Now in its 24th year, the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive is still going strong, attracting thousands of volunteers to help to feed people locally and in impoverished nations.(Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald.)

The hunger drive was never a small feat and still lives up to the expectation Monsignor John McSweeney set during the first event: “Go big or go home.”

The drive is one of the nation’s largest community-driven Catholic hunger drives, drawing huge crowds to its single-site meal packing event, and this Aug. 15 was no exception.

With the DJ pumping, parishioners and community members packed into the St. Matthew gymnasium found tons of reasons to sing and dance while packing more than 300,000 meals of rice, dried vegetables, vitamins and soy proteins into small plastic bags.

The production was not a one-act show but was staffed by four shifts of more than 300 energized volunteers each, that worked staggered schedules from 8:30 a.m. until clean up after the 5:30 p.m. shift ended.

The vibe was as contagious. Vivacious parishioners did impromptu Irish jigs, danced in conga lines, and heard from their own singing sensation, Joey Santo Henry.

Henry, who has volunteered for the past 15 years along with his mother, volunteer coordinator, Maria Henry, said singing while volunteers performed such a loving act of service felt like heaven.

Maria Henry agreed, with tears in her eyes, “I have coordinated this for 10 years, and it is such a heartwarming experience every time. I can’t even express it in words. Within the first two weeks, meal pack sign-ups were full, with all 1,500 slots taken. This event has such a huge impact on our volunteers, they schedule their vacations around it.”

The meal packs will be shipped to Puerto Rico and other areas across the country. The more than $400,000 raised since July 11 will go further, helping grassroots partners in India, Venezuela and Haiti.

There are no middlemen, just dedicated parishioners who have spent most of their energy forming relationships to help their most valued guests - the poor.

Each country’s connection to St. Matthew tells another story about what can happen when people persevere in following Jesus’ commission to help others.

— Lisa M. Geraci, Catholic News Herald
More online
At www.stmatthewcatholic.org/worldhungerdrive: Register and learn more

Haiti

 St. Matthew Parish and Haiti have a deep-rooted relationship that began in the 1990s through the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP) in Cap-Haïtien. The primary recipient of the first meal pack in 2003, they continue to be the heart of the ministry.

Over the years, parishioners have bought real estate in Cap-Haïtien on which St. Marc School was built, founded the nonprofit Hands for Haiti and continue to make regular visits.

Haiti’s recent uptick in gang violence has made the already destitute country even more dangerous and impoverished, creating obstacles for Steve Favory, hunger drive organizer and Hands for Haiti founder.

Currently, more than 1.8 million citizens have been displaced from the capital of Port-au-Prince, fleeing to Cap-Haïtien.

Half the population – 5.8 million people – is suffering from food insecurity. Without a government structure, the hospitals, power grid and education system are in shambles.

The murder rate is up 116% with more than 1,600 reported homicides in the first quarter of 2026, according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti, while executions, sexual assaults and kidnapping are

commonplace. That has led the U.S. State Department to issue a level 4 “do not travel” advisory.

Since a container of meal packs that used to cost $4,000 to ship has increased to $50,000, the drive is monetarily supporting St. Marc School and the MOP in lieu of shipping food.

Favory refuses to let the climate dictate the appetite of his beloved 400 students, the MOP brothers, or the school. Through the turmoil, he continues to make regular trips to visit the MOP and St. Marc School’s 400 students and plans to return in September for the start of school.

“It’s still amazing how the whole country is imploding but how St. Marc School and MOP continue to build a Bridge of Hope by providing breakfast and lunch daily, medical treatment, education and faith,” Favory said.

Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the MOP, applauds Favory’s continued efforts: “Steve is amazing. He never stops. That is what sustains hope.”

St. Marc School in Haiti was founded by St. Matthew parishioners, and the drive continues to support its 400 students.

Puerto Rico

Nine months ago, Pat McBride’s team of volunteers mapped out the most impoverished Catholic churches in the country in search for a destination to send meal packs.

“When we started having problems shipping into Haiti with the violence and the political turmoil, we wanted to find other options,” McBride said.

They found Puerto Rico, where the 43% poverty rate is roughly three times higher than the overall U.S. poverty rate, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

“In Puerto Rico, with no import tariffs and no language barrier, it became a natural option,” McBride said.

“We kept running into the challenge of the last mile,” he said. “Meaning, we can send the food, but how do we get the food from the parish to the people who need it?”

Puerto Rico proved to be the most viable opportunity, as customs could be avoided, and with 80 percent of the population being Catholic, relationships with other Catholic organizations and dioceses could easily be formed.

Steve Favory and McBride visited a small town in the central mountains and met with Catholic nonprofit Caritas. The tilapia farms, agricultural farms and workforce advancement programs they set up in Haiti seemed like long-term possibilities in Puerto Rico.

“We can start something here and not only do the food donation for the immediate need but also help them transition from food dependency to food independence,” McBride said.

Puerto Rico is the ideal place to send food, with no customs and organizations like Caritas International in place.

Venezuela

The Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive has supported St. Francisco de Asís Parish in Naiguatá, Venezuela, for years but has increased efforts since the area was devastated by twin 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on June 24 that have so far claimed 6,300 lives, with tens of thousands still missing.

Over the past month, St. Matthew has sent $27,000 in emergency funds for immediate needs.

In the past, the parish used donations for a soup kitchen to feed the destitute. Now, the church, guided by Father Martín Vega, is a central outpost aiding the community.

Devastation continues to be rampant through continuous landslides and aftershocks, aggravating the already dilapidated tourist town. As families grieve losses and try to rebuild their homes, most are doing it on limited or no cash on hand, as commercial tourism, the lifeblood of the former community, is at a complete standstill.

The church is delivering water, personal hygiene and sanitation kits, wheelchairs and medical equipment and clothing street by street in the affected communities. Medical care and mental health needs are being addressed. Mass, sacraments, adoration, and, unfortunately, too many funerals are being celebrated. The soup kitchen is serving 150 breakfasts and lunches a day.

The road to recovery may be long, but with parishes like San Francisco de Asís and St. Matthew coming together, the future is brighter.

St. Matthew sent funds directly to St. Francis de Asís Parish in Naiguatá after two earthquakes killed thousands.

India

Father Binoy Davis, who served at St. Matthew since 2015 and was recently reassigned to Immaculate Conception in Forest City, has a heart for India and a heart for the poor.
He was born in Kerala, where most Indian Catholics live, but went to the Diocese of Satna to evangelize and serve.
Although the mission is ultimately to save souls, Father Davis’ diocese saw the desperate need to feed the poor and shelter the homeless in the Hindu community that surrounded them.
“When I saw the work they were doing in Haiti and in other parts of the world, I, myself, requested their help as well,” Father Davis said. “They were happy to help my diocese and my bishop.”
Today, the diocese uses funds to feed, shelter and educate 50 boys and 60 elderly homeless through a hostel and adult orphanage.
Father Davis went back this May and was delighted to see the progress.
“These people are from very poor families,” Father Davis said. “They are our needy, our poor, and our homeless. The elderly have no family. They are refused. And this ministry is there for them.”

 The Diocese of Satna in India uses World Hunger Drive funds to house 50 boys and 60 elderly homeless individuals.

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.

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 

CHARLOTTE — The air was electric in a back room at Brewers at 4001 Yancey on Aug. 13 as people laughed and cheered in response to an onstage sales pitch that was entirely different from the expected.

The “most compelling investment opportunity in Charlotte” wasn’t the latest stock offering, but a single man who works in the financial industry.

He and other single young adult Catholics were the ones being pitched at “SacredSpark Live: Pitch a Catholic Single,” a singles event hosted by the SacredSpark online dating platform.

Friends and family members delivered presentations to introduce local Catholic singles to a larger audience.

It was the live version of the unique approach taken by SacredSpark, a Catholic dating app launched in 2025 that allows singles to bring their own wingman or wingwoman into the online dating world. (Borrowed from aviation and made famous in the movie “Top Gun,” the term applies to a trusted person who helps an individual meet a prospective romantic partner.)

