Deacon Enedino Aquino is retiring after 28 years of serving in Hispanic Ministry in the diocese. Sister Joan Pearson recalled trips with the deacon to give Bibles to landscapers and construction workers.CHARLOTTE — Those who have had the opportunity to know Deacon “Nino” Enedino Aquino know of his commitment to the Church and his dedication to serving those most in need in the Hispanic community.

For 28 years, Deacon Aquino has worked in Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Charlotte, serving the vicariates of Winston-Salem and Greensboro. Throughout that time, those who have worked with him have come to know firsthand his heart for immigrants and his dedication to the faith.

Sister Joan Pearson, who worked with Deacon Aquino for more than two decades, said he had a gift for reaching out to those most in need.

In the early years, Sister Joan accompanied Deacon Aquino to places where immigrant workers gathered in Forsyth County. There, they shared Bibles and holy water with men who worked in landscaping and construction. For Deacon Aquino, those encounters were opportunities to evangelize.

“He was so good that we really brought the ministry to where the people lived. He explained that God was always walking alongside them,” said Sister Joan. “He showed me what a true missionary disciple looks like.”

But the man who is now recognized for decades of service did not always live this way. Aquino had to go through his own process of transformation.

Born in Tamaulipas, Mexico, on May 21, 1958, he was exposed to the faith from an early age. As a young man, he served as an altar boy and participated in his parish youth group, but over time he drifted from the Church.

After marrying his wife, María Luisa, and starting a family of four children, he immigrated to North Carolina in 1988 with a work visa under the Simpson-Rodino law. He initially worked harvesting tobacco and settled in Siler City, then later in Asheboro.

Immigration and Soccer

After two years, he got a job at a chicken-processing plant, where he was able to better support his family for the next nine years. It was then that he rekindled a passion: soccer.

With a semiprofessional refereeing license obtained in Mexico, he organized games and tournaments for a local league. He had dozens of teams and his own group of referees. His Sundays were completely devoted to soccer.

“My children loved it, because I brought them out and they ate at restaurants and had good food, and it didn’t cost me much as president,” he said.

However, his wife never stopped asking him every Sunday: “And what about the Church?”

That persistence became the beginning of his return to the faith.

“I went to church not because I wanted to, but out of conviction,” Deacon Aquino said. “My wife almost dragged me, because she would say, ‘Hey, what about the Mass?’

“I told her, look, I’m going to do one thing: one Sunday at church and three Sundays playing soccer,” he said. “Then three Sundays went by and I had to leave soccer and dedicate myself to the Church.”

Little by little, he returned to Mass and eventually began serving in his parish as a lector.

“My wife, with that holy elbow, would hit me hard in the ribs,” he explained, referring to how she insisted when volunteers were being sought. “Until one day I raised my hand, and I started reading.”

At St. Joseph in Asheboro, the future deacon took on new responsibilities: baptism preparation, men’s groups and marriage preparation.

Later, Father Finnerty, then director of Hispanic Ministry in the diocese, invited him in September 1998 to become the first coordinator of Hispanic Ministry.

In Winston-Salem, he began organizing training sessions, retreats and other events that significantly expanded the ministry.

“I was the first one he invited to work,” Deacon Aquino said. “He took it upon himself to train me, and I grew along with him.”

A call to be a deacon

At Father Finnerty’s invitation, he began discerning a call to be a deacon. He explains that the call was strong, but that it came with great challenges.

“He gave me a brochure in English, and it said that it was necessary for me to speak both languages, but Father Vicente told me, ‘Apply,’” he explained.

Because his English was very limited, Deacon Aquino faced many difficulties, and his initial application was rejected. But thanks to his daughter’s encouragement, he did not give up.

With the help of his family, and after many long hours of studying, he was ordained on Jan. 29, 2011, after four years of studying in English, a language he did not master.

“God whispers to the heart of man, and when you lend your ears to God, God tells you where He wants you,” Deacon Aquino said. “The Lord always knew where He wanted me.”

— Brian Segovia

Dr. Matthew Harrison pioneered an abortion-reversal pill in 2007. The treatment has been credited with saving countless lives and is now available in all 50 states and 86 countries.

The event, which took place Sept. 17 in Charlotte, had many local priests, deacons and religious sisters in attendance. Yet it was the father of a local priest – Father Matthew Harrison, campus minister for High Point University – who took center stage among the crowd of 200 guests.

Dr. Matthew Harrison, a local physician and father of seven, was the recipient of the 2026 Proudly Pro-Life Award – one of National Right to Life’s highest honors.

Harrison, a parishioner of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, is known for his medical breakthrough – the abortion reversal pill – which is credited with saving 8,000 babies and is available in all 50 states and more than 86 countries.

“Dr. Matthew Harrison represents the very best of the pro-life movement – courage in the face of uncertainty, compassion for a mother in crisis, and an unwavering determination to save a child’s life,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life.

“His willingness to act when a mother turned to him for assistance helped launch an effort that has given thousands of women a second chance to choose life for their babies,” she said.

Harrison discovered the reversal method in 2007, when he received an emergency call. A frantic mother had ingested a dose of the abortion pill and regretted her decision. He worked quickly, preparing a progesterone hormone that was readily available in his office.

“The abortion pill blocks the progesterone receptor,” Harrison said. “I just knew that if I gave some progesterone, it would outcompete the abortion pill and reverse the effects.”

It worked, and now that child is a living, breathing testimony at 19 years old.

The progesterone-based reversal pill can in many cases nullify the effects of the abortion pill if taken within 72 hours of the first dose.

Demand for the reversal pill is surging due to easy access to the abortion pill through clinics and by mail order, making it responsible for 75 percent of the nation’s abortions. To combat it, pro-life organizations, clinics and centers have adopted the use of the reversal pill.

“We can start right outside the abortion clinic,” Harrison said. “They can get right in the mobile unit and get them an ultrasound. We can start the reversal process immediately.”

Harrison took the award and adoringly gifted it to his 91-year-old mother, the woman responsible for stirring the courageous fight within her son.

In 1973, right after the Roe v. Wade decision, his mother lost her sixth child in her womb.

“I remember I was there in the chapel at the hospital where we were having the baby’s funeral,” he recalled. “I saw all these doctors crying and upset, and it seemed strange to me, even at 8 years old, that they were all crying for our baby, but at the same time they supported the right for a mother to end the life of another child. That planted the seed.”

The child she lost that day has now saved so many through her son, but as Tobias points out, the war continues.

“What we do matters,” Tobias told the crowd. “And National Right to Life cannot do this work from Washington alone. Our strength has always come from the partnership between the national organization and strong state affiliates.”

Elisabeth Laskowski, director of North Carolina Right to Life and a parishioner of St. Mark Church, agrees. As she commended the efforts of those praying on the frontlines at abortion clinics and thanked God for the recent closing of “A Woman’s Choice” in Greensboro, she said there is more work to be done.

