lifts someone up, to give them a memory like that.”

After the hugs and the cheers, Carter described the experience with simply, “It was all I ever wanted.”

— Christina Lee Knauss

St. Matthew School’s new mural design incorporates elements of its vision and mission statements and depicts worship, service and academics. St. Matthew School replaced all of its chairs over the summer, worked with artist Dean Kiradjieff to refresh its walls, and updated its library to accommodate new technology.

Artist Dean Kiradjieff, a parishioner at St. Matthew Church, put in 65 hours of work over the summer to create the mural that greeted students when they returned to class in August.

The mural is part of other recent updates to the school. Thanks to funds raised by the PTO and support from St. Matthew Parish, the school library received a complete overhaul including removal of the circulation desk, all new furniture, technology updates and a fresh coat of paint.

New chairs were purchased for every classroom in the school, offering a new look as well as improved seating for students. The chairs were selected for their ergonomic shape and other features to “help maintain correct back posture while encouraging natural body movement – improving alertness, concentration and well being,” said Principal Kevin O’Herron.

The school PTO approached Kiradjieff to paint the mural after O’Herron asked if it would be possible to brighten up a plain white wall in the cafeteria.

Kiradjieff is no stranger to painting murals for his parish. Several years ago, he painted a Noah’s Ark theme in the church’s nursery.

The vision for this mural came from elements of the school’s mission and vision statements, which were revised by the long-range planning committee of the School Leadership Council during the 2024-2025 school year.

“The goal was to bring the mission and vision to life in a very Catholic way that kids would relate to,” Kiradjieff said. “I wanted to make it colorful and fun, and to also create something beautiful.”

The artist sat down with his wife Diane Kiradjieff, director of religious education for St. Matthew Parish, and sketched the mural, which incorporates images of the church and school with portrayals of Catholic worship, service, academics and fun daily activities familiar to every child. He showed it to PTO Presidents Kristina Villella and Cameron Jung.

“I was speechless when I saw the sketch, and I immediately thought this is going to be a teaching tool for everyone who sees it,” Villella said. “I knew the Holy Spirit was involved with this because we had just completed the (school’s) mission and vision statements.”

Kiradjieff started work on the mural June 28 and finished Aug. 14.

At the center of the mural is an image of the school topped with a large, radiant monstrance, representing Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist and His role as the center of both the Catholic faith and everything that goes on at St. Matthew.

“I wanted it to be front and center, the first thing that catches your eye,” Kiradjieff said.

Written out are the seven virtues, which students focus on throughout the school year.

To the left of the school is St. Matthew Church and to the right is a house, symbolizing the two other places that have the most influence in the lives of students.

Service plays a big role at St. Matthew School, and the mural depicts annual projects to help needy families at Christmas and feed the hungry.

The mural is encircled by images of the globe and words from Matthew 28:19-20, which begins: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” reminding students to take what they learn at St. Matthew and share it with others.

Scattered throughout the mural are 20 hidden crosses painted onto the figures, a fun element that young children especially enjoy finding.

The mural is in a section of the cafeteria where parents sit when they come to eat lunch with their kids.

“If parents eat with their children, they sit surrounded by the mural, and it’s a great reminder of why they send their kids here,” Jung said.

The PTO prepared a description of the mural that hangs next to it so people who view it in the future will understand the symbolism, Vilella said.

“It’s really such a joy to have this mural here,” she said. “It feels like something that should have always been here, because it really describes what this school is all about.”

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull

— Photos by Troy Hull