In a “real estate summit” last month, the diocese brought together Church leaders and Catholic professionals in the fields of real estate, development, law, construction and finance to help shape a comprehensive strategy for managing its property portfolio and future needs.

The summit examined how real estate can help address challenges created by growth – including overcrowded churches, rising school enrollment, expanding ministries and emerging pastoral needs. The goal is not simply to buy more land or construct new buildings, leaders said, but to anticipate and respond to real estate needs to more effectively serve its communities.

“As a significant landowner in western North Carolina, we need to be nimble as we invite and attract more people into the Catholic Church,” said Bishop Michael Martin, who convened the summit to seek advice and foster relationships with industry experts.

“We need to prepare now,” he said, “for realities we anticipate will be playing out in 20 years in our churches, schools and ministries.”

A comprehensive strategy would inform and guide future decisions about property acquisitions and sales, development opportunities and facility investments. It would help the diocese stay ahead of real estate trends and pay attention to areas in need of the Church’s presence as communities grow.

An estimated 575,000 Catholics live within the 46 counties encompassed by the diocese, and projections indicate another 30% increase in population by 2050.

“We’ve got a lot more people we’re trying to serve now,” said Emmett Sapp, the diocese’s director of real estate and construction, “so we’re looking at all the different ways to respond to that.” The diocese is already building to accommodate the influx – with more than 80 parish, school and ministry projects undertaken since 2018. The diocese owns or oversees more than 100 properties from Greensboro to Asheville and beyond, including 93 churches and 20 schools.

Summit participant David Longo, chairman of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and member of St. Matthew Parish in south Charlotte, said just as businesses do, the diocese must be ready to act when opportunities emerge.

“A comprehensive real estate strategy will give the diocese a consistent, overarching framework for making decisions, leveraging opportunities and finding creative ways to manage growth,” said Longo, one of a dozen local leaders who will continue to help guide the diocese.

A real estate strategy would help determine whether to expand a church or build a new one, purchase adjacent property near a parish or school, and acquire land in fast-growing areas for future ministry sites.

It would also help leaders further evaluate major projects, among them:

• The future of the diocese’s aging Pastoral Center in uptown Charlotte
• The possible location of a new parish in Charlotte that could also serve as a future cathedral site
• Planning for possible Catholic schools in currently underserved areas.

Complicating the diocese’s ability to respond to growth, leaders noted, is the fact that securing land is becoming more difficult as costs rise and availability declines. Land acquisition is among the diocese’s priorities in its $150 million philanthropic initiative “Making Room – for More to Know the Love of Jesus,” which the diocese launched this month.

Diocesan leaders said they were inspired by the urgency of growth as well as the diocese’s history of strategic investments. In the 1980s, then-Bishop John Donoghue and his chancellor, Monsignor John McSweeney, bought land along the future Interstate 485 corridor before the Charlotte beltway was built, enabling the eventual establishment of St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke parishes. Today, those congregations are among the diocese’s largest, serving 50,000 people.

Acquiring land in high-growth areas is only one option, Sapp said. Others might include expanding facilities, creating new parishes, or adding Masses to accommodate more people. Another focus is the diocese’s inventory of vacant and underutilized land.

The summit marks the beginning of an ongoing effort to ensure responsible stewardship of the resources, said Matt Ferrante, the diocese’s chief financial officer.

A Real Estate and Facilities Subcommittee is also being formed under the recently expanded Diocesan Finance Council to bring together professionals with deep expertise who will help advise diocesan leaders.

Leaders agree the goal is to take a forward-looking approach, rather than waiting until growth pressures become critical.

“We know the growth occurring throughout western North Carolina will continue to shape the needs of our parishes, schools and ministries,” Ferrante said. “Our goal is to be proactive, strategic and thoughtful in how we steward our facilities and real estate resources in support of the Church’s mission.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle

Recipients of the award, named after the servant for the poorest of the poor, are recognized for humble service, compassion, generosity, and dedication to others, and for echoing Mother Teresa’s dedication to doing small things with great love.

A parishioner since 1998, Robie has devoted much of his professional life to serving the poor and underserved. A physician specializing in Internal Medicine, he has worked with the Pacific and Caribbean Island Outreach Program to provide medical care in remote and impoverished communities. He continues this ministry as one of three physicians serving at the Community Care Center Clinic, where free healthcare is provided to those in need.

In 2020, he became involved with the Joseph-Mary Foundation, established by Father Peter Nouck to support the educational and healthcare needs of young people in Cameroon. He helped coordinate the shipment of medical equipment and supplies and assisted in the development of a $2.4 million hospital that has dramatically improved healthcare outcomes in the region.

Within Holy Family Parish, Robie previously taught Religious Education to second grade and middle school students and currently serves as a soundboard operator at the Saturday evening Mass while leading the monthly Rosary before Mass.

Robie and his wife, Joan, recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. Together they have three children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

— LeiLanie D'Agostino

Each year, the nine-month pilgrimage starts in March and ends on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The pilgrimage, which honors Our Lady of Guadalupe and expresses international unity and dedication to the sanctity of life, began in 1960, when the first live rose was blessed by a bishop in Ontario. Today, eight silver roses travel different routes throughout North America, several of which begin in Canada and end in Mexico. 