“Since Roe was overturned four years ago, North Carolina is now the No. 2 most popular abortion destination in the country, unfortunately,” she said. “Plus, there has been a surge in monthly abortion pills mailed into our state. We went from 250 monthly shipments in 2023 to 750 in 2025.”

At the gala, the organization announced a campaign to combat abortion tourism and chemical abortions called “Don’t Swallow the Lie.”

Harrison’s wife, Kathleen, stood by his side. She is a fighter, too, and not only in front of abortion clinics or volunteering at pregnancy centers.

She had four priests celebrate 81 Masses as she intently prayed for her then-Protestant husband’s conversion. In 2015, following the “nine-times novena,” Harrison came fully into the faith on Pentecost Sunday.

The following year their son Matthew went to seminary. Now, Brian, their younger son, is in his second year as a seminarian in Rome. The power couple has become a great Catholic example to pro-life supporters and families around the world.

— Lisa M. Geraci 

Father Jason K. Barone was appointed pastor of the newly elevated Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in Highlands, effective Sept. 8. He had served the Catholic community there as parochial administrator since 2019.

Father Augustine O. Ogar, M.S.P., currently serving as parochial administrator of St. William Parish in Murphy and Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville, has been appointed pastor of the parish and mission effective Oct. 1.

MARION — Our Lady of the Angels may be small, but its anniversary celebration Sept. 27 was anything but.

Nearly 400 people gathered for a jubilee Mass at the little Marion church, which seats fewer than 150, to celebrate two milestones: 75 years as a faith community and 50 years in its current church.

The close-knit community is the Diocese of Charlotte’s only independent mission.

The overcrowded Mass was said in English and Spanish – a usual occurrence at the church, where 90% of the congregation is Hispanic.

Parochial Administrator Father Innocent Amasiorah’s Sept. 27 homily message started with laughter, clapping, singing and joy.

The congregation sang, “If you're happy and you know it…clap your hands…”

They clapped for Jesus. They clapped for the church. They clapped for themselves and the faith journey they started in 1945, when a small community of Catholics traveled to Mass in nearby towns before holding their first Mass at the courthouse in downtown Marion in 1951.

Building for the future

Just like the congregation, Father Amasiorah was excited, too, not just about the past or the present but the possible future of his beloved little church on the hilltop.  

The jubilee anniversary milestones were two of many to come, he said. The next two in his sights are being named a parish and building a new church.

“When they built this church, it was a big church for them, because there were only a few families,” Father Amasiorah said. “Today, it is no longer a big church. It is grown so much.”

The church began like a mustard seed and grew like one. To sustain that growth, the congregation needed to make new plans, he said.

“The people that came before us made room for us. In the next 50 years, the people who are coming after us should have enough room to stay and enough room for Jesus,” he said. “We need to make more room… We cannot grow here. We need a bigger space.”

He challenged them to fully commit themselves to the Diocese of Charlotte’s “Making Room” campaign challenge to raise the funds needed for more land.

“I put forth this challenge, like the bishop asks… It is time to make more room for Jesus,” he said.

He explained that the Church is not made of brick and mortar – but people. 

“You are God’s building. You are the temples of the Lord’s grace,” he said. “When we talk about the Church. We talk about us. We talk about Jesus. We do not talk about the physical structure –it is us.”

And, with all the people, 120 registered families and more than 400 attending weekend Masses, he instilled hope in his flock that one day they would be recognized as a parish.

“With 50 years of a church, with a number of resident-priests who have already come and gone, and we are STILL a mission church,” Father Amasiorah said. “Our mission is to become a parish…and then we will begin to move forward.”

The goal carries an enormity to it, but with Bishop Michael T. Martin’s vision of growth and  Making Room Challenge, Father Amasiorah said he was hopeful – and that hope filled the room. 

Building “the bridge”

Marlyn Allison, now 79, remembers a similar plea for a new church in 1969 when she first joined Our Lady of the Angels as a new teacher in the area. 

“Ten families met in a small house to celebrate Mass. So much has happened since then. I became a little teary-eyed in there,” she said. “If these walls could talk, there were a lot of weddings, a lot of funerals, all kinds of ceremonies.”

One of those weddings was her own 40 years ago to her husband, Keith Allison, who started coming in 1984, a Catholic convert from Old Fort. 

Father Amasiorah referred to her as “The Bridge” because she is the parish’s longest-standing member, linking the “old” church to the “new” church. 

“I was here the day that they dedicated this church,” she said. “I was the organist.”

Although the numbers steadily grew, the demographics changed, with the Hispanic population quickly doubling and tripling the numbers of parishioners.

One of the first Hispanic members, Melida Triplett, a Cuban immigrant, joined in 1986, before the rapid growth of the community started in the 90s.

“I think I was the only Hispanic in the county at that time,” she said. “I felt at home when I got to church here.” 

She and her husband were married at the church in 1987, and in the mid-90s, she became the parish translator, watching as young parishioners grew up and brought their own families. 

Although Father Amasiorah is originally from Nigeria, he feels a special bond with the flock he was assigned to in 2025. 

“I am happy to be here. They are like Nigerians in the way we worship,” he said. “They give their time, they give their talent, they are always available, they love to help, and they love to serve. This is the kind of Nigerian background I have.”

Alfonso Navarrete, leader of the parish council, believes the Catholic Church is experiencing a revitalization that is being played out within the walls of Our Lady of Angels.

“There is revitalization in this church. I came back to my faith. Now, I am a reader. I am leading retreats and am chairman of the church. It’s a big challenge, but I have been learning a lot,” he said. “Some people are moving here, but some were gone from the faith for a while, but they are coming back.” 

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

Partnering with rural parishes enables Catholic Charities to reach people who may have difficulty traveling to Asheville for assistance, said Jesse Boeckermann, Catholic Charities’ Western Region official.MARS HILL — Nearly two years after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, a small Catholic parish in Madison County is building on the relationships forged during the disaster to help local children facing food insecurity.

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, the only Catholic church in Madison County, became an emergency relief center after Helene – distributing food, water, clothing, batteries, cleaning products and other necessities to residents regardless of faith.

The parish’s mission, Sacred Heart in Burnsville, provided similar assistance in neighboring Yancey County. Both churches are led by Father Anthony Mbanefo, MSP.

The relief effort introduced many people in the wider community to St. Andrew and led to a new partnership with Mars Hill Elementary School, said Kelly Hansen, parish secretary/assistant.

After emergency operations wound down, school officials asked whether the parish could continue helping local families. Parishioners responded by providing weekend food bags each Friday for more than 60 children identified as being at risk for food insecurity.

This school year, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Western Regional Office has joined the effort – providing reusable bags, supplemental food donations and funding for food.

A core group of about 10 parishioners, led by Vicki Fedor, gathers weekly to pack the bags. A great-grandmother and former school employee, Fedor is passionate about ensuring children have the nutrition they need to succeed in school.