SacredSpark is the brainchild of Catholic influencer Emily Wilson-Hussem and her husband, Daniel Hussem. The app’s unique approach came from a series of wildly successful matchmaking posts Emily made on her popular Instagram page that eventually led to 12 marriages and 20 engagements. That success led the couple to think that the format could help Catholic young adults feeling lost in the dating world.

Enter SacredSpark, which instead of the well known “look and swipe” format of most online dating sites offers the chance for others to get involved and “pitch” their single friends and relatives.

“We wanted to bring back the personal and human approach to dating,” Daniel said. “When you look at a traditional dating app, it’s very superficial, like another form of digital consumption. SacredSpark brings back the tradition of matchmaking and invites the community back into the dating space. Singles are often left to their own devices, and this allows others to help people connect.”

The Charlotte event drew 225 people and was the first of what the organizers hope will be a national series of live events to help Catholic singles meet in person, away from screens. Attendees didn’t have to commit to getting onstage to meet potential dates. The evening also featured two “meet-and-mingle” sessions so that everyone had a chance to interact with new people.

There were 22 pitches, which included three-minute standard pitches and several one-minute “lightning” sessions. Wingmen and women came prepared with presentations that included photos, bios and lists of “green flags” that made the person a good catch. 

The singles, who ranged in age from early 20s to early 40s walked up a glittery runner and took the stage to personally chosen walk-up music that ranged from instrumentals to country music. Then their wingpeople launched their pitches.

Every pitch had an angle, whether themed after the person’s career, personality or a special interest. Tongue-in-cheek humor ran throughout. One wingman asked the audience to note that his friend “doesn’t skip leg day” at the gym.

Some people came with incentives. One wingwoman prepared a “date basket” similar to a picnic basket for her friend and any prospective date to enjoy. A woman whose baking skills were highlighted brought a batch of Snickerdoodle cookies.

One man who pitched his twin brother got a quick two-for-one angle in during the pitch – also single, he flashed his own vital statistics on the screen.

All of the pitches highlighted the person’s faith and desire for a Christ-filled relationship.

Some wingmen and wingwomen battled their own nerves.

“I was terrified, but I transfer fear energy,” said John Yancey, who pitched his friend Kyle Herold, whom he met through a local Bible study.  “When I found out he was going to take part in this, I said I would love to help out a buddy. I think he’s a great catch for somebody. I’d love for him to meet someone through this and end up getting married, but also it’s worth it if he just meets some interesting people.”

Shanley Howrigan, 31, a business developer who attends St. Gabriel Church, took part because she wanted to try something new.

“It was nervewracking for sure to get up there, but once I was onstage I felt fine – I felt I had nothing to lose,” she said. “This is definitely a new way of doing dating, a way to get below the surface level.”

— Christina Lee Knauss

More online

At www.sacredspark.app: Lean more about the app

A national annual collection supporting The Catholic University of America dates back over 50 years and is organized through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This year, Bishop Michael Martin has added support for Belmont Abbey College to the collection, with undesignated gifts to be divided equally between the two institutions.

The Belmont Abbey College portion will be placed in an endowment to provide tuition assistance for Catholic students from the Diocese of Charlotte, helping strengthen the future of the region’s only Catholic college.

Founded in 1876 by Benedictine monks, Belmont Abbey College has been a cornerstone of Catholicism in North Carolina – founding and staffing churches and schools, educating generations of Catholic laypeople, forming future priests and deacons, preparing educators for Catholic schools, supporting parish ministries, and serving as a center for Catholic intellectual, cultural and spiritual life. Through its Benedictine tradition of prayer, learning and hospitality, the college continues to strengthen the Church’s mission of evangelization throughout western North Carolina.

In a letter to the diocese’s clergy announcing the special collection, Bishop Martin praised Belmont Abbey College as “a blessing for Catholic life in our region for 150 years.”

The special collection, he wrote, “allows the diocese to collectively offer our thanks to our Benedictine brothers of Belmont Abbey for the role that they have played in the history and life of western North Carolina.”

Belmont Abbey’s president Dr. Jeff Talley thanked the bishop and the diocese for this new special collection. “It demonstrates Bishop Martin’s and the Diocese of Charlotte’s love and support for Belmont Abbey College as we continue to educate priests, deacons and laity for service to the Church and the world,” he said.

Donors who wish to direct their gift entirely to either institution may do so by mailing their contribution to the Diocese of Charlotte with the desired college noted in the memo line. Mail to: Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203-4003.

To give online to the Belmont Abbey College collection, go to https://belmontabbeycollege.givevirtuous.org/donate/recurring-gift-page.

— Catholic News Herald

WAXHAW — The Catholic Community of Waxhaw joyfully gathered July 1 at their church on Waxhaw-Marvin Road to watch their new shepherd, Father Benjamin Roberts, offer his first Mass on the first day of his new assignment.

Father Roberts drew laughter and applause less than a minute into his homily

“In the last 12 years, many priests have stood at this altar, many priests have celebrated Mass, and many priests have introduced themselves to you, and I get to say something that none of them ever did – I live here,” he said.

Father Roberts has been appointed to serve as priest-in-charge of the Catholic Community of Waxhaw alongside Father Patrick Cahill, pastor of St. Matthew Parish. The thriving former satellite campus of St. Matthew Parish is taking steps toward becoming a separate parish in response to the area’s growth. Together, the two priests will work with parishioners through the process of establishing the new parish.

Mass attendees received green wristbands reading “Catholic Community of Waxhaw” on one side and “Growing with the Love of Christ” on the other – a theme embraced by the congregation of about 1,600, which has worshiped at the Waxhaw campus for more than a decade.

Father Roberts quickly put his new flock at ease, joking, “I would have preferred that the Gospel reading (Matthew 8:28-34) for the evening did not end with the words, ‘but when they saw Him they begged Him to leave.’”

After shared laughter, he explained that Jesus was asked to leave because His presence required a mission the people of Gadara were unwilling to embrace. But “every grace that God gives comes with some kind of mission. It comes with some kind of response,” he said.

Father Roberts pointed to his own assignment as an example. After serving as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe for 14 years, Bishop Michael Martin asked him to take on the new role. At the time, he was staring at an image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in his living room. After some discernment, Father Roberts looked to the Blessed Mother and humbly accepted.

“I am living proof that saying yes to God’s call brings about God’s grace,” he said.

Though surprised by the assignment, he trusted God had something more in mind.

“The work that we are about to do together is the work that God graced us with,” Father Roberts said. “It is not the work God does in me, it is not the work that God does in you, it is the work that God does in us.

"To build up His Church. To build a church. But ultimately, to grow with the love of Jesus. That is why I feel sorry for the people that asked Jesus to leave, because they never got to know the joy of being loved by Him...but what they missed is ours.”

Father Roberts, who grew up in nearby Lancaster, South Carolina, is already a familiar face to many Catholics in the region.

Nancy Weber, who has attended Mass at the Waxhaw campus for six years, said the occasion was especially meaningful because she had known Father Roberts since his time at Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury.

“I have known Father Benjamin since he entered seminary. I love him, and where he goes, I would be willing to follow. He is wonderful,” she said. “We are thrilled this will become a parish. It is long overdue.”

Pam Machaud, who has been reluctant to call any particular church her home, said she believes she has finally found it.

“We sort of bounced around… Two weeks ago, we were introduced to Father Benjamin and got extremely excited,” she said. “We never built a parish, and it is something that I am in awe of… Father Roberts sounds so positive about us coming together as a church. It is not just his Church, or our Church, it is all our Church together… You always find the home you are supposed to be at, and this is the home where we are supposed to be.”

— Lisa M. Geraci. Photos by Troy C. Hull.

Find Mass times and more info about the new Catholic community in Union County: https://stmatthewcatholic.org/ccow/

What's next for the Catholic Community of Waxhaw?

When will it officially become a parish?
No date has been set but the goal is about a year from now, Father Benjamin Roberts said. The timeline depends on establishing parish and finance councils, staffing and finances.