Father Lucas Rossi, pastor of St. John the Evangelist, led a bilingual prayer service, litany and rosary, followed by a gathering in the parish hall. Mark DeMarco welcomed visitors on behalf of the Knights of Columbus, who host the program. 

In 2001, when Carl Anderson, past Supreme Knight of the Knight of Columbus, expanded the Silver Rose Program, he told those gathered for their annual meeting in Toronto,

“Through (the Silver Rose Program) we honor not only Our Lady of Guadalupe and express unity of the (Knights of Columbus), but we also reaffirm the Order’s dedication to the sanctity of human life. It is to the Blessed Mother that we turn in prayer as we work to end the Culture of Death that grips our society. As we think in terms of ‘One Life, One Rose,’ it is most appropriate that we turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe who made known her will through Juan Diego, and the miracle of roses.”

— Gail Webb

The May 30 lecture, “Women Leaders in the Early Jesus Movement: Could the pivotal role women played in Jesus’ earthly ministry point the way to a greater role in the modern Church?” was originally slated for Jan. 31 but postponed because of winter storms. 

This year’s Kennedy Lecturer was Dominican Sister Barbara Reid, a nationally known biblical scholar and feminist theologian. She is the first woman religious to serve as president of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and has written extensively on Scripture, discipleship and the role of women in the Gospel accounts.

Sister Reid, who professed her vows in 1974, described growing up seeing only men and boys having liturgical roles at Mass. 

“I remember as a little girl watching male classmates serve at the altar and saying, ‘I wish I could do that,’” she recalled.

“Now, we don’t just have women altar servers, but women lectors... women serving in all different pastoral roles that didn’t exist when I was younger,” she said.

Yet a common complaint is that including women in Church leadership roles has been slow, Sister Reid said, so she looks to the example of the early Church to offer insights as today’s Church leaders explore more ways women can serve and leverage their skills to build up the Church.

“The question about women leaders is complex, but what I will offer is one important piece of the conversation, mainly the role of women leaders in the early Jesus movement,” she said.

In the early Church, she said, “The types of ministerial leadership that women exercised as disciples in the New Testament are many. They were apostles, deacons, prophets, teachers, preachers, evangelizers, heads of house churches and more.”

Sister Reid introduced attendees to prominent women who typically go unnoticed, including Junia, a prominent first-century Christian leader and missionary. In Romans 16:7 Paul commended her: “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.” 

St. Mary Magdalene was an apostle to the apostles, according to Hippolytus of Rome. The Samaritan woman at the well in John’s Gospel later rose to the role of lead apostle and missionary after her encounter with Jesus.

Sister Reid also pointed out that the early title from which the word “deacon” evolved was given to a woman named Phoebe, as noted in Romans 16:1, where Paul wrote, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a diakonos of the Church in Cenchreae.”

While the concept of female deacons may now appear revolutionary, Sister Barabara outlined its  historical roots.

Women, she said, served as “deaconesses” until the 5th or 6th centuries in the Western Church and until the 11th to 12th century in the Eastern Church. By then,  the role of deacon had shifted to being a step toward priesthood, and women were instead exercising diaconal duties – teaching, providing medical care, ministering to the poor, serving parishes – through religious communities.

“Women then and now provide crucial gifts and skills that benefit the whole Church, not only other female members,” Sister Reid said. “The New Testament gives us only glimpses of leadership in the past, but it does give us a firm foundation for advancing leadership in the present and future of the Church.”

Today, she said, the issue of women deacons “has become a center of attention, and remains an open question.” 

Pope Francis established two commissions to study the possibility of women becoming deacons. The most recent 2020 “Study Commission on the Female Diaconate” voted against the possibility of ordaining women deacons but supported further study and broader access to current ministries, according to a report released by Pope Leo XIV in 2025.

Sister Reid mentioned scholars such as Hofstra University scholar Dr. Phyllis Zagano, who advocates for ordaining women deacons, speculate that the issue eventually could be delegated to regional bishops’ conferences which could navigate local cultural norms and differences in gender roles.

Knowing Pope Leo from the Synod of Bishops, through consultations and from past educational endeavors, Sister Barbara said she remains optimistic he will address the topic.

“(Pope Leo) always finds ways to build bridges and is committed to synodality,” she said. 

Sister Reid ended her talk with questions to help move dialogue forward. “What does the Church need today that women can participate in?” she asked. “And what obstacles can be removed to achieve full flourishing for all?”

Sister Reid also signed books, including her newest, “Wisdom’s Feast: An Invitation to Feminist Interpretation of the Scriptures,” and “At the Table of Holy Wisdom: Global Hungers and Feminist Biblical Interpretation.”

The Kennedy Lecture is sponsored by Thomas and Richard Kennedy in memory of their parents, Keith and Joan Kennedy. It was recorded and will be made available on the parish website, www.stpeterscatholic.org.