The parish and Catholic Charities also partnered Aug. 12 for a back-to-school giveaway for Madison County students. A grant secured by Catholic Charities from The David and Susan Schoenholz Foundation provided new backpacks and school supplies for elementary, middle and high school students.

Hansen said the outreach grew directly from the parish’s response to Helene.

“Our two churches rose to the challenge through our relief centers,” she said. “This brought our parishioners closer together as they spent countless hours volunteering to serve those affected by Helene’s devastation.”

Partnering with rural parishes also enables Catholic Charities to reach people who may have difficulty traveling to Asheville for assistance, said Jesse Boeckermann, Catholic Charities’ Western Region director of external engagement.

“The relationship between Catholic Charities and these two rural parishes is a working example of how to support a community,” Boeckermann said.

For St. Andrew parishioners, the ministry also echoes their patron: the Apostle who brought the boy with five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus before the feeding of the 5,000.

Today, their small parish continues that legacy – bringing what it has to Christ and sharing it with neighbors in need.

— Donna Bange

Belmont Abbey College’s Family Day celebration Sept. 18 was particularly joyful this year as the college celebrated 150 years.

U.S. News & World Report also named Belmont Abbey College the 3rd-highest-ranked regional college in North Carolina, underscoring its growing national recognition. The college is the highest-ranked Newman Guide college in the region – an annual ranking of Catholic colleges created by the Cardinal Newman Society.

“These rankings affirm what we hear consistently from our students and families: Belmont Abbey’s greatest strength is the quality of the education and formation students receive here,” said President Dr. Jeffrey W. Talley. “Our faculty are deeply invested in their students, and our community challenges them to pursue excellence while preparing them to lead lives of purpose and service.”

This national recognition comes as Belmont Abbey maintains stable enrollment –its 1,693 students represent its second largest enrollment in a decade – and welcomes its largest class of traditional non-athlete students in eight years. Officials attribute the growth to interest in the college’s academic program offerings as well as its distinctive approach to Catholic higher education.

“This recognition in the U.S. News rankings validates what we see every day: that more students and families are seeking an education dedicated to forming the whole person,” said Jesse Dorman, vice president of enrollment. “The strength of this year’s incoming class reflects the appeal of a Belmont Abbey education – an education that combines academic excellence, a close-knit community, and a strong Catholic identity. We are excited to welcome these students and see how they grow during their time at the Abbey.”

The nursing program welcomed 33 students this year, including 18 direct admits and 3 honors students, bringing total enrollment in the program to 125 students. Belmont Abbey’s unique motorsport program continues to attract students –including 12 female students – with 24 new students exploring the field through an introductory course.

The program is committed to educating and graduating more female students while helping to expand opportunities for women in the motorsport industry. This momentum reflects the appeal of combining a liberal arts education with the specialized knowledge and professional skills needed to pursue careers in dynamic fields such as motorsports and nursing.

The Fall 2026 enrollment comes as Belmont Abbey celebrates its 150th anniversary, making it a milestone year for the college and its community. Founded in 1876, the college has remained committed to an education rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and its Benedictine identity.

— Belmont Abbey College

Country music recording artist Bradley Banning experienced commercial success in 2017, then pivoted when he realized that the lyrics of many country songs were glorifying things that went against his Catholic faith. He switched to recording Catholic country music. (MaryAnn Luedtke Photograpahy)

GREENSBORO — You don’t often see someone witness to their Catholic faith while wearing a cowboy hat, but for the past three years that’s been the goal for country music artist Bradley Banning.

Banning has songwriting in his blood. The Texas native has written songs since childhood, inspired by his songwriter father and the countless hours he spent listening to music with him.

He became Catholic in 2015 and started releasing his own music in 2016. His 2017 single “Don’t Mess with Texas” made the top 20 on charts in Texas, an indicator of future success because of the state’s huge role in the national country music scene. Over the next few years, Banning saw a divergence between mainstream country music and the message of faith he wanted to share, so he switched to overtly “Catholic country music” around 2023.

He was in Greensboro for two shows Sept. 18 and 19 – a solo show aimed at families and then a volunteer appreciation event that featured both Banning’s music and country line dance lessons led by Rick and

Trish Edwards, parishioners at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville who run a line-dance instruction company.

Banning took time during his visit to share his thoughts on making Catholic country music:

CNH: Country music is not a genre that’s known for having a lot of Catholic artists. What has the experience been like?

Banning: There are some Catholics making country. I’ve met artists like Clay Walker, who is a convert as well (Walker came into the Church in 2017), and Craig Morgan is also Catholic. I’m seeing more and more that there are Catholics in this genre, but it can be really hard to share your faith because it’s true many country artists come from Protestant or nondenominational upbringing. I’ve made a joke where you hear a lot of songs about dating or marrying a preacher’s daughter that you met at the First Baptist Church, but there’s never a song about meeting someone at Mass at St. Mary’s.

CNH: What led you to change focus in your songwriting?

Banning: I wasn’t enjoying the music business. I didn’t relate to it. I really started thinking it was all vanity. I saw a lot of country music lyrics focused on the hook-up culture, on being an outlaw and a rebel, and not in a good sense. I decided if I was going to influence the culture, I wanted to do it in a good way.

Alcohol was also talked about a lot in lyrics, not in a good way, and I wanted to address that. I’m not a big drinker, but I’ll occasionally have a couple, and I wanted to find a way to write a song about just going out two-stepping and maybe having a drink with friends, but not the kind of alcohol culture you see in some country lyrics. I started being more intentional, trying to write songs about faith, family and real life.

CNH: Have you released any sacred music?

Banning: I recorded a version of “Stabat Mater” that a friend asked me to do, and it was a very encouraging experience.

CNH: What reaction have you received since you made the change to pursuing music as a ministry?

Banning: The reception has been great overall. There are always some people who either don’t understand where I’m coming from or the message, but that’s often because they don’t know the full picture. For the most part the shows and events have gone well, and I’ve had really great response to both my testimony and my work of sharing my faith through country music.

During a volunteer appreciation event at St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro, line dancing instructors taught participants some new steps just in time for the concert.

CNH: How did you come to the Catholic faith?

Banning: I was living in Nashville and had been going to a bunch of different churches because I felt that being in church on Sunday helped my week to go smoother. One night I was invited to Mass by a friend of mine who was in the process of coming back to the Church. I knelt down on the kneeler and I knew I was home. I’m not usually a crier, but I started crying for some reason, and that was the beginning.