What will the new parish be called?
That has not yet been decided. Bishop Michael Martin has indicated the parish name will be chosen through a collaborate process, and Father Roberts said he hopes to develop details to announce soon.

Who will belong to the new parish?
The Diocese of Charlotte will establish parish boundaries, likely centered on the 28173 ZIP code and a small portion of Wesley Chapel. Catholics outside those boundaries, including those in nearby South Carolina, will also be welcome to worship in Waxhaw.

Will the new parish start from scratch?
No. Once the boundaries are finalized, a proportional share of St. Matthew Parish’s assets will transfer to the new parish, providing a financial foundation as it plans for future growth. Father Roberts notes, “We are responsible for building our church and everything else we are going to build. But we will have a firm footing.”

What happens before the parish is officially established?
The community will form the leadership and infrastructure every parish needs, including a pastoral council, finance council and staff. Until then, baptisms, weddings and funerals for community members will continue through St. Matthew Parish.

What happens to the current church property?
The entire 32-acre campus will be part of the proportionate division of assets that will transfer to the new parish.

What changes can parishioners expect now?
The Blessed Sacrament will remain reserved in the church, and a schedule for Mass, adoration, confessions, Rosary and Bible Study was recently announced. More information is online at www.stmatthewcatholic.org/ccow. 

Why create a new parish?
The Catholic population in the Waxhaw area continues to grow rapidly. About 2,600 registered Catholic families already live within the immediate area, and Father Roberts said projections indicate the community could grow to 7,000 Catholics by 2035. But a parish is more than a building, Father Roberts explains. “We are thinking about something that will be very big, but more than that, we need to be a reflection of the heart of Jesus Christ. A community rooted in Christ, which means we are rooted in welcome, compassion and growth.”

Want to help name the parish? Watch this video and submit your Gospel values to waxhawcatholics@rcdoc.org. 

Across the diocese, students will be returning to expanded campuses, renovated classrooms and new programs, including the transition to a different stye of learning at Holy Trinity Catholic Academy. (Photos by Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald) CHARLOTTE — More than 8,000 students are gearing up to return to Catholic schools across the Diocese of Charlotte beginning Aug. 17, with many to be greeted by improved facilities, new programs, new leaders and new families.Cubbies and lockers will once again be full as students come back to classrooms starting Aug. 17.

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. Other schools from the mountains to the Triad will unveil new athletic and other facilities, including Charlotte Catholic, Christ the King and Bishop McGuinness high schools.

Enthusiasm for Catholic education continues to remain high, school officials said, with enrollment in diocesan schools holding steady. Many schools are near capacity following years of continued growth.

“There is a great deal to be excited about,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Catholic schools. “Our schools are continuing to grow in different ways, but what is most encouraging is the strong culture taking shape across the diocese.”

He stressed the important contribution Catholic schools make in educating both the mind and the spirit of students.

“We have excellent educators, committed families and school leaders who understand that Catholic education is about strong academic achievement – but also about something more. It’s about forming young people in faith, character and wisdom as disciples of Christ.”

In western North Carolina, the second school year after Hurricane Helene is feeling more like a return to normal.

Last year, some school families had to leave to find new homes or employment after residences and businesses were damaged or destroyed, said Margaret Beale, principal of Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.

This year, “we’re still seeing some impacts, a few school families that are having to move particularly because a parent’s job never came back after the storm, but in general, everything has settled down,” Beale says. “Everything here is busy, and we’re excited to begin the new year.”

The halls at Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte are filled with activity as walls get a fresh coat of paint before students return to campus. Many schools took the summer months to upgrade facilities.

What’s new for 2026-27:

Blended education

Holy Trinity Catholic Academy’s shift toward blended education embraces different learning styles to provide students the best of both worlds, school leaders say. Beginning with sixth graders only this year, single-sex instruction will be offered in core classes such as English and math, while co-ed instruction will continue in electives and extracurricular activities. This approach will phase in over three years, with seventh and eighth grade following over the next two years.

The school is also seeing progress on its three-phase, $11.7 million enhancement project. Thanks partly to a grant of more than $1 million from Shea Homes, the existing athletic field has been regraded, and new drainage and synthetic turf will go in this fall, along with lighting and team benches. As part of the project, the fine arts classrooms are being upgraded with modernized flooring, lighting and instructional equipment.

“While our name has changed, our mission remains the same,” said Kevin Parks, who is beginning his second year as Holy Trinity president after 17 years as principal. “Our new name reflects our enduring commitment to academic excellence, intentional faith formation, and preparing students to lead with confidence, compassion and integrity.”

Parks will work alongside Principal Robert “Bobby” Conrad, beginning his second year in the role, to see that the exciting changes are successful.

At St. Ann School in Charlotte, crews work to complete audiovisual and lighting improvements in the gym and to install acoustic panels in the cafeteria.

Upgrades at high schools

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. Both will be ready for students’ return, said Kurt Telford, who is returning to his role as principal after a two-year stint as head of school. Michael Seeley joins Telford as the school’s president, a role that focuses on long-range planning, community relationships, financial and operational management and fundraising.
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.

Christ the King High School in Huntersville will have a new playing surface for its athletic field with expanded bleachers that seat more than 1,000 people, as well as new restrooms and better accessibility. Teams will begin using the new facilities this fall, and a ribbon-cutting is set for Sept. 11.

“Everything is going along better than ‘according to plan,’’’ said Principal Mark Tolcher. “It’s going along great!”

Work is progressing on its $12 million expansion that will increase the school’s footprint by 21,000 square feet to 73,271. The project includes adding a new entry to the gym and a north lobby equipped with concession stands, ticketing booths and a Crusaders Spirit Store for the school’s athletics, band, musical and theatrical events.

Other perks include an expanded weight training area, a chorus and band studio, two additional classrooms, an industrial design workspace and a larger cafeteria with a full kitchen to prepare meals on site. The expansion is expected to be completed after Christmas break.

“The expansion offers us not just an increased footprint but also the ability to offer different programming and an enhanced education experience for both students and faculty,” Tolcher said.

Bishop McGuinness High School is hitting a milestone this year with enrollment reaching more than 500 students for the first time in about 15 years, said President Jared Rashford.

After a successful start last year, Bishop McGuinness is also expanding its St. Gabriel Program, which serves students with intellectual disabilities, to cater to a broader range of learners.

“Through individualized instruction, dedicated teachers and an expanded peer partner program that fosters both academic and social inclusion, we are helping students with diverse learning needs become fully integrated members of the Bishop McGuinness community,” said Principal Claire Willis.

Improvements to the school’s athletic facilities are expected to be complete by the end of August, including construction of six lighted tennis courts and outdoor restrooms and picnic facilities,

Rashford said. The gym floor was replaced and seating increased to accommodate about 800. New flooring is also being laid in the chapel, and the chairs are being reupholstered.

Students from Charlotte Catholic High School help volunteers from St. Gabriel donate used furniture to classrooms in need.

Other summer projects:

Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville recently began renovations of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton House on Oakland Avenue, adjacent to the campus. It serves as home for Principal Beale and several religious sisters and eventually will be used to house teaching interns.

St. Gabriel School donated two truckloads of furniture to schools in need as it updated its classrooms with furniture that adapts to varied uses. Students at St. Patrick School in Charlotte will return to classrooms with gleaming restored wooden floors. Over the summer, carpet in all the classrooms was removed and the original cedar floors, which are more than 90 years old, were restored, said Principal Nicholas Calametti.

At St. Gabriel School, students are returning to new furniture in 14 classrooms, a retiled lobby floor and ongoing athletic field improvements including a new track, new sod and an irrigation system, said Assistant Principal Deven Dickerson.

St. Leo School in Winston-Salem underwent a $2.2 million replacement of its roof and HVAC system. “It is a major project that has long been needed, and it is expected to be done before school starts,” said Emmett Sapp, director of construction and real estate for the Diocese of Charlotte.

St. Mark School in Huntersville replaced the natural turf on its athletic field with artificial turf. The next phase of the project includes installing a playground.