— Lisa M. Geraci

Terry Goitom, accompanied by her daughter, Nighisti Tecle, traveled to Lourdes, France, as a “malade” – a person with an aggressive disease seeking healing.

“Even before the cancer, there was Lourdes. I had always wanted to go,” Goitom said. “This, to me, is a big miracle.”

This May, more than a dozen Order of Malta members from the Diocese of Charlotte traveled to Lourdes, France, to convene with global members of the oldest lay religious order for their annual pilgrimage.

Together, knights and dames carried “Malades” – people suffering from aggressive ailments – in pull-carts across the 130-acre sanctuary nestled next to the Gave de Pau River, which offers spiritual and healing pathways.

“Bringing the malades to the waters is just so fulfilling,” the region hospitaller for Charlotte, Dame Ellen Linares, said. “People are really able to see love in action, what Christ wanted us to be on Earth.”

Goitom was the chosen malade from the Diocese of Charlotte, and her daughter, Nighisti Tecle, was her designated companion.

The two were escorted by Order of Malta members and led through candlelight processions, brought to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes Basilica for Masses, taken to the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto apparition site for prayer, and assisted to the famed healing baths.

Dignitaries such as Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Arthur Roche and Jesuit Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda took turns preaching homilies full of hope and love.

Lourdes has been recognized as a healing site since 1858, when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous and instructed her to dig.

Dutifully, she burrowed through the dried mud Mary pointed to and drank the first dirty water that sprang from the hole. The next day, the puddle was transformed into a giant clear spring that still thrives.

More than 4 million pilgrims visit the site each year to bathe in the healing springs that are home to more than 7,000 recorded healings and 72 medical miracles confirmed by the Vatican.

Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey was there to greet her when she arrived in Lourdes.

The road to Lourdes

Goitom has felt a personal connection to Lourdes, through Belmont Abbey’s campus replica grotto, since 2021. Fittingly, she rolled off the plane in Lourdes and right into the arms of Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey, who blessed and prayed over her and her daughter.

For many years, she visited the Abbey every morning for Mass and then prayed the rosary at the grotto, where she discussed plans with Mary for how it would be when she was able to go to Lourdes.

On Valentine’s Day in 2023, Goitom went to Mass, but her side hurt too much to do much else. After months of physical therapy, a trip to the emergency room showed a misdiagnosis; it was an aggressive cancer causing her pain.

Turning to our lady for help

Goitom prayed in the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel all that night. When her daughter Tecle, whose father was also in ill health, learned of her mother’s diagnosis, she fell into despair.

“I wanted my mom to be healed. It broke my heart,” she said. “I thought I was not praying enough, and I was getting punished because of me fleeing from the Church.”

For her birthday on Feb. 11, which is also the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tecle visited the abbey grotto in the pouring rain and prayed.

“I said I know I am not your strongest Christian, but my mom is sick and she really wants to go to Lourdes,” Tecle begged.

Two weeks later, Don Meanor of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte called Goitom. They were going to Lourdes – Frank Grass, Order of Malta Knight and fellow member of St. Gabriel Parish, sponsored her and Tecle.

His wife, like Goitom, fell victim to ovarian cancer. He still wears the teal bracelet the couple received when she was diagnosed and has the bottle of holy water from Lourdes that he placed on her forehead every night. He now carries the hope of physical healing Goitom may experience in her place.

“Don saw this opportunity and batted for us. If it wasn’t for him, Frank and the Order of Malta. I don’t think it ever would have happened,” Tecle said.

In Lourdes, Goitom was given a sticker with her name and placed it on the largest candle she ever saw, which was put on the grotto rocks where passersby could pray for the malades. The candle burned all week, and she said she can still recall feeling its flame.

When they first saw the spring and grotto, the mother and daughter were overwhelmed.

“It was so beautiful, I couldn’t even take a picture. I just wanted to soak in every moment of it,” Tecle said. “It brought us to tears because we realized where we were and all the prayers and support it took us to get there.”

Meeting the other malades made Goitom’s own diagnosis fade.

“Some of the malade stories were so sad,” said Goitom. “All of us were there for the same reason, and it was amazing to see people still fighting, still smiling, still having so much faith.”

When Goitom was led to the bath waters, she prayed while the people surrounding her sang “Ave Maria.”

“People say there is a thin veil between heaven and earth, and I felt it. I felt warmth all through my body,” Goitom said. “When I was in the bath, I wanted to fully submerge, and it touched my heart. I was saying remove this cancer from my body. I felt very close to God. I was not fearful, just peaceful. Mary brought me there. I planned in all types of ways, but it never happened, but she got me there her own way.”

And, as the baths soothed Goitom, Tecle felt her own strength in Mary while she walked the life-sized Stations of the Cross.

“Mary was watching someone she loved suffer, and she was helpless,” Tecle said. “It was at the Ninth Dtation of the Cross when I cried. I understood why I was there. I know when I leave this place, I know that I will never truly be alone in my burdens.”

Goitom does not know if she may be cured, but this trip taught her to surrender her burden to God.