Over the next two years, God really stepped in in a big way. My life had been going in a different direction, and I really didn’t know if I needed to fully become Catholic or not. But over a short period of time, I was fired from my job and my girlfriend broke up with me, so I told God, “I hear you. When does OCIA start?” and I came to the Church.
I really experienced some pretty mystical things, and I had a great community of people around me who helped me enter the Church. It was all just grace from God.
CNH: What artists have been a big influence on you?
Banning: I’ve loved country artists like George Strait and Keith Urban. But I’m also a huge fan of songwriters. If I like a songwriter, I’ll look for their credits on the CDs and follow their work. Among the songwriters

I like there’s my dad, one of my major musical influences, and writers like Dean Dillon and Paul Overstreet.

(Dillon wrote many songs for George Strait and also penned the song “Tennessee Whiskey,” which has been recorded by several artists, including Chris Stapleton, and is considered a modern classic. Overstreet’s songs have been recorded by George Jones, The Judds, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, Blake Shelton and many others.)

CNH: Do you pray before you write a song and do you have any particular saint or devotion that influences you?

Banning: A lot of times the songwriting is much more fulfilling and you write something much more intentional and Christ-focused when you pray at the beginning.

I’ve dedicated a lot of songs I’ve written to particular saints that inspired the idea, and I’ll ask the saint to pray for the people who hear the song. I do have one song, “Be a Kid,” that was inspired by St. Therese of Lisieux, and I specifically dedicate it to her.

CNH: As a Catholic musician, what would be your advice to other Catholics who want to share both their faith and their artistic talents – whether that’s through music, writing or art?

Banning: Just pray and ask God to make you the man or woman He has asked you to be and wants you to be. It’s about being intentional, using your gift and not being afraid to use it in faith. For me, it’s not about building a catalog or building a business – it’s about being a more authentically Catholic version of myself.

 — Christina Lee Knauss

More online

At www.bradleybanning.com: Listen to his music and learn more

“This is an exciting night for us all, as we add to the legacy of Christ the King,” said Principal Mark Tolcher. “From our humble beginnings some fifteen years ago, the school has grown from twenty-eight students to over four hundred and fifty.”

This milestone is the first planned for CTK, as later this fall they will open its building expansion, a $12 million project that started last October. It will expand the footprint of the school with new classrooms, a larger cafeteria, a band room and a Crusaders shop. 

“This year we celebrate fifteen years of Faith, Reason, and Mission at CTK” President Shaileen Riginos said. “You may have already noticed the Marian Grotto taking shape, or the greenhouse Father Cuppett has taken on near the cross that stands at the highest point. Soon, a Holy Family statue will watch over this field as well.

“We invite you to keep believing in the mission as we lay the stones for the next fifteen years and fifteen after that.”

Lead donor Jim Phillips said the new improvements were indeed a great feat. Yet, the spirit of the school must keep focus on the end goal, reminding the Crusaders that the Catholic faith is the cornerstone that must keep them grounded, and the greater responsibility is to get the Crusaders' student body to heaven. 

“There will be exciting victories, difficult losses, and countless memorable moments. But it will also be a classroom without walls,” Phillips said. “Here, students will learn to trust their teammates respond to adversity, respect their opponents, and put the needs of the team above their own. They will learn that God has given each of them unique abilities, and that those gifts come with a responsibility to develop and use them well.”

— Photos provided

Bishop Michael Martin blessed and dedicated both buildings and spoke to a gathering of donors, students, staff and members of the Holy Trinity community.

During his remarks, he talked about the role the upgrades will have in the lives of students and staff and called Holy Trinity a “light on a hill” that can be a symbol of Catholic identity and education to people who pass by on busy Park Road, which runs in front of the school.

“This project is an example of what we do well in diocesan schools and what they do well at Holy Trinity  – we remember the past, draw on the old traditions and respond to the needs of the present,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of schools.

Renovations to the two buildings were part of the first two phases of an $11.5 million, three-phase enhancement project at the school, which includes a grant of more than $1 million from Shea Homes for upgrades to the athletic field and fine arts classrooms.

Wharton Smith was the contractor for the project, and Little Architects handled the design.

In the administration building, science classrooms were rebuilt with new cabinetry, flooring, hanging ceilings and lighting, and an additional classroom was added for theology. The nurse’s office was reconfigured, all administrative offices redone and a conference room added.

In the Begley Building, the formerly open-air, two-story library was closed in to add nine new classrooms, and the library was relocated to another part of the building. Ceilings and lighting were redone throughout the building, and a stairway was added indoors so students won’t have to go outside to access the second floor. Four offices and new bathrooms were added. Both buildings also have new HVAC systems.

President Kevin Parks said the renovations add to the school’s rich history. The administration building dates to 1953 and is the oldest building on Holy Trinity’s campus, while the Begley building – named after Bishop Michael Begley, the first bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte – was added in the 1970s.

“There is something particularly meaningful about taking buildings with this much history and preparing them for another generation,” Parks said. “We are not leaving that history behind – we are building upon it.”

As Monroe noted: “This is proof of the continued growth and investment in the diocese. It’s exciting to think of what this building will continue to offer to the school and the diocese in the future.”

New signage was also added to the front of the school for the beginning of this school year.

Principal Bobby Conrad said he was excited about the upgrades to Holy Trinity, which he said now looks very different from when he was a student there in the 1990s.

“All of these new classrooms are great, because we had 11 teachers who floated from space to space last year,” Conrad said. “The teachers like it and the students seem to really, really like it as well. This took a lot of cooperation and effort, and now our teachers and students are enjoying the fruits of the project.”

After the ceremony Bishop Martin took a tour of the Begley Building led by a group of student ambassadors and stopped to talk with students in several of the classrooms.

The newly renovated buildings were the latest chapter in what is a year of innovations for Holy Trinity. This year the school changed its name to Holy Trinity Catholic Academy to reflect its new approach to education. The school has started a transition toward blending single-sex core classes and co-ed electives to offer students a more tailored educational experience. This instructional method will be phased in over the next three years, being implemented this academic year for the sixth grade, the seventh grade the following year, and the eighth-grade level during the 2028-2029 year.