Sacred Heart School in Salisbury is completing an art room funded by a $166,000 Shea Homes grant. To convert a shared space into a fully functional art room, a wall was sealed and soundproofed, storage for art supplies and a sink were incorporated, and interior finishes were upgraded to promote creativity. Existing furniture was replaced with flexible seating to accommodate students of varying ages.

St. Ann School in Charlotte is spotlighting students with audiovisual and lighting enhancements to its performance stage in the gym, as well as the installation of acoustical panels in the cafeteria, all funded by its annual fund.

— Christina Lee Knauss

St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte is known as “the seat of the bishop” metaphorically and literally with its marble chair, called the cathedra, that symbolizes the bishop’s leadership. The seat is made from marble pieces of the old high altar, which was removed during a 1979 renovation. The cathedra was used by Bishop William Curlin and Bishop Peter Jugis, and now by Bishop Michael Martin. The engraved marble backrest is updated to reflect each bishop’s personal coat of arms – a tradition stemming from the 14th century.

“I am just amazed by Greg’s craftsmanship and the artistic quality of the piece,” Bishop Martin said as he blessed the completed work on July 23, a little over two years after he was installed as the fifth bishop of Charlotte.

“It has such detail that it is painstaking,” Bishop Martin said.

Diocesan leaders wanted to keep the commission “in the family,” and Stump, with 20 years of experience in stained glass art and previous commissions around the diocese, was the perfect fit.
Stump, who has worked at Christ the King High School for 13 years, crafted pieces there as well as the Our Lady of Guadalupe mosaic at St. James the Greater Church in Concord and multiple stained-glass windows at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Yet the cathedra was Stump’s first armorial-bearing commission and his first experience engraving marble.

“I enjoy the challenge of working with a brand-new medium,” Stump said. “But it is a time-consuming process that requires a lot of patience.”

Over the past six months, he spent weeks delicately carving the white Italian Carrara marble – the same type used by Michelangelo to carve The Pietà – to inlay small hand-cut pieces of mosaic tile, gold-leaf glass and stained glass.

“You can’t make a mistake. If you fracture the marble, it is game over, and you have to start over,” Stump said.

He practiced on different materials so he wouldn’t fracture the stone, but he did run into other challenges. The two crossed arms bearing the nail wounds of the stigmata – the bare arm signifying Jesus and the sleeved arm of St. Francis of Assisi were ‘painstakingly’ intricate,” he said.

“The arms were cut out of stained glass and kiln-fired to get the details of the blood drops and the outlines,” Stump noted. “I had to drill holes where the stigmata is and put red glass in there.”

With a smile and laughter, the bishop enthusiastically embraced the intricate artwork.

“When you look at the small details, you realize the time it takes to do something like this,” Bishop Martin said. “I am in awe of the craftsman.”

Stump credits God with his ability to create sacred art and prays this endeavor will help him on his next project, the Blessing Hand of God – a three-dimensional image he hopes to sculpt out of marble.

“Sacred art is the most meaningful art to me and gives me the most pleasure,” Stump said. “It brings people a little closer to the divine. And I like the longevity. … It is nice to think it will still be there one day when maybe I am not around.”

— Lisa M. Geraci

More online
At www.charlottediocese.org: Read about the meaning behind the bishop’s coat of arms and motto

Father Cesa has served as pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Candler since 2013. He also formerly served as pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains in Highlands, St. Barnabas in Arden, and St. John the Baptist in Tryon. Ordained in 1998, he also had assignments at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte and St. Leo the Great in Winston-Salem.

Father Yves Kennedy Ilapi will temporarily serve the parish until a new pastor is named.

— Catholic News Herald

Charlotte missionaries Jon Studnek, Eric Warren and Ryan Monk tackle needed construction projects in El Cerinal, Guatemala. (Photos provided)

Father Joshua Voitus, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Charlotte, led the week-long trip, bringing two other new clergy members, Deacon Daren Bitter from St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte and Father Juan Miguel Sanchez, priest-secretary to Bishop Michael Martin.

The trip originated with St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte in 2022, when organizers Chris Turley and John Bonner formed relationships in the village and started campaigning for a new church.

On this trip, Bonner and Turley introduced a new group of missionaries to an almost completed Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and a village filled with Catholics desperate to thrive physically, mentally and spiritually.

“God was staring at us through the eyes of the Guatemalan people as we became the hands and feet of Christ,” said Deacon Bitter, who recounted the missionaries’ recent work in the impoverished town in southern Guatemala, not far from the Pacific Ocean.

“It’s fascinating because you can verbally say we are building a church. And yes, it’s the building and the pews, but it’s ultimately the people. In both avenues, we’re building a facility for Christ,” he said.

Amid the breathtaking landscapes of hills covered with coffee bean plants and the misty waters of the Laguna el Pino lies the hamlet of El Carmen. Its small huts have tarps as doors and dirt for floors. Electricity in the village is spotty, and the water that occasionally flows from the tap is undrinkable.
While 85% of the population of the small town is Catholic, the tiny church also has a spiritual drought with only one priest serving 10 parishes scattered across the province of Santa Rosa.

One Mass is celebrated at 6 a.m. every Sunday. Confession, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and anointing of the sick – like the water – are inaccessible luxuries.

Father Juan Miguel Sanchez, priest-secretary to Bishop Michael Martin, was one of three diocesan clergy who celebrated the sacraments with villagers in an area where priests are scarce.

A week of love and charity

Father Voitus and Father Sanchez celebrated daily Mass in Spanish.

A smiling villager named Don Chilo walked an hour and a half each way on his one leg and crutches to attend each day.

“It was touching to see,” Deacon Bitter said.

More than 60 children ran, skipped and jumped their way down to the church every day for coloring, crafts, songs and faith-based lessons at Turley’s Vacation Bible School.

Bonner and his team installed 21 home water filtration systems. Clergy traveled the dirt paths, stopping at doorsteps to pray, drop off medication and assess needs.

Small acts of God were evident. One occasion stuck with Turley, who was with Father Voitus when they came across hysterical women kneeling next to a casket.

“They were praying for a priest because they had been unable to find one to perform the funeral for their family member,” Turley said.

Father Voitus immediately celebrated a funeral Mass.

“To me, it felt like a miracle that he appeared exactly when they were praying for a priest,” she said.

Father Sanchez and Father Voitus blessed homes, anointed the homebound and heard confessions.

“When you have extra priests, the community feels blessed. As we made our rounds to visit families, 90 percent asked for blessings or prayers,” Father Sanchez said. “The homes are not comfortable by U.S. standards, but the people are happy. That is the striking part. Sometimes we associate happiness with luxury and comfort, but in reality, it comes from the heart.”

Erika Lopez, a native of Guatemala, longed to share memories of home with her children. As she traveled with her son, she was reduced to tears of appreciation for her almost-lost culture.

“The connection was immediate – there was no pretense, just a shared sense of love,” Lopez said. “It brought back those childhood memories of this foreign little place that I used to know.”

By week’s end, even though there were spurts with no electricity, no air conditioning and no water, the group had difficulty saying goodbye, shifting to “hasta luego” (“I’ll see you later”) at that final Mass.

The tears flowed freely and were abundant, Deacon Bitter noted.

In 51 weeks, the group plans to return with more missionaries from more churches and schools. In 10 years’ time, Turley envisions visiting four times a year, operating from the cornerstone they laid once upon a time in the small hamlet with little hope but overwhelming faith.

“This trip is more than just people who want to go off the grid, put down their phone, and commit time, money and energy,” Deacon Bitter said. “It is spreading the love of Christ through prayer, through experience as one human family, and making the world a little smaller.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

Children take part in Vacation Bible School led by the missionaries.

Building the Mt. Carmel Church from a coffee seed

Although it is not yet complete, parishioners of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel gathered to dedicate their new church in late July. Construction began in 2022. (Photo provided) CHARLOTTE —The Guatemala mission started in 2022, when a group of St. Gabriel Church parishioners visited the hamlet of El Carmen.

Then first-time missionary John Bonner fell in love with the people, as did Chris Turley.

“I always wanted to be a missionary, but when I graduated from college, life somehow got in the way. So, when this opportunity came up, I jumped,” Bonner recalled. “It feels like the path I was intended to be on.”