“I don’t have any fear,” Goitom said. “I am praying and waiting. I have learned in my experience to surrender it to God. The doctors say something, but God has the final say, and I am not scared.”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Trish Stukbauer 

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

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

— Troy C. Hull

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While he runs, he often contemplates God.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Lisa M. Geraci

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

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

—  Photos provided by Nicole Seeling

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Christina Lee Knauss

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

4th-5th grade reading list:

“A Little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

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

“The Big Wave” by Pearl S. Buck

“Breaking Stalin’s Nose” by Eugene Yelchin

“The Buried Bones Mystery” by Sharon M. Draper

“The Courage of Sarah Noble” by Alice Dalgliesh

“Fantastic Mr. Fox” by Roald Dahl

“Farmer Boy” by Laura Ingalls Wilder

“The Island of Two Trees” by Brian Kennelly

“The Magician’s Nephew” by C.S. Lewis

“Princess Academy” by Shannon Hale

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

“Snow Treasure” by Marie McSwigan

“Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” by Grace Lin

“The Wild Robot” by Peter Brown

Middle School:

“100 Cupboards” by N.D. Wilson

“Fever 1793” by Laure Halse Anderson

“Freckles” by Gene Stratton-Porter

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

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

“Guardian Angel House” by Kathy Clark

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

“Kon-Tiki” by Thor Heyerdahl

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

“Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper

“Saving Mount Rushmore” by Andrea Jo Rodgers

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

“Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss

“Thirst” by Varsha Bajaj

“The Wednesday Wars” by Gary D. Schmidt

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Lisa M. Geraci

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

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

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

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

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

— Lisa M. Geraci

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Lisa M. Geraci

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Catholic News Herald

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

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

—  Photos by Troy C. Hull

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

Shaileen Riginos

Riginos comes to the diocese with two decades of Catholic education experience. 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.”

Current CTK President Dr. Carl Semmler, who served as principal for six years and as president for the past three, will transition into a newly created position as Executive Director of Catholic Identity, Operations and Capital Improvements for the Catholic Schools office.

 In that role, Semmler will partner with stakeholders to foster a strong Catholic identity within the 20 Diocese of Charlotte schools, assisting with the execution of capital improvements and collaborating to ensure the schools have an operating budget that supports the vision of both local school and diocesan leaders.

 “The nine years that I will have spent at CTK have been an absolute blessing,” Semmler said.

 “The students, parents, faculty, staff and fellow administrators have been an inspiration to me and a strength to my faith.  As a community, we have grown in every possible way.”

 CTK was founded in 2011 with 28 students. During his tenure as its first president, a role he assumed in 2023, Semmler grew the school from 260 students to 435 this academic year. 

 At a time when the campus is undergoing a $12 million expansion project, increasing its footprint to handle enrollment that is expected to eventually reach 600 students, Riginos will collaborate with the leadership team, including Principal Mark Tolcher, to ensure a seamless transition.

 The high school leadership model that the diocese uses allows high school principals to handle academic oversight and daily operations, while presidents focus on shaping the mission and vision of the school, community relationships, financial management and fundraising.

Riginos, who will be 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. Her appointment comes after a national search. 

 “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,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, the diocesan superintendent of schools. “I look forward to seeing what she and Mr. Tolcher will accomplish together as the leadership team of Christ the King.” 

 While Semmler will be fully immersed in his new responsibilities, Semmler told the Catholic News Herald he wants Riginos to know he is just a phone call away. 

“I am here for you,” Semmeler said he would tell her. “I want to help you and the school be successful.” 

Although Riginos worked for the Diocese of Charleston, she, along with her husband and three children, already call the Greater Charlotte area home. 

Riginos said she is looking forward “to working alongside students, teachers, staff, and families as we continue the mission of forming young men and women in faith, academic excellence and service.” 

— Lisa M. Geraci

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

Students lined the halls as Bagpiper Brendan Anderson, a junior at Charlotte Catholic High School, played the bagpipes while St. Patrick walked through the school spreading St. Patrick's Day spirit. Students were also treated to an amazing Irish Step Dance performance featuring many of their classmates.  

On Saturday, a sea of green lined Tryon Street for Charlotte’s 2026 St. Patrick Day Parade.

More than 1,000 marchers, including students, teachers and parents from some of the Diocese of Charlotte's Catholic schools – St. Ann, Our Lady of the Assumption, St. Patrick and Charlotte Catholic High School – marched in the parade through uptown Charlotte. Other schools and parishes planned to continue festivities through the week.

—  Photos by Troy C. Hull and provided

Students from Charlotte Catholic and Bishop McGuinness high schools took a field trip to local movie theaters to learn more about the legacy of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. The movie gave students the opportunity to reflect on the political polarization of our time and how to bring people together.

Buses from Charlotte Catholic and Bishop McGuinness high schools drove through the morning dew for a special screening of “Cabrini,” an Angel Studios production, at Regal Theaters at

Piper Glen in Charlotte and AMC in High Point. Christ the King High School will view the movie in their gymnasium at a later date.

“A couple of years ago, when it first came out, some of the parishes did a screening, and that was my introduction,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, the diocesan superintendent of schools. “I was blown away by the way it showed the human element for this saint who did so much for migrants and was such a witness to the corporal works of mercy, showing us how we are supposed to work for all people.”