— Christina Lee Knauss

• Ad Meliora Endowment Fund: Financial support for facility improvements and beautification initiatives at Christ the King Catholic High School.
• American Schlafhorst Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Charlotte Catholic High School
• Archibong Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School students who are African American, Indigenous or students of color.
• Asheville Catholic School Endowment Fund: Financial support to retain quality teachers, offer scholarship assistance, provide continuing education for teachers and enhance the school’s curriculum.
• Joseph and Margaret Baldi Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for children of parishioners at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church to attend St. Leo Catholic School in Winston-Salem.
• Heidi Hogan Bell Memorial Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of Charlotte Catholic High School.
• Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of this school in Kernersville.
• Joan W. Books Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for children of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church to attend Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Don and Mary Gay Brady Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Greensboro.
• Elizabeth Allen Brown Endowment Fund: For the general needs of Catholic elementary and secondary schools and Catholic campus ministries in the Asheville area.
• Father Pat Cahill and Michael Miller Endowment Fund for Academic Support: Academic support at Asheville Catholic School.
• Carr and Jurczyk Family Endowment Fund: Faculty member awards at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School.
• Molly Cassidy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to parishioners of St. Pius X Church to attend St. Pius X School, both in Greensboro.
• Catholic Education Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students attending Catholic elementary schools in the diocese.
• Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association Board Discretionary Endowment Fund: For the general needs of Charlotte Catholic High School at the board’s discretion.
• Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduating seniors to attend a college of their choice.
• Charlotte Catholic High School Endowment Fund: Benefits Charlotte Catholic High School.
• Sister M. Joanice Cohen & Sister M. Elizabeth Fowkes, IHM Endowment Fund: Financial support to promote long-term recruitment, training and development of teachers at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Cornelius Alexander Davis II Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Leo the Great Catholic School in Winston-Salem.
• Digger Dawson Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church attending Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Derhofer Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville.
• Deussen Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for Catholic high school education in the greater Charlotte area.
• Stephen and Jessica Dey Options Endowment Fund: Benefits the “Options” programs at diocese schools.
• Diocesan Educational Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students within the diocese attending a Catholic elementary or high school.
• Faucette Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the educational ministry of the diocese’s schools.
• Barbara Fellerhoff and Jim Coddington Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at of Asheville Catholic School.
• FFHL Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund: Established through Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love Diocesan Campaign, this fund provides tuition assistance for Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte.
• Gayden and Janell Gauthier Family Endowment Fund: Technology and infrastructure updates and tuition assistance for students of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church to attend Immaculata Catholic School, both in Hendersonville.
• Mary Gay and Don Brady Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for faculty members’ children in the Piedmont-Triad area Catholic schools to attend Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School in Kernersville.
• O’Brien and William Edward Gibbs Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.
• Gismondi Family Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for children of St. Mark Catholic Church parishioners to attend Christ the King Catholic High School in Huntersville.
• Bobby Grant Memorial Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville.
• Megan Healy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at St. Patrick Catholic School in Charlotte.
• Edith and George Hilbert Endowment Fund: Financial support for the education of students at Asheville Catholic School.
• Holy Family Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Catholic school tuition assistance (K-12) for members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons.
• Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School Endowment Fund: Supports the general needs of Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School.
• Immaculata Catholic School Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at this school in Hendersonville.
• Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at this school in High Point.
• Roger Kavanagh Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro.
• Knights of Columbus 11911 of St. Eugene for Asheville Catholic School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of this school.
• Isaac A. Kohl Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship for students matriculating from St. Pius X Catholic School to Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.
• Leeolou Family Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools families.
• LeFeber Endowment: General needs of Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• LoBianco Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending diocesan Catholic schools.
• Alexander and Brenda Lyerly Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for children with financial need to attend Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte.
• Lorraine J. Malphurs Endowment Fund: Student testing fees at St. Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro.
• Manley Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students of families at St. Eugene Catholic Church to attend Asheville Catholic School.
• Catherine McAuley Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships to Catholic students attending Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools.
• Bryant McDermott Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to students of Charlotte Catholic High School and Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte.
• Francis J. McGrail Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to students of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School in High Point.
• Leonard F. McGinley Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for children of Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons.
• Lee McGuiness Endowment Fund: Benefits the Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association.
• Sandy McMonagle Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School in Winston-Salem.
• Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) Education Endowment Fund: Assistance to the nine MACS schools in the Charlotte area.
• Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) Special Needs Endowment Fund: For MACS’ students with special needs.
• Dr. Stanley Michalski Jr. Endowment Fund: Assistance for the MACS band programs.
• Katelyn Mitchell Student Athlete Scholarship Endowment Fund: For the benefit of a student-athlete in sixth, seventh or eighth grade at St. Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro.
• Eleanor C. Murphy Educational Trust Scholarship Endowment Fund: Provides scholarships for students from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Salisbury.
• Monsignor Lawrence C. Newman Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School in Winston-Salem.
• Victor M. Nussbaum Jr. Educational Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro.
• Chris and Margaret Onulak Endowment Fund: General needs of Asheville Catholic School.
• Our Lady of Grace School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Greensboro.
• Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School Fund: General needs of this school in Charlotte.
• Poutré Family Endowment Fund: General needs of Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Quinn Family Endowment Fund: General needs of Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• George L. Repass Memorial Tuition Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville.
• Sister Geri Rogers Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School in Winston-Salem.
• Clark G. Ross Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for Catholic high school students from Catholic parishes in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Cabarrus and Rowan counties.
• Clark G. Ross St. Therese Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Assistance for college age parishioners at St. Therese Catholic Church in Mooresville.
• Ruggieri Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.
• Sacred Heart School Catholic Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Salisbury.
• Sheridan-Mangan Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.
• Monsignor Joseph S. Showfety Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students enrolled in Catholic grade school or high school and reside in Guilford or Forsyth County.
• Monsignor Joseph S. Showfety Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students of this school.
• Sisters of Mercy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Michael Catholic School in Gastonia.
• Sisters of St. Joseph Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for Bishop McGuinness students.
• Victoria Sleeman Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church to attend Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Frank Spinks Endowment Fund: Professional development activities for the staff at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Mary Spinks Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to minority students at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Michelle Stanley Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance at St. Mark Catholic School in Huntersville.
• St. Ann Catholic School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Charlotte.
• St. Frances Cabrini Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for St. Pius X Catholic School students from first-generation families.
• St. Gabriel Catholic School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Charlotte.
• St. Joseph Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.
• St. Lawrence Council (1695) Student Scholarship Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the educational needs of council members’ and deceased members’ children.
• St. Leo Catholic School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Winston-Salem.
• St. Mark Catholic School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Huntersville.
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition aid for the children of parishioners from St. Mary’s Catholic Church who attend Our Lady of Grace Catholic School or St. Pius X Catholic School, both in Greensboro, or Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville.
•  St. Matthew School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Charlotte.
• St. Michael School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Gastonia.
• St. Patrick Catholic School Endowment Fund: General needs of this school in Charlotte.
• St. Pius X School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at this school in Greensboro.
• Michael Sullivan Endowment Fund: For general fine arts department needs at Charlotte Catholic High School or non-profit support compatible with known interest of Michael Sullivan.
• Theresa Lasecki Talbert Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville.
• Remo and Carolyn Termini Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students attending Asheville Catholic School.
• John Michael Thompson Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Salisbury.
• F. Joseph Treacy Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students in all nine MACS schools.
• Villalon Family Endowment Fund: General needs of Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School.
• Sabrina Watt Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending MACS schools.
• Florence B. Werden Memorial Endowment Fund: General needs of Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.
• Kurtis D. Williams Flight Scholarship Endowment Fund: Flight-related assistance for aviation students at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville.
• Sister Paulette Williams Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduating Charlotte Catholic High School seniors to attend a college of their choice.
• Mary Jane Winfrey Endowment Fund: General needs of Asheville Catholic School.
• Woelfel Family Endowment Fund: Students’ educational purposes at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School in Greensboro.
• Wos-Dejoy Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro.
• Sister Emma Yondura Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Leo Catholic School in Winston-Salem.