Turley felt similarly and shared, “God is in control there, not me. It is the grace of God that keeps everything moving, and the joy of the children keeps me going back.”

During that trip, on a donated three-acre parcel of a coffee farm owned by Catholics who employ most of the villagers, the missionaries left a physical cornerstone for a church, unsure if they would return.

After they left, the idea of building that church grew. Through parishioners at St. Gabriel and St. Matthew, the group raised $500,000.

To connect on a more personal level when they reunited, Bonner and Turley started taking Spanish classes. Turley focused on designing lesson plans for the children, while Bonner focused on home construction projects and water filtration systems.

Each time they returned, they were revitalized by the growth of that small cornerstone.

And in 2024, when the priest who introduced them to the ministry left St. Gabriel Church, they kept going – taking a handful of missionaries twice in 2025. When Father Joshua Voitus, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte got involved, Turley thought it was an answer to prayer.

Between visits, the cornerstone grew as the people of El Cerinal rallied behind construction efforts, adding a roof and a crucifix and finishing the walls.

By the time the missionaries returned this year, the church dedication was the talk of the town – despite its lack of indoor plumbing, electricity and stained-glass windows.

“We certainly don’t have the funds to finish the church at this point in time, but I don’t know any of us that’s worried about that,” Bonner said. “The Holy Spirit seems to want the church done, and so it’s moving along.”
Chris Turley and John Bonner were part of the first St. Gabriel Guatemala mission trip in 2022.The bishop of Santa Rosa de Lima, Bishop José Cayetano Parra Novo, met with Bonner, Father Voitus, Deacon Daren Bitter from St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte and Father Juan Miguel Sanchez, priest-secretary to Bishop Michael Martin to break bread and thank his friends.

“The purpose of the church is to bring people together. It’s large enough to invite people who don’t live in the immediate community,” Bonner said. “The people here are Catholic, and the bishop wanted to use this as a central church, with meeting rooms in the basement for retreats – especially for young men and women discerning religious life. It’s very important to the diocese.”

The bishop told the men that the needs across Santa Rosa were as vast as priests were scarce. Villages just like El Cerinal dotted the landscape, some even more impoverished. Throughout the hills were people without clothing, without food and without frequent access to the sacraments – all people they could help through the new church.

As Bonner said, “This is about moving people from relief to sustainability. The language and faces may change, but the needs remain the same.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

Originally from Puerto Rico, Román moved to North Carolina in 2018 with her husband after he accepted a position in the textile industry. She holds both a doctorate and a master’s degree in Education, from the University of Puerto Rico.

At Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury, she has served as a lector and leader for the Liturgy of the Hours and participated in the Emmaus movement. Dr. Román hopes to bring her background in education and her passion for the Liturgy of the Hours to her new role.

“Teaching comes naturally to me, and I believe I can use that gift to help strengthen and educate the Hispanic community,” Román says.

— Brian Segovia

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 

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 at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro try out a new playground opening this month, thanks to a grant from Shea Family Charities and contributions from generous donors. The project was part of $921,000 in upgrades to improve the learning environment for all students, but especially those with learning differences. “Things like this can make a huge difference in a child’s day,” says Principal Catherine Rusch. (Photo provided by Julia Fergus)

CHARLOTTE — A grim reality greeted Father Christian Cook when he arrived in Hendersonville to pastor Immaculate Conception Church – the parish school was in danger of closing.

Enrollment was at 90 students and falling. It was late summer, 2019, and five teaching positions remained open as did another critical position.

“They didn’t have a principal; they didn’t even have a candidate for principal,” Father Cook says of the circumstances he walked into in his first pastor role.

The situation seemed dire, but looking back, he says the steps they began to take created momentum with parents, teachers, staff and donors. Among those donors was Shea Family Charities, one of the most significant philanthropic supporters of Catholic education in the country.

CookBased in California, the organization represents a family with humble Irish Catholic roots and an American success story grounded in hard work, education and faith – values the Shea family seeks to pass on by supporting Catholic schools in communities where they do business. Shea Homes has operated in the Carolinas since 1994.

The Sheas already had a budding relationship with the Diocese of Charlotte in 2019. Former homebuilder John Shea Jr. lives in Charlotte and helps guide the family’s charitable investments. Over the previous three years, John Shea and Shea Homes had supported projects large and small at Holy Trinity Middle School and Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte, St. Michael in Gastonia, and Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem.

Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville presented exactly the kind of challenge the Sheas gravitate toward: a diverse population, aging facilities, financial needs – and aspiration.

But a global pandemic was coming. And it remained to be seen whether the parish and the diocese could put together a plan that would persuade the Sheas and the Hendersonville community to resurrect the school.

“The Shea family has high expectations and is very thorough in evaluating their investment opportunities,” says Jim Kelley, the diocese’s development director. “They ask a lot of questions. They also have a way of igniting momentum with their contributions by requiring a certain amount of matching funds to prove the local commitment. They want to create a true partnership that is going to elevate the lives of children.”

Students enjoy hands-on learning in the STEM lab at Immaculata School in Hendersonville and a new playground at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro.

‘SKIN IN THE GAME’

The Immaculata comeback began providentially, says Father Cook.

One day, soon after he’d arrived in 2019, he was talking with Father Patrick Cahill, who also runs a school.

“You know,” he recalls Father Cahill saying, “I have an eighth-grade teacher who really has potential to be a principal. It’s kind of an out-of-the-box idea, but you may want to at least interview her.”

The hiring committee agreed to interview Margaret Beale from Asheville Catholic School, who at 33 was quite young to become a principal. In the meantime, they received another applicant with excellent administrative experience.

Beale“Margaret Beale had this fire to her, this love of Catholic education that you can’t replicate in other candidates,” Father Cook says. “The hiring committee had a choice between two very different personalities – a great manager/administrator or an enthusiastic forward-minded candidate with no administrative experience.”

“We all agreed,” he says, “that Immaculata needed a shot in the arm from a motivation standpoint more than we needed a professional administrator.” It was the kind of risk the Sheas appreciate.

With Beale and Cook aboard, the school went to work shoring up finances and enrollment, then began looking toward the future. That’s when they learned of the Shea family and their reputation as good stewards of

Catholic education and schools. They applied and were on track in 2019 for approval of a grant of up to $1 million from Shea Homes, to add to nearly $900,000 the parish had raised for school improvements.

But the COVID-19 pandemic delayed things and by the time the parish re-engaged with the Sheas in 2021, construction costs had gone up by more than $1 million.

“We went back to the drawing board and then the Sheas came through with a larger grant ($2.2 million) than they had originally planned for us,” Father Cook says. “They also asked the parish to put more skin in the game, so we went out and raised another $440,000.”

Ultimately, the school debuted a $3.6 million makeover in 2023. The work was accomplished over nearly four years, split into two phases. It included a new brick entrance to match the architecture of the church, new technology, administrative offices, and a state-of-the-art STEM lab that facilitates student problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity.

“Immaculata will be forever grateful for the support of the Shea family and all of our donors,” says Beale. “Not only did these gifts provide a dedicated space for students to dive into hands-on learning, they also helped intensify the sense of pride in what it means to be an ‘Immaculata Star.’ It has been a joy and a blessing to see the excitement on students’ faces when they realize how much fun learning is.”

Since the summer of 2019, enrollment at Immaculata has nearly doubled. The school further demonstrated its tenacity in October when it became a critical relief site after Tropical Storm Helene devastated the area.

It’s this kind of teamwork the Shea family seeks to engage at schools across the Diocese of Charlotte – and the nation.

Dorothy Shea and her husband, the late John Shea, embraced Catholic education as a charitable priority in the late 1980s. The Shea family is one of the nation’s largest benefactors of Catholic schools.
SHEA FAMILY LEGACY

Shea Jr.Shea Homes has invested nearly $11 million in the Diocese of Charlotte’s schools – making them the schools’ most significant benefactor – and Shea Family Charities has contributed tens of millions more in the (arch)dioceses of Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Louisville, Los Angeles, Monterey, New York, Oakland, Orange, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.