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s actions resonated with Monroe, and when folks in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas introduced him to the film’s directors with the goal of bringing the saint’s message to local students and educators, he was all in.

“They mentioned how some dioceses were taking the messages found in Mother Cabrini’s life and using them as part of their lesson plans,” Monroe said. “In schools we come from all walks of life, and we have teachers from different backgrounds. … It is a nice bridge to see what Mother Cabrini was trying to do and what we are trying to do with our students. It was so beautiful how Mother Cabrini saw the inherent dignity of every single person, no matter who they were or where they were from – she considered them a beloved child of God.”

From 1889 to 1910, more than two million Italian immigrants came to New York City in pursuit of the American dream. Instead, they found a nightmare, with many denied access to healthcare, education and housing. Racial slurs followed migrants through the city while they worked and lived in slums infested with rats.

In the Five Points area of the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where most immigrants settled, thousands of abandoned children slept under steam grates and existed in the dark cement tunnels of the city’s sewage system.

In the midst of that chaos, one nun, Frances Xavier Cabrini, overcame gender persecution and ethnic discrimination to create an orphanage and hospital for the neglected Italian immigrants.

The movie “Cabrini,” based on her life story and released in 2024, showcased her journey of resilience and persistence. During her 67 years, she established 67 hospitals and orphanages across the globe and became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.

Though her work was largely focused on Italian immigrants in New York City, her message of human dignity remains relevant today, when migrants are still persecuted, called names and treated as second class.

The movie is trending in Catholic schools across the nation, which are incorporating its message in their curriculum to help students understand the Catholic view on human dignity associated with current events such as modern-day immigration.

Most Charlotte Catholic students said they better appreciated the works of the saint and the rawness of discrimination through the film.

“We learned a little about it in history class, but not like that graphic,” said student Brynley Wilde. “I loved the movie so much. I like how she had women power. She was very inspiring. And she took control of the men who were trying to stop her. She just kept going, even in the face of danger.”

Monroe said the movie was important on both a theological and an educational level.

“In a world that is so polarizing and fractured, where you have so much adversity, this can be a real opportunity to reflect,” Monroe said. “How can we learn from the challenges that Mother Cabrini experienced to strengthen and enhance what we are trying to do in our diocese? Especially in a diocese with so many different demographics, how can we support them and bring them together, all through the lens of our faith?”

— Lisa M. Geraci 

Who was Mother Cabrini?

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be a canonized, is known as the patron saint of immigrants.

Refused admission to the religious order which had educated her to be a teacher, she began charitable work at the House of Providence Orphanage in Cadogno, Italy. In September 1877, she made her vows there. When the bishop closed the orphanage in 1880, he named Frances prioress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Seven young women from the orphanage joined her.

Since her childhood in Italy, she had wanted to be a missionary in China but, at the urging of Pope Leo XIII, Frances went west instead of east. She traveled with six sisters to New York City in 1889 to work with the thousands of Italian immigrants living there.

She provided the poorest of the poor Italian immigrants of New York with food, shelter, education and health services. By the 1890s, she established services in Chicago, also erecting several hospitals. She expanded those services to all immigrants across the country and around the world.

By the time of her death in 1917, at age 67, the naturalized American citizen had established 67 education, health and social service institutions throughout the world.
The route of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage – which will come through the Diocese of Charlotte – is named after the saint.

— OSV News and Catholic News Herald

The support was made possible through the charitable legacy of Vic Nussbaum Jr., a former Greensboro mayor and long-time member of St. Pius X Parish.

“At Our Lady of Grace, this endowment is more than financial assistance; it is tangible support of our belief that every child deserves to be formed in truth, beauty and goodness,” said Principal Catherine Rusch. “It allows families to say yes to Catholic education and strengthens our mission to shape virtuous leaders and faithful disciples within our Panther family.”

The late Nussbaum – a self-proclaimed “Catholic Yankee in Dixie” who became one of Greensboro’s biggest boosters and its mayor for three terms, from 1987 to 1993 – was focused on expanding libraries, providing low-income housing and improving the quality of public education.

He was a devout Catholic, attending Mass every day at 6 a.m., and was a friend to the downtrodden, said Jim Melvin, who was mayor when Nussbaum was first elected to the Greensboro City Council in 1973.
Nussbaum attended Our Lady of Grace Church and sent his children to Our Lady of Grace School, and after a cross-town move later was active at St. Pius X Church. He believed Catholic schools not only provide a great education but are crucial to carrying on the faith.

Across the diocese, donors like Nussbaum have given one-time gifts of cash or stock, pledged to capital campaigns or projects, or left gifts in their estate plans. Such gifts have benefited parishes, Catholic schools, the diocese, the diocese’s foundation and St. Joseph College Seminary.

“We receive gifts of every amount, and all of them make a difference,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “There have been some individuals with significant resources who have had so much confidence in the Church’s leadership and commitment to their faith that they have given $1 million or more. I invite others to be part of our mission in this kind of significant way to help build up the Church across western North Carolina. Gifts given to establish endowments in particular help change people’s lives because they keep on growing and providing returns year after year.”