Endowments aid students, schools
Over $9.0 million has been distributed from 106 endowments to directly benefit students and schools.

— Photos provided by St. Leo School

Dr. Carl Semmler is moving from his leadership roles at Christ the King High School in Huntersville into a new administrative position designed to increase collaboration in the diocese’s growing school system. Meanwhile, three recent hires from across the country have been chosen to lead at Christ the King and at Charlotte Catholic High School and St. Matthew School in Charlotte.

Carl Semmler

Semmler, who served as Christ the King’s principal for six years and as president for the past three, will be the diocese’s new executive director of Catholic Identity, Operations and Capital Improvements for Catholic Schools.

He will work closely with leaders across all 20 Catholic schools to strengthen Catholic identity, support school operations, and oversee facilities planning and capital improvement initiatives.

During his tenure at Christ the King, Semmler oversaw the quadrupling of the school’s footprint and a 73% increase in enrollment. He brings 30 years of experience in Catholic education across three dioceses, including more than two decades in educational leadership.

“Dr. Semmler is a respected Catholic educator whose experience, leadership and commitment to our mission have already had a tremendous impact on our diocese,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of schools. “Having served successfully as both a principal and president, he understands the opportunities and challenges our schools face each day. I am grateful for his willingness to serve in this new role and know he will be a tremendous resource for our principals and school leaders.”

“We are blessed with exceptional teachers and school leaders, and I look forward to partnering with them as we continue strengthening Catholic education across the Diocese of Charlotte,” Semmler said.

Shaileen Riginos

After a national search, Christ the King looked across the state line to name veteran South Carolina educator Shaileen Riginos as its new president.
Riginos, who is the first female high school president in the diocese, holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education and a Master of Arts in educational leadership from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.

Most recently, she served as associate superintendent for the Diocese of Charleston, where she provided strategic leadership across 32 Catholic schools, supporting pastors, diocesan leaders and school administrators. She previously spent 10 years as principal at St. Anne Catholic School in Rock Hill.

“Christ the King has long been a model of what a thriving Catholic high school can be,” Riginos said. “While leading the expansion of St. Anne Catholic School into the first PK-3 through 12 school in the Diocese of Charleston, I often looked to CTK as an example of strong Catholic identity and student formation. To now have the privilege of serving as its president feels like it is coming full circle.”

“Mrs. Riginos brings broad experience at both the diocesan and school levels, along with strong expertise in strategic planning and relationship building, which will serve the Christ the King community well as the school continues to grow,” Monroe said.

Tonya Eaton

Veteran educator Tonya Eaton has been named principal at St. Matthew School in Charlotte. 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.

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

“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,” Monroe said, “and she will be a great fit for our school system with her past experiences and skillset.”

“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.”

Michael Seeley

Charlotte Catholic High School has named Michael Seeley, a long-time education leader and administrator, as its president.

Most recently he was president of the Lafayette Catholic School System in Indiana, where he provided strategic and operational leadership across multiple campuses, overseeing enrollment, advancement, finances, governance and long-range planning.

Seeley has more than two decades of senior leadership experience in both Catholic and independent school settings, including the University of Notre Dame, Phillips Exeter Academy and Culver Academies. He has done extensive work in institutional advancement, admissions and enrollment management, and also worked closely with boards, donors and diocesan leaders.

As president of Charlotte Catholic, Seeley will focus on the school’s long-range planning, community relationships, financial and operational management and fundraising. He will partner in leading the school with longtime principal Kurt Telford.

“I am looking forward to this new chapter, which not only allows me to work with Michael but also to return to my true love of working closely with students and teachers as principal,” Telford said.

Seeley added, “I look forward to working alongside dedicated and passionate students, teachers, staff and families as we fulfill our shared mission to graduate not only scholars and athletes but disciples of Christ.”

— Catholic News Herald and Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools Office

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Lisa M. Geraci

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Catholic News Herald

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Lisa M. Geraci

The fund was created by Johnston with $4 million from his estate after his death in 2017.

Johnston was born in Charlotte and then lived all over the country before retiring in the Southeast. He attended Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and earned a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1958. He began his career in the entertainment industry, and under the stage name of Kelly Kinnear, he worked with Hollywood legends including Jack Benny, Ed Sullivan and George C. Scott. When acting work became scarce, he took what was intended to be temporary job working for Conrad Hilton in a new credit card venture called Carte Blanche. He rose to success in the emerging industry and, after reaching the position of senior vice president at a large regional bank in St. Louis, he left to lead a nonprofit specializing in consumer credit counseling.

“I first met with Mr. Johnston back in 1989. He made his decision to put this (scholarship) gift in his estate back then,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “He never wavered from that commitment, despite the fact that he moved away from the diocese later in life.”

Students from all 20 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte are eligible for scholarship awards from the fund. The schools that students will attend this year are Our Lady of Assumption in Charlotte, Our Lady of Mercy and St. Leo schools in Winston-Salem, Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville, and St. Mark in Huntersville.

The scholarship awarded to each student ranges from $5,600 to $17,042, depending on tuition cost and need. Each student can continue receiving assistance through the scholarship fund for the length of their academic career as long as they remain eligible.

Kelley noted, “Philip Johnston is one of over 1,900 people who told us they are caring for the needs of the Church by leaving some entity in our diocese in their estate plans. Whether we have already received those gifts or will receive them decades down the road, we remain grateful to their commitment to the Church.”

Since 1986, entities including parishes, schools and ministries have received more than 70 gifts of $1 million or more from individuals such as Johnston, typically to help fund capital projects or endowments.

— Catholic News Herald

Diocesan financial aid
Most families who attend Catholic schools receive some form of financial aid through tuition discounts or assistance.

All of the diocese’s schools offer some sort of tuition discount or subsidy for registered participating Catholic families, up to 30 percent in some cases.

Generally speaking, tuition amounts range from approximately $8,000 to $14,000 for registered Catholics, with non-participating Catholics and non-Catholics paying higher amounts. Multiple child discounts are also available.

Needs-based tuition assistance is also available to qualified families – making Catholic education more affordable than ever for more families.

The application period is January through March 31 for the upcoming school year.

A family does not have to be registered as a participating Catholic to receive aid. Aid is need-based and can only assist with the cost of tuition. As soon the application process is complete, families are eligible to receive an award.

For details about the MACS tuition assistance program, call 704-370-3265 or go online to www.discovermacs.org/admissions/tuitionandaffordability. This website has detailed information about how financial assistance works, how to apply, and answers to frequently asked questions.

The diocese’s nine parish-based schools and Bishop McGuinness High School offer similar need-based tuition assistance to qualified students. Details can be found on each school’s website.

All MACS financial aid requests are processed through a third-party processor, Clarity. Most diocesan parish-based schools provide financial aid through the FACTS processor as well.

Receiving financial aid requires an ample amount of documentation, which is verified through the FACTS school’s preferred platform.

Families are required to apply every year if they wish to continue receiving financial aid. However, applying for financial aid does not guarantee a family will receive aid.

State financial aid

Other financial aid options include the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program, Disabilities Grant Program, and Education Savings Accounts and the Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Scholarship. These cover tuition and required fees at a participating non-public school. In addition the Disabilities Grant and Education Saving Account Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Scholarship can cover certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability.

Opportunity Scholarship Program

The Opportunity Scholarship Program expands school choice in North Carolina for eligible students in kindergarten through 12 grade. All NC K-12 students are eligible regardless of income or prior public school enrollment. This program provides funding for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school.

Education Savings Account

An Education Savings Account expands school choice for eligible students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade. An Education Savings Account is for students attending a registered non-public school and can be applied to tuition and required fees and certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability. Additionally, it allows parents quarterly access to funds on a debit card. This program currently provides funding of up to $9,000 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school. Each program has specific additional requirements for eligibility.

Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Scholarship

The ESA+ scholarship is for students with disabilities who require special education services. Funds can be used for K-12 school tuition as well as certain allowable expenses such as speech therapy, tutoring, and educational technology.

For details about any of these aid programs, go to the N.C. State Education website at www.k12.ncseaa.edu.

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

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

It was a blessed end to a terrifying seven days. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Jane Pope. Photos provided

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Belmont Abbey College

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

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

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

Read about some improvements and upgrades at the Catholic schools. 

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

Holy Trinity Catholic Academy

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

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

Our Lady of the Assumption School

St. Matthew School

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

St. Michael School

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

Charlotte Catholic High School

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

Across the diocese 

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

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

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

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

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

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

—Troy C. Hull

The classroom of St. Gabriel’s PACE teacher Nicole Walton is filled with smiles and laughter as students absorb lessons geared toward the way they learn best. (Lisa M. Geraci)

“They see what your kid CAN do, and they capitalize on that,” said Anna Friemel, parent of Walker, a student enrolled in the program. “They can do things. It’s just a little different.”

PACE stands for Providing an Appropriate Catholic Education, and for the Friemel and Campbell families, the difficult challenge of finding a Catholic education for their children led them to Greensboro – a place they likely would have never known existed if not for St. Gabriel’s PACE.

Now, among the nine students in special education teacher Nicole Wilton’s multi-sensory classroom for children K-3, Walker Friemel and Austin Campbell learn, socialize and practice their faith, all in the same building as their siblings.

The children move about freely. Sometimes they take a break to spin in circles, give hugs or pretend they are dinosaurs, but in general they work at their skill level. Some sit on bean bags happily fidgeting while reading 4th-grade science magazines, while the others work on gluing colorful alphabet puzzles together. The classroom incorporates flexible seating, movement breaks, and sensory supports based on individual student needs.

“We meet them where they are and go from there,” Wilton said.

Austin and Walker returned from classes they attend with their grade-level peers. Before sprinting to the soft couches, they made a beeline for the visitors in the room – their moms.

Mothers Katy Campbell and Anna Friemel hugged them and smiled – still overjoyed by their progress.

Walker spied Father Casey Coleman in the corner and yelled, “Get to Mass, Father Coleman!”

Everyone laughed – a laugh that never would have happened two years before.

Chris and Anna Friemel moved 800 miles from their home in Central Arkansas to give Walker better educational opportunities.

The Arkansas travelers

Chris and Anna Friemel are 800 miles from their hometown in Central Arkansas with no regrets.

Walker, their 7-year-old son with autism, attended Catholic school in Arkansas, but the lack of special programs meant he was unable to thrive.

“How could I go to church on Sunday and teach our neurotypical daughter that we are to love everyone and see them for what they can do, and then turn around and tell her that there is no place for Walker?” Anna Friemel cried at the memory. “We really just needed a miracle, somebody to serve both of our children at the same school, and to see them for what they can do.”

Chris Friemel, who was in Greensboro for business, met Father Casey Coleman at Our Lady of Grace Church. He confided in the pastor that they were pouring resources into Walker’s education to no avail.

Father Coleman shared the St. Gabriel’s PACE program’s successes, and Chris carried that news home to his wife. They followed Father Coleman’s advice and started praying. Months later,

Chris Friemel was offered a transfer to Greensboro.

Both children started school in August of 2025 and are thriving.

“This is a divine program. Just the fact that our children are seen the same. There is just so much support,” Anna Friemel said.

 The students are part of the larger school and faith community.

From Washington to Greensboro

Katy Campbell homeschooled her son, Austin, who has autism, when they lived in Washington state but wasn’t making progress. When she tried to enroll him in her local parish school, he was rejected.

“They’d tell everyone every kid deserved a Catholic school education,” Katy said. “To show up and be made to feel like it was ‘every child except yours’ – that was a major emotional gut punch.”

One day, Katy’s sister randomly called and said she was transferring to Greensboro.

“I had no idea where Greensboro was, but I started researching, and then I saw this Catholic school program for autistic children,” she said.

Excitedly, she left her four children with her husband and drove 2,325 miles to Greensboro.

“It only took me four days, but I was driving like 10 hours a day,” she laughed. “I walked in the school, and they gave me a tour. I was instantly impressed.”

It was all she needed. They moved, fueled by their faith in God and love for their children.

Two years later, they are part of a loving faith community at Our Lady of Grace and a school where all their children can thrive.

“The dream is for all Catholic schools to have something like this, but until we get there, sensitivity, deep listening and compassion go a long way,” she said.

What every student deserves

According to the CDC, 1 out of 36 children nationally is diagnosed with autism. Out of those, only 1%-2% attend private schools, the majority attending public schools, due to the national shortage of specialized programs.

Principal Catherine Rusch has prioritized the growth of St. Gabriel’s, OLG’s continuum of support for students with diverse learning needs. Through St. Gabriel’s PACE and St. Gabriel’s Quest, approximately 40 students are now served across the school.

“This is the way God wants us to live,” Rusch said. “The dignity of the human being isn’t about picking the human beings you want to include. It is about recognizing the dignity of every person, from conception to natural death, no matter how God made them.”

— Lisa M. Geraci

The 2013 FFHL campaign funded capital projects, endowments and other needs across the growing diocese. Included in the $65 million campaign was a tuition assistance endowment available to the diocese’s 20 schools.

This year’s funds are going to five diocesan schools that applied for the 2026-2027 school year: Asheville Catholic School, $59,456; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $83,557;

Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, $21,314; Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, $23,888; and St. Michael School in Gastonia, $6,785.

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

The FFHL Tuition Assistance Endowment, with a market value of over $5 million, 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 $1,409,324 in distributions from the FFHL Tuition Assistance Endowment has been awarded to the diocese’s schools.