Dorothy Shea and her husband, the late John Shea, former chairman of J.F. Shea Co. Inc., dove into supporting Catholic education in the 1980s because of the integral role they felt the faith has played in their lives.

They focused their investments on inner-city and rural schools, or those with unique challenges and significant needs.

Dorothy Shea attended Catholic schools through college and continues to guide the family’s philanthropy, desiring to give to others a Catholic education like she was blessed to receive.

“My faith is the most important thing in my life,” she told the Catholic News Herald. “It’s very important for people because they can have a much nicer life if they can depend on God. The bond of religion strengthens families and helps them stay together. We want everyone to have these opportunities by making a Catholic education even more accessible.”

The Shea family first came to the United States when Austin Shea – John Shea’s great-grandfather – arrived from Ireland to escape the potato famine of the mid-1800s. He settled in Ohio, and eventually the family moved to the West Coast.

In 1881, Austin’s son John Francis Shea started a plumbing business in Portland, Oregon, which expanded into pipeline and infrastructure projects as the city grew. This was the beginning of the family’s long history of large-scale projects in the U.S.

John’s son Charlie took over the business and participated in the construction of major American landmarks, overseeing the construction of the Hoover Dam and helping build the Golden Gate and San Francisco-

Oakland Bay bridges. Later, the family entered the home construction business.

As Catholics, charitable giving has always been a focus for the family. They typically invest in school renovations, scholarships, tuition assistance and professional development – with an eye toward making Catholic education available to more people.

“We believe the more kids educated in the Catholic system, the better our future world will be,” says John Shea Jr., whose family relies on his cousin Dan O’Melveny – executive director of Shea Family Charities – to help evaluate potential school investments. He studies proposed physical improvements and the people managing the schools, and helps find ways to enhance value for the schools.

“Supporting our Catholic schools not only has an impact on the lives of students and their families, it is also rewarding for donors,” Shea says. “I encourage any company or family or individual who has capacity to lend their support, financially or otherwise, to get involved. I believe they’ll find the results meaningful and fulfilling.”

Indeed, the diocese’s school system is thriving, thanks to such support – having won the prestigious national “Catholic Organization of the Year” title from the Catholic Education Foundation in 2023. Enrollment has swelled 22% in the diocese’s schools since the pandemic began in 2020, outpacing the growth of the Southeast, the nation’s fastest growing region for Catholic education.

Father Timothy Reid, the diocese’s vicar of education, says he’s awestruck by the generous families committed to improving Catholic education.

“Our schools not only provide a high-quality education, they focus on forming intentional disciples for Christ who can witness to the Gospel in the world,” he says. “That’s our mission. But it’s hard to do this solely with operational funds that come from tuition.”

That’s where the Shea family and other donors have offered relief.

Since their first donation to the diocese’s schools in 2016, the Sheas’ commitment has continued to deepen well into 2024 – with their most recent grant of $3.5 million for improvements at Charlotte’s St. Ann School their largest to date.

Yet the reason behind the Sheas’ philanthropy transcends growth rates and dollars.

“Learning Catholic values in school and, for me, at home – like loving your neighbor – is key,” Shea says. “We believe it tends to create a more benevolent citizenry as these kids mature into adults.”

In business, he says, it’s easier to trust people who have strong values.

“Trust helps business relationships, which then helps the business to thrive. If you don’t have that trust, it’s hard to get repeat business.”

Immaculata School’s new STEM lab facilitates student problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity. It was part of a $3.6 million renovation made possible by a partnership of parish donors and a $2.24 million grant from Shea Homes. (Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald)

‘ADVANTAGE FOR LIFE’

Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro is the latest school in the diocese to debut improvements made possible by the partnership of parishioners and the Shea family.

This month, they will cut the ribbon on nearly $1 million in upgrades including two new playgrounds, a newly paved parking lot, covered walkway and new acoustic ceiling tiles, flooring and furniture in the cafeteria.

Parishioner contributions of $300,000 unlocked a Shea gift of $621,000.

RuschPrincipal Catherine Rusch said she was impressed by the depth of understanding the Shea family wanted about how each project would benefit her students’ educational experience.

“When they asked, I was able to tell them that our students with sensory issues have a hard time acclimating after coming indoors from the rain, and that the covered walkway would improve their ability to adjust and focus on their school day – since they wouldn’t be distracted by the wet fabric on their skin,” she says. “Things like this can make a huge difference in a child’s day.”

Replacing the ceiling tiles in the cafeteria, Rusch says, lowered the volume of the room at lunchtime, helping students who may be overwhelmed by the noise remain calm and interact socially.

Rusch appreciates the Sheas’ “Catholic worldview,” she says. “Their generosity impacts children on a very individual level and is a beautiful reflection of the way Jesus loves each one of us.”

It’s a sentiment that was echoed by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles after John Shea Sr. died in 2022.

“It would be shortsighted to try measuring his impact on Catholic education in dollar figures,” school executive Paul Escala told Angelus News. “Each dollar is translated into a high-quality school environment where principals and teachers care and know each child like Christ knows everyone by name. That level of impact can’t be measured or quantified monetarily.”

John Shea Jr. says his family simply hopes that increasing exposure to Catholic schools for children in North Carolina and elsewhere will help them build fulfilling lives.

“Ultimately, we hope to have a positive influence on students as they grow into the next generation of adults.”

At Shea Family Charities, Dorothy Shea adds, “We have a little thing we say here: ‘Catholic education is an advantage for life.’ ”

How you can help?

If you have interest in partnering financially with the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic schools, please contact Development Director Jim Kelley at jkkelley@rcdoc.org or call 704-608-0359.

—  Annie Ferguson and Liz Chandler

Students enjoy hands-on learning in the STEM lab at Immaculata School in Hendersonville and a new playground at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro.

Building a brighter future

Shea Homes has partnered with donors at seven schools in the Diocese of Charlotte to improve the lives of teachers, staff, students and their families – making it the single largest supporter of local Catholic schools. The organization’s investments include:

• St. Ann School, Charlotte: Funding $3.5 million of a $4.9 million project for more than a dozen upgrades at the 400-student school expected to be completed by late summer 2025. Upgrades include renovations to the library, enhanced playgrounds for all ages, new lighting, a new HVAC system, new cabinetry and flooring, acoustic ceiling tiles, and other upgrades such as fire code enhancements and prevention of water intrusion in some classrooms. 
• Holy Trinity Middle School, Charlotte: Funded $2.6 million of a $3.2 million stadium improvement project completed in 2017 that included stadium seating, press box, a major retaining wall, and parking lot improvements. 
• Immaculata School, Hendersonville: Funded $2.24 million of a $3.6 million, two-phased project to renovate the school and add a STEM lab with a lecture-style teaching space and a hands-on collaborative work and experimentation space. The renovation also included ceiling and lighting replacement, improvements to the school’s façade, relocated administrative offices, and a revamped teacher’s workroom. Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2020 and Phase 2 in 2023.
• St. Michael School, Gastonia: Funded $990,000 of a $1.6 million school renovation in 2019. The renovation included new floors, ceilings, cabinetry and furniture, relocation of administrative offices, and creation of a hands-on collaborative work and experimentation space.
• Our Lady of Grace School, Greensboro: Funded $621,000 of a $921,000 project in 2024 to improve the learning environment for all students, but especially those with learning differences. Upgrades included new acoustic ceiling tiles, flooring and furniture in the cafeteria, a new playground for the school’s youngest students, a new inclusive playground, a covered walkway, refurbished bathrooms, and parking lot resurfacing.

Our Lady of the Assumption School, Charlotte: Funded $417,000 of a $555,000 project in 2018 to construct a new combined cafeteria/auditorium space with a warming kitchen. The “cafetorium” now enables more use of the gym. Also included was a hands-on collaborative work and experimentation space.

Our Lady of Mercy School, Winston-Salem: Funded a $43,000 technology improvement project in 2018, and $105,000 of a $126,000 project in 2023 to further upgrade technology, improve restrooms, and provide a new staff restroom and conference room.