As Rusch noted, “In my eighth year as principal, I can see that the beauty of an endowment is its lasting impact. A single investment continues to bear fruit year after year, ensuring that students are able to receive an authentic Catholic education at Our Lady of Grace Catholic School.”

— Courtney McLaughlin

Fund an endowment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

— Lisa M. Geraci

“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

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

CHARLOTTE — Graduating seniors from Charlotte Catholic High School gathered with family and friends May 19 at St. Matthew Church for a Baccalaureate Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Martin. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 — Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Troy C. Hull

Bishop McGuinness High School

KERNERSVILLE — Bishop McGuinness High School celebrated its Baccalaureate Mass May 22 at Holy Cross Church. 

High school chaplain Father Chrisopher Brock celebrated the Mass, using readings selected by Bishop Michael Martin for the students gathered with family and friends.

“Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School seeks to form the faith, character and intellect of its students, and this gives you a solid foundation on which to build your future,” Father Brock told the students. “A foundation that if you stay true to it, will support you as you enter into the future.” 

During the Mass, graduates kept the treasured school tradition of presenting their mothers with roses to thank them for all they have done over the years. 

Noting the importance of the Catholic education he and fellow graduates received, senior Devon Stalek said one of the most important skills he and classmates have learned is how to care for each other. 

"This school is like a family," Stalek said. "It’s a small tight knit community and we all care about each other so much. The memories that we make here are just not going to go away.”

Graduate Daniella Perez, who will be attending University of North Carolina at Greensboro, agreed.

“The smaller classes have really helped us over the years at Bishop, but it’s really nice knowing we all have the same faith,” she said.

As Father Brock reminded students, “Remember what God has done for you. Remember how He has blessed you in your life, so when you go through difficult times in the future…He will be there to support you.” 

Most of all, Father Brock encouraged them to remember the Gospel reading from Matthew that talks about knocking on the door and asking for help as life plans inevitably change. 

“Always ask Jesus Christ, stay rooted in Jesus Christ and you will become the Saints God is calling you to be,” Father Brock said. “And as you go into the future, know you are loved and you will find joy.”

— Photos by Georgianna Penn 

 

Christ the King High School

HUNTERSVILLE — The Class of 2026 celebrated their graduation from Christ the King High School with Bishop Michael T. Martin, who presided over the May 26 Baccalaureate Mass at St. Mark Catholic Church.

Several of the graduating Crusaders participated in Mass, singing in the choir, reciting the readings, and presenting the gifts. 

“It was a beautiful Mass. The bishop was tremendously generous with his time,” Vice Principal Dr. Brian Keenan said. “He said a great homily about taking the next steps. The bishop spoke about gratitude and how to move forward in faith. I just thought it was a beautiful pastoral moment to help students mentally shift gears.” 

In his homily, Bishop Martin shared a powerful image from the movie National Treasure, in which a treasure map could only be discovered through a special set of lenses. He challenged graduates to remember that the true lens through which they must view themselves and the world is God. 

"Unless you see yourself and the world through the lens of Jesus Christ, you will never fully appreciate the treasure that you are and the treasure that this world is," he said.

Afterwards, the bishop gave seniors their final homework assignment, instructing them to look up their future college and find its Catholic Campus Ministry. He told them to send the ministry an email, notifying them of their intentions to join next year. 

The Crusader class of 2026 will be missed and is one of the most school-spirited Keenan has seen.

“They were just a blast to have. They brought this massive enthusiasm to basketball games, football games – even away games,” Keenan said. “Even on the night of Baccalaureate, all these seniors showed up with their suits and ties and their dresses on to support the soccer team, and that is just the kind of enthusiasm and buy-in this senior class had. It’s like their faith is so precious to them, but they also bring excitement. They were such a great bunch.” 

The Crusaders took their final bow Wednesday night as they crossed the stage of the Knights Theater in Charlotte, throwing up their caps to a job well done. 

— Lisa M. Geraci, photos provided

Father Sullivan, who often credits daily Mass at St. Matthew with helping him discern the brotherhood and priesthood, will be saying a Mass of Thanksgiving at 10:45 a.m. June 21 in St. Matthew Church. His new assignment, effective July 1, will be at St. Francis Church in Hackensack, New Jersey. 

— Photos courtesy of Patty Armstrong

Day 1 - Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Monroe

MONROE — As the nine perpetual pilgrims from the National Eucharist Pilgrimage drove over the North Carolina state line from the Diocese of Charleston on May 30, they were greeted by more than 100 Catholics from the Diocese of Charlotte at their first stop - Our Lady of Lourdes Church. 

The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage celebrates America’s 250th anniversary with the theme “One Nation Under God,” and incorporates key sites in the history of the country and its Catholic roots. 

The pilgrimage began on Memorial Day weekend in St. Augustine, Florida, where the first Mass on the continent was celebrated, and will end on July 5 in Philadelphia, just steps from where the Declaration of Independence was signed. 