“The FFHL campaign continues to have a significant and meaningful impact in our diocese,” added Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “The over $1 million in tuition assistance that has been distributed to date helps students receive an education that will literally change their lives.”

To qualify for the funding, 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 endowment for participating Catholic students with a financial need.

The FFHL Tuition Assistance Endowment is one of seven endowments funded through the FFHL campaign.

— Catholic News Herald

“Our united prayers, sacrifices and efforts to protect human life and heal the wounds inflicted by abortion remain as important as ever,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas – Bishop of Toledo, Ohio, and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities – earlier this year. “Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure that every human life may be protected in law and welcomed in love, and that abortion may be unthinkable.”

Life Chains will take place in these communities Oct. 4. For details about these and other Life Chain events, go online to www.lifechain.org.

CHARLOTTE
8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., 2-3 p.m.

7702 Pineville Matthews Rd. (Voices For Life Club at CCHS), 2:30-3:30 p.m.

CONCORD
800 block of South Union St. in front of Food Lion, 2-3 p.m.; Joe Andruzzi, 704-796-0075

GREENSBORO
Battleground Ave., 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Mark Shelly, 336-312-4810

HUNTERSVILLE
The sidewalk in front of St. Mark Church, Stumptown Road, 2-3 p.m.

MOCKSVILLE
Event is moved to 10 a.m.-noon Oct. 11.
St Francis of Assisi Parish, 862 Yadkinville Road; David Taylor, 226-406-1089

MOORESVILLE
St. Therese Parish will be joining St. Mark Parish in Huntersville

NEWTON
Meet at the Catawba County Museum of History, 30 N College Ave. They will start in prayer and walk around downtown, 1-3 p.m.

WAYNESVILLE
On the corner of Russ Ave. and Howell Mill Road on the side of the street facing Burger King, 2 p.m.

WINSTON-SALEM
Home Depot parking lot on Haines Mall Blvd., 2 p.m.; Joe Rogers, 419-944-5375

— Catholic News Herald and OSV News

Just don’t leave your dog at home - there will be pet blessings galore across the diocese. While you’re exploring, befriend a squirrel, hug a tree or hike a trail or two. If you are feeling daring, go St. Francis style - barefoot. If you encounter a fierce wolf along the way, run first and then pray hard, but feel free to preach to the birds.

— Lisa Geraci

* In its decree for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, the Apostolic Penitentiary announced that plenary indulgences will be granted to Catholics “under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father), to those who participate in a pilgrimage to churches named after the saint – those marked with an * are eligible. Read more online at charlottediocese.org/year-of-st-francis/

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Lenoir*

328-B Woodsway Lane NW, Lenoir
828-754-5281

Events:

• Oct. 3: 9 a.m. Mass, followed by a pet blessing and parish festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Oct. 4: 10 a.m. Mass (English), followed by a procession; noon Mass (Spanish), followed by a procession.

While you are there:

• Venerate first- and third-class St. Francis of Assisi relics in the church’s left chapel.
• Say a prayer for vocations in front of the St. Francis Memorial Fountain.
• Visit the old church at 1025 College Ave.

History: St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir was founded by Franciscan friars who arrived in Caldwell County in 1932.

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Mocksville*
862 Yadkinville Road, Mocksville
336-751-2973

Events:

• Oct. 3: 1 p.m. pet blessing
• Oct. 4: 10:20 a.m. procession with a St. Francis of Assisi relic, Mass and blessing with the relic, followed by a festival.

Fun fact: In 1980, St. Francis of Assisi Church welcomed its first resident pastor – Friars of Atonement Father Noel McSweeney – and with him, parish status.

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Franklin*
299 Maple St., Franklin
828-524-2289

Events:

• Oct 4: Mass 9 a.m. in English and 11 a.m. in Spanish

Take the trip: Drive the scenic route to Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Highlands to visit its new Baroque-style church. Along the way stop at the seven waterfalls right off the road.

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jefferson*
167 St. Francis Place, Jefferson
336-246-9151

Events:

• Oct. 2: 4 p.m. pet blessings
• Oct. 3: 2:30 p.m. Transitus of St. Francis with Father Jacob Mlakar and the Secular Franciscan Fraternity. (Confessions at 3:45 p.m. and Mass at 4:30 p.m.)

While you are there:

• At the church: See 34 stained-glass windows, including scenes from St. Francis’ life
• Take a hike: St. Francis walked barefoot across Europe for 20 years and thousands of miles. To honor him, take the dogs for a walk along more than 400 miles of marked trails within 90 minutes of Jefferson.

Both the Appalachian Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway pass through Ashe County.

St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, Stoneville
477 Grogan Road, Stoneville
336-573-3751

Events:

• Oct. 3: 4 to 6 p.m. Transitus service in the St. Francis Prayer Chapel, followed by processions to the Glass Chapel and the columbarium, concluding with dinner (RSVP required).

While you are there:

• Main building: Timeline of St. Francis’ life in paintings along the hallway
• Grounds and facility: Sculptures, paintings and works of art dedicated to St. Francis and St. Clare
• Trails: Take a hike along the paths to a large mural of St. Francis atop a hill

St. James the Greater Church, Concord
139 Manor Ave. SW, Concord
704-720-0600

Events:

• Oct. 3: 11:30 a.m. Transitus service with Franciscans Father Casey Cole, OFM, and Father Roberto “Tito” Serrano, OFM.

Our Lady of Mercy Church, Winston Salem
1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem
336-723-8238

Events:

• Oct. 4: 11 a.m. Mass. Secular Franciscans will renew their promises and Sister Kathy Ganiel, OSF will renew her vows.

CHARLOTTE — God’s creatures bring us companionship, comfort and plenty of joy, and each year pet parents across the Diocese of Charlotte have an opportunity to bring their beloved animals to our sacred spaces for a special blessing.

In celebration of the Oct. 4 Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology, parishes throughout the diocese will host Blessing of Animals events this fall.

Events already scheduled include:

• St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte. Noon Saturday, Oct. 3, in the parish center parking lot. Animals should be safely secured on a leash or in a carrier/cage for the wellbeing of all attendees. Weather permitting.
• St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte. 10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Marian grotto (school parking lot). Short outdoor blessing; please arrive on time. Weather permitting.
• Sacred Heart Church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury. 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, by the flagpoles.
• St. Frances of Rome Mission, 29 Highland Drive, Sparta. 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, outside at the Blessed Virgin Mary Grotto.
• St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road, Charlotte. 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in the courtyard.
• St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in front of the church.
• St. Francis of Assisi Church, 167 St. Francis Place, Jefferson. 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, outside on the lower level. Please don’t forget top bring any pet essentials to help keep things tidy.

• St. Francis of Assisi Church, 328-B Woodsway Lane N.W., Lenoir. 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, courtyard

• St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd, Charlotte, 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5
• Our Lady of the Assumption, 4207 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte. 10:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, outside the church.

— Maria De Ugarte