— Catholic News Herald

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

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

Wysocki, an alumnus of Belmont Abbey, has served at the Catholic college for the past 15 years, most recently as provost. He previously served as dean of the Honors College.

Dr. Bill Thierfelder, who has served as president since 2004, is retiring. The board is conducting a national search for his successor.

— Belmont Abbey College

At St. Mark Church in Huntersville, Christ the King High School’s Class of 2024 gathered for a baccalaureate Mass May 22, marking the end of an incredible journey rooted in faith, community and the Eucharist.

In his homily, Father Aaron Huber reminded the graduates, “If the Lord wills, He empowers you to do. He affords you opportunities of greatness. He has given you gifts to help you better interpret the times to come. The impact of your experiences here at Christ the King will last an eternity. Be bold, Crusaders. Be bearers of light in a world of darkness. Go do mighty things in the name of Christ the King.”

The entire community joined in celebrating the seniors. Crusader students served as altar servers and lectors, CTK alum Connor White served, alum Miguel Villalobos sang, and the Mass was presided over by current chaplain Father Huber and former chaplain Father John Putnam.

At St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, Charlotte Catholic High School graduates gathered to pray together prior to walking across Bojangles’ Coliseum stage in Charlotte.

Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville held its baccalaureate Mass at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville on May 23.

Canongate Catholic High School in Arden will hold its baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at St. Barnabas Church in Arden.

— Catholic News Herald. Photos provided

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 — Heading off to college means ticking off a long list of to-do items – from registering for classes to packing and buying last-minute dorm necessities. But don’t forget to add to that list: connecting with Catholic Campus Ministry!
Catholic Campus Ministry is where college students will find caring people who will welcome them immediately and make them feel at home.

It is the place to find friends and support, grounded in the Catholic faith, all year long.

Students often comment that they feel lost when they first arrive on campus. Lisa Scarduzio, a 2022 graduate of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, has a message for new and returning students to college: “If you are looking for a place to belong, that will make you feel at home, that will love you no matter where you are on your faith journey, then Catholic Campus Ministry is the place for you.”

Besides being a supportive community, Catholic Campus Ministry provides weekly meals, Bible study groups, prayer opportunities, retreats, fun events, group discussions, and unique opportunities to meet and learn from classmates and older students.

Some campuses offer weekly Masses; others arrange transportation to nearby parishes.

In the Diocese of Charlotte, campus ministers serve the campuses at Appalachian State University (with outreach to Lees-McRae College and Lenoir-Rhyne University),

Davidson College, High Point University, Thea House for Bennett College and N.C. A&T, UNC Charlotte (with outreach to area colleges/universities), UNC-Greensboro (with outreach to Guilford College and Greensboro College), Wake Forest University (with outreach to N.C. School of the Arts and Salem College), and Western Carolina University.

You can learn more about these campus ministries by visiting www.catholiconcampus.com. Going to a college or university beyond the diocese? Search the school’s name and “Catholic Campus Ministry” in Google to find a Catholic community at that campus.

In addition, feel free to contact Darien Clark in the diocese’s Catholic Campus Ministry office: dnclark@rcdoc.org or 704-370-3212.

Have a blessed year!
— Ann Kilkelly

Learn more

At www.catholiconcampus.com: Connect with Catholic Campus Ministry, find a campus minister near you, and see ways you can support their mission

Your DSA contributions at work

Campus Ministry is funded by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. For more information or to donate, go online to www.charlottediocese/dsa.

Volunteers at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte, including the St. Gabriel Parish Men’s Group, helped spruce up the school’s playground to get ready for the first day of school.

Fresh off winning the prestigious “Catholic Organization of the Year” title from the national Catholic Education Foundation, the diocese’s school system expects an all-time record enrollment this year and has become a “destination diocese,” says Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe.

The system’s 20 elementary, middle and high schools are welcoming new teachers and leaders from California and Connecticut, and Maryland and Michigan, among other states. Enrollment is up 12 percent from a decade ago – and almost 18 percent since the pandemic began in 2020. While an official count isn’t taken until October, more than 8,100 students (and climbing) had enrolled as of July 31.

“We’re gratified by our continued growth, as students and families recognize the value of a Catholic education,” Monroe says, “and we’ve reached the point that we are exploring new school construction to accommodate demand.”

Belmont Abbey College, just west of Charlotte, is also on pace for record total enrollment. The liberal arts college run by Benedictine monks has already registered a record class of 650 new students, entering as freshmen, transfer or first-year graduate students. This follows last year’s record incoming class – thanks in part to new academic programs in business, leadership, nursing and data analytics, school leaders say.

St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly is welcoming eight new seminarians on Sunday, bringing the current enrollment to 21 men who are discerning a call to the priesthood as they complete undergraduate studies in philosophy at Belmont Abbey College, in preparation for theological studies at the graduate level and a possible priestly vocation. Another 29 men are studying at the graduate level, and one is taking a pastoral year of service – bringing the total number of seminarians who are in formation for the diocese to a record 51.

To greet these burgeoning classes, students can expect to see a variety of improvements from new and renovated facilities to fresh paint – as well as new leaders, new academic programs, and welcome-back activities to help transition them back to studies.

Across the diocese, which encompasses the western half of North Carolina, here’s a sampling of what to expect:

Elementary and secondary schools

In the eastern part of the diocese, “Popsicles in the Park” will welcome back the youngest students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students and their families will gather at a park near the school Aug. 13 to meet classmates and teachers while enjoying frozen treats.

“The goal is to ease the back-to-school transition for our youngest Panthers,” says Principal Catherine Rusch. “Children and parents both leave the park with new friends and a familiar face in their classroom teacher.”

Across town, St. Pius X School plans a special night Aug. 19 at a baseball game – the Greensboro Grasshoppers vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods. The school choir will sing the National Anthem, and one lucky student will throw the first pitch.

St. Pius X students will also enjoy classes outside in the recently completed Lemnios Family Learning Pavilion, for academic and other gatherings.

In Winston-Salem, Our Lady of Mercy School is adding a conference room, renovating and installing restrooms, and upgrading technology thanks to a generous grant from Shea Homes. The school is also completing a $150,000 kitchen remodel funded by an anonymous donor.

“New kitchen equipment will make it possible for Our Lady of Mercy to offer hot meals again and nutritional support for its diverse student population,” said Emmett Sapp, the diocese’s construction director. “We couldn’t do some of these projects without the generosity of benefactors who understand the need to improve our facilities to accommodate our rapid growth.”

In the western reaches of the diocese, Immaculata School in Hendersonville is planning a special welcome for its new pastor, Father Andrés Gutiérrez. Students also will find themselves in a new competition, divided into six “houses” or teams named for religious orders, with points awarded for students who demonstrate good character and virtue throughout the year – the winning team receiving the “House Cup.”

Immaculata will also take advantage of its first year using the school’s new state-of-the-art STEM lab, which includes a hands-on collaborative work and experimentation space for inquiry-based learning.

Such STEM learning (in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is growing across the diocese. Charlotte’s Our Lady of the Assumption School inaugurated its new

SmartLab late last school year, where students work with robots and drones, computers and iPads, 3D printers and a laser engraver. The school is growing and has added an assistant principal for the first time: Laura Schmitt from Wyoming, Mich.

St. Ann School in Charlotte also will see exciting changes, from a refurbished playground and new paint to a new principal Celene Little and assistant principal Anna Owens.

A new school year is a clean slate, says Father Timothy Reid, the diocese’s Vicar of Education for Catholic Schools. It’s “an opportunity to reflect on God’s blessings, and to set goals for the future.”

“My hope is that our school families will approach the new school year prayerfully and with the understanding that our Catholic schools exist not simply to impart academic knowledge,” he said, “but to provide formation in our Catholic Faith – and thereby form the whole person.

“We want all of our students to excel academically, but also to grow in virtue and in the knowledge of our Lord and our faith.”