The 2,200-mile route dubbed “The Cabrini Route” in honor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the religious sister and Italian immigrant who became the first U.S. citizen to be canonized after a lifetime of work ministering to immigrants, will stretch through the 13 original colonies. North Carolina is the fourth state on the tour up the East Coast. 

At Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the pilgrims who are accompanying the Blessed Sacrament processed from the “monstrance van,” a special van that has a built-in tabernacle visible through a large side window, into their first Holy Hour in North Carolina.

For perpetual pilgrim Mary Carmen, this spiritual journey continues to stir her soul.

“To see the People of God come together in such expectation and hope and excitement continues to amaze me,” Carmen said. 

“They feel seen by God. This pilgrimage finds us. Jesus Christ is present in this, and He sees us. And it has been a great privilege and beauty to bring Him. Even though He resides in every tabernacle at any Catholic church, there is something very special about processing with Him to the church.” 

Lynette Gates traveled 118 miles from Sacred Heart Church in Burnsville to be there. 

“I don’t know if I will ever be able to do this again, so I had to get down here,” Gates said. “It’s so close, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” 

After Holy Hour, Our Lady of Lourdes pastor Father Benjamin Roberts celebrated a joyful Mass punctuated with a homily that emphasized the importance of God’s love. 

“Our faith is a love story. Our message is a love story. Our destiny is a love story,” he said. “Because God is love, and in His perfect Trinity, nothing is needed, nothing is lacking. There is no loneliness. There is no isolation. There is only love.”

Day 2 - St. Peter and St. Vincent De Paul churches, Charlotte 

CHARLOTTE — The second day of the National Eucharist Pilgrimage’s visit to the Diocese of Charlotte was bustling with activity with Masses, a meet and greet, a Holy Hour and Eucharistic procession and a screening of the film “Cabrini” at Regal Stonecrest at Piper Glen. 

Charlotte Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., celebrated the Mass for Trinity Sunday at St. Peter Church in Charlotte – the oldest active parish in the diocese – as more than 450 people turned out to greet the pilgrims, filling the church and an overflow area.

The nine "Perpetual Pilgrims" leading the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage sat in the front pew, listening to the bishop’s message which provoked a tangible response to the mystery of the Trinity.

“God does so much of the work in helping us to engage and encounter the mystery of the Trinity,” Bishop Martin said. “We are left with the work of how we are going to use that.” 

He pointed to the perpetual pilgrims and commended them on bringing the gospel reading, John 3:16, to life.

“(Pilgrimage) is a metaphor for life. We are all on a pilgrimage,” he said. “They are bringing the Real Presence of Jesus to this place and that.” 

Yet, Jesus’ Body and Blood are not just given to us to adore, the bishop cautioned; Jesus asks us to take action. 

“Jesus said, ‘Do this in memory of Me,’” the bishop said. “He has touched us with His Body and Blood and tasked us to be His presence in the world.”

After Mass, the perpetual pilgrims gathered to meet with parishioners from across the diocese. But first they lived the homily message by engaging with those present on the street. 

The pilgrims then visited a nearby retirement home, breaking bread with those who shared their own faith journeys.

Before watching the free screening of “Cabrini,” co-sponsored by St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte, the pilgrims brought the Blessed Sacrament to St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte for a Spanish Mass, Eucharistic procession and Holy Hour.

Perpetual pilgrim Sharon Phillips from Washington, though tired from the long day, loved bringing the Blessed Sacrament to others. 

“I am really enjoying my stay in Charlotte. I have never been to this part of the country before, so I was showing up with a fresh, clean slate to all these events and areas and churches,” Phillips said. 

“You can’t get much better than a time of adoration in a local church with all the parishioners of that community adoring our Lord,” she said.

Day 3 - St. Philip the Apostle Church, Statesville 

STATESVILLE — On day three, the energy of the pilgrimage continued to surge as 400 people processed across the campus of St. Philip the Apostle Church. Monday morning looked more like an overflowing Sunday as pilgrims gathered for Mass, a Holy Hour, and an opportunity to bring the Blessed Sacrament out into the world.  

Father Bernard I. Oleru, M.S.P., and the parish were honored to host the powerful spiritual event. 

Father Oleru, a native of Nigeria, reflected on the 250th anniversary of the United States and the gift of God within the Eucharist with reverence.

“This year the United States of America is celebrating 250 years of independence, of freedom, and the bishops and the Church have decided to allow this Eucharist, Jesus Himself, to bless the land,” he said.

“The greatest thing we have is the Eucharist. Our strength is the Eucharist,” he said. “We are Catholic because Jesus is here in the Eucharist. He is not just a symbol. The same Jesus that died on the cross, the same Jesus who rose from the dead, the same Jesus who promised the disciples the Holy Spirit, that is the same Jesus who is here.”

• Watch Father Bernard I. Oleru's homily

Given that, he cautioned that Catholics must never get so comfortable that they forget God's real presence in the Host.

“Have we become so close to the Eucharist that we do not see Jesus anymore?” he asked. 

Ron Wasserman, who was vacationing from Indianapolis, certainly saw it. A strong urge to better recognize God’s presence led him to the little church in a small town where he only knew one person – Jesus.

Determined to travel to one destination along the Cabrini route, he moved his plans to visit his sister and brother-in-law in Taylorsville up one week to coincide with the pilgrimage. 

“It was divine intervention indeed, divine providence,” he said. “Today was glorious, unbelievable. A great opportunity to worship God and spend time with Jesus in prayer and adoration and giving thanks for all the many blessings.”

Later that day, at St. Vincent de Paul Church in south Charlotte, Hispanic parishioners welcomed the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage at a packed Sunday afternoon Mass. Led by Capuchin Franciscan Father Michael Herlihey, the Mass brought a joyful celebration to the afternoon stop, uniting the Hispanic community with the nine perpetual pilgrims traveling the route. Read more.

Day 4 - St. Pius X Church in Greensboro 

GREENSBORO —  The pilgrims ended their journey through the diocese with a two-day visit to St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. There, more than 300 people from Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, High Point, Winston Salem and other areas attended a June 1 procession and a Mass celebrated by Father Christian Cook. 

“It was so beautiful and inspiring and liberating,” said Sister Archana from the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in High Point. Sister Archana joined in the procession and said the visit was “a gift and a blessing.”

The next day, the pilgrims visited Greensboro Urban Ministry for one of their largest service projects, distributing food brought by Mass attendees to Greensboro Urban Ministry, with whom the parish has a longstanding partnership. The pilgrims also handed out cookies made by St. Pius X youth. 

“This is important to me because the folks that we are helping really are struggling,” said Suzanne Bland, Director of Development at GUM. “Just to know that somebody is praying for them is so powerful, and that somebody is willing to be so generous with their time and knowing that somebody cares.”

The visit hit close to home for perpetual pilgrim Zachary Dotson, who helps run one of the only five-day-a week soup kitchens in the Diocese of Gary, Indiana.  

What stood out to Dotson most is that “it’s not about how you move physically; it’s about how you move internally when you are on the pilgrimage.”

— Lisa M. Geraci and Brian Segovia. Photos also by MaryAnn Luedtke Photography and Georgianna Penn

Charlotte Catholic High School’s girls soccer team pulled off a dream season, going undefeated to rank first in the nation and to win the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s 6A state title. 

“(It) was an amazing moment,” says Charlotte Catholic left forward Marguerite McPhillips, celebrating at a May 26 team get-together. “We all are so close, such a tight knit community, and we all wanted this for each other…We knew what had to be done, and we put it all out there.” 

Charlotte Catholic’s lacrosse program also achieved a coup with both the girls and boys teams winning state championships.

Overall, the Cougars spring championships topped off a banner year in which student athletes captured a total of seven team state championships, the most of any NCHSAA school in North Carolina.   

Christ the King High School also won state championships in girls soccer and boys golf this spring. 

“There was so much joy in the moment when we won,” says Christ the King soccer coach Brooke Bradt, whose team won their fourth 2A state championship last week, despite a season plagued with injuries and challenges. 

Combined with the five state championships captured last fall, the diocese’s Catholic Schools won a total of 10 titles for the 2025-26 school year – plus additional state championships captured by individual athletes. 

Catholic Schools Superintendent Greg Monroe attributes the athletic success to the investment teachers and coaches make in their students – as well as the modeling and support of families. Also, he cites:

• Catholic School athletes are typically strong academically, he says, and “the discipline required to excel in the classroom translates to excellence on the field.” 
• Catholic Schools are relatively small, so students often play multiple sports, cross-training that makes them stronger in their preferred sports.
• Many students have been playing together for years, moving through Catholic Schools together beginning in elementary school. “They get along, they have good chemistry, and they play to each other’s strengths,” Monroe says.

Here’s a closer look at the spring victories:

Charlotte Catholic soccer 

The girls team won 1-0 over the Jacksonville Cardinals in the May 29 title game. The team learned earlier in the day they had been ranked No. 1 in the country by nationally recognized high school sports tracker MaxPreps. 

Junior Savannah Leckner scored the winning – and only – goal. 

Right wing Mary Martin Spinner cites one key to the championship: “We never took a game lightly and we always showed up and put the work in. Honestly, I feel like we really deserved the championship this year, and we got it done.” 

Longtime Cougar soccer coach Gary Hoilett agrees. “The girls just had a fantastic year. They bonded well, they played as a team and from the beginning of the season showed determination.”

Christ the King soccer 

The girls team overcame a challenging season to win the 2A state championship on May 29 with a 3-0 victory over Franklin Academy from Wake Forest. Junior Addison Pierce had a hattrick, scoring all three of the team’s goals. It was the team’s fourth state title in five years. 

The victory was especially sweet, coach Bradt says, following repeated challenges in the run-up to the championship, including multiple player injuries and an inability to play on their home field because of ongoing renovations. Bradt coached most of the season while expecting a baby that was born on May 1. 

“This championship meant a lot to us, especially after everything we’ve gone through this season,” she says. “With all the ups and downs and how much work the girls have put in, they deserved it one hundred percent.” 

Charlotte Catholic lacrosse