High schools

Charlotte Catholic High School kicks off the school year with its largest ever freshman class of 400 students, drawn by its academics, athletics, arts and Catholic culture. Planning ahead, school leaders last year expanded and renovated the south Charlotte high school, adding the $21 million MACS Fine Arts Center to accommodate its arts program and repurposed former art spaces in the existing building into additional classrooms.

Enrollment is also up at the three other high schools in the diocese: Christ the King in Huntersville, Bishop McGuinness in Greensboro, and Canongate in Arden. Canongate begins its first full year as an independent school recognized by Bishop Peter Jugis as an affiliate of the diocese.

Three of the high schools named new leaders this year: Christ the King and Canongate named new principals (see page 5), and Charlotte Catholic hired a new vice principal and an additional assistant principal.

And two high schools will have full-time chaplains: Father Aaron Huber will serve at Christ the King in Huntersville and Father Jonathan Torres will serve at Charlotte Catholic.

Newly ordained Father Christopher Brock will assist Bishop McGuinness High School’s chaplain Father Noah Carter.

High school athletic departments are also planning for growth with fundraising campaigns and events this fall. Bishop McGuinness’ “Spirit of Victory” campaign will help pay for new tennis courts, an additional practice field and outdoor restrooms. Christ the King is launching a capital campaign to upgrade to stadium-style bleachers around its football field, as well as add restrooms and parking.

Christ the King also begins its first full year of competition in its new gym, which opened in January. Charlotte Catholic repurposed space into a second weight room, installed a golf simulator through the generosity of donors, and converted a classroom into a state-of-the-art multimedia room with seating for 60, for classes and small group meetings.

Bishop McGuinness painted its athletic wing, upfitted five classrooms with collaborative learning furniture – and made way for more would-be pilots.

“Everybody wants to fly planes,” Head of School Jared Rashford said.

The school now offers three sections (with some three dozen students) of its aviation class, which teaches the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association curriculum and enables students to log simulator hours toward a private pilot’s license.

Belmont Abbey College

One of only 15 colleges and universities in the country recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society for its strong Catholic identity, Belmont Abbey College has seen growth, too – in enrollment and facilities.

The college will welcome its largest incoming class with a more than 15 percent increase in students compared to last fall. Part of the appeal is new master’s degree programs in Business Administration (MBA), Nursing Leadership (MSN), Leadership and Data Analytics.

“These programs will not only provide students with valuable knowledge and skills in their respective fields,” says Belmont Abbey College’s president Dr. Bill Thierfelder, “but also will help each of them develop as a whole person in order to lead a good and fulfilling life.”

In June, the college announced a new dual enrollment program, which enables high school students to take courses at the college in-person and online, and includes partnerships with Seton Home Study School and Kolbe Academy, an acclaimed Catholic homeschooling institution. Students can take their first dual enrollment course for free, and if they enroll at Belmont Abbey for college, the school reimburses their dual enrollment costs.

“We are overjoyed to welcome the largest incoming class in the college’s history this fall and to announce our new dual enrollment program with Kolbe Academy,” Thierfelder says.

“We are also profoundly grateful for the addition of new graduate degree programs, residential halls, health science labs, athletic facilities, and so much more.”
In February the college unveiled a $100 million development plan and “Made True” capital campaign for a variety of improvements – with $80 million of the goal already in hand. The campaign follows a number of capital improvements recently completed or already underway.

St. Joseph College Seminary

In Mount Holly, St. Joseph College Seminary is preparing to welcome its “Hotel” class, named for the eighth letter in the alphabet to signify its eighth incoming class of seminarians since the program began in 2016.
The college seminary is also finalizing plans for a new chapel and other buildings to facilitate its mission. It currently uses a banquet/lecture hall as its chapel, which cannot accommodate visitors, but the new larger chapel will be open for use by the faithful throughout the diocese.

The Hotel seminarian class includes eight men beginning discernment of a possible call to the priesthood. They will begin the year with an opening Mass at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, set for Aug. 6 at 10:30 a.m., with the faithful invited.

The new men come from parishes throughout the diocese, including St. John the Baptist in Tryon, St. Paul the Apostle in Greensboro, St. Ann and St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte, Sacred Heart in Salisbury, St. Lucien in Spruce Pine, Holy Cross in Kernersville, and St. Michael in Gastonia.

This class will be the first to enter a special introductory program of instruction and discernment – a new element required by the Church in its new Program for Priestly Formation. The Church instructs that a priest now be dedicated in particular to mentoring first-year seminarians, and Bishop Jugis has assigned Father Brian Becker, former pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa, to this role.

The first-year seminarians will be detached from the normal academic progression of seminary life, which creates valuable opportunities, says Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the college seminary.
“We have a lot of freedom in this first year to concentrate on the basics of character formation, the life of prayer, and service to the local Church,” he says. “It also allows time for our seminarians to visit the many parishes across the diocese with Father Becker. We have tried these parish visits over the years, but it hasn’t been easy with their academic load.
“We want the seminarians to know the people they will one day serve and vice-versa, which also will help raise awareness of the seminary’s mission and cultivate vocations in local parishes.”
In addition to the college seminarians, two major seminarians from Peru will be joining the college seminary this year as part of efforts to strengthen the diocese’s Hispanic ministry. The college seminary also recently hired a new music director after the unexpected death of former music director Tom Savoy last October.
The first phase of the seminary was completed and paid for in 2020 and plans are nearly complete for the second, final phase which will add a major chapel, offices, a piazza and welcoming hall to support visits, talks and retreats from local parishes.
Fundraising for the $22 million project is well on its way, with 88 percent of that goal already committed by generous donors during a silent phase. Construction is expected to begin next spring.
The chapel will offer a place priests can take their parishioners for Mass, and then move to common areas for fellowship, attend talks and have lunch.
“The plans have come along beautifully,” Father Kauth says, “and I’m thrilled we’ll be able to welcome the faithful and the larger community into what we’re doing here – and the extraordinary blessings God has bestowed.”

 — Annie Ferguson. Photos by Troy Hull and file photos

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

The FFHL campaign funds capital projects, endowments and other needs across the growing diocese. Included in the $65 million campaign is a tuition assistance endowment available to the diocese’s 20 schools.

The $140,000 is going to seven diocesan schools that applied for the 2023-’24 school year: Asheville Catholic School, $54,000; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $40,000; Immaculata School in Hendersonville, $3,500; Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point, $11,000; Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, $2,000; Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, $23,000; and St. Michael School in Gastonia, $6,500.

The funds are expected to help participating Catholic families who have the greatest financial need.

“We are grateful for the generosity of the ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ funding,” said Erin Brinkley, principal of Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, where 35 students are receiving tuition assistance from these funds. “Investing in our students enables us to facilitate their personal growth, development and education, which can lead to so much opportunity. Additionally, it will enable us to extend our mission of creating saints and positively impact the future of our Church.”

The FFHL tuition assistance endowment, with more than $4.3 million in assets, is administered by a committee consisting of the diocese’s schools superintendent, chief financial officer and members of the diocesan school board. Available income from the endowment is distributed to qualifying diocesan schools that apply each year for student financial aid.

An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used according to the wishes of the donor organization or person. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the long-term strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.

To date, a total of $870,230 in FFHL funding has been awarded to the diocese’s schools. In its first year in 2017, FFHL tuition assistance totaling $49,372 was given out to four diocesan schools. In 2022, $130,000 was awarded to eight schools.

“We are grateful to all the FFHL donors who help us continue striving to make Catholic education affordable and accessible to all,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “Thanks to their support, more families can benefit from a quality Catholic education.”

“The FFHL campaign continues to have a significant and meaningful impact,” added Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “The $870,000 in tuition assistance that has been distributed to date helps students receive an education that will literally change their lives.”

To qualify for the tuition assistance money, the school must receive local parish support of at least $500 per participating Catholic student and must have awarded all of its tuition assistance funds it already has for that school year. Schools that do not receive $500 per student in parish support may be considered if there are extenuating financial circumstances that preclude this level of support. Qualifying schools may request funds from the FFHL endowment for participating Catholic students with a financial need.

The tuition assistance endowment is one of seven endowments funded through the FFHL campaign.

— Catholic News Herald

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

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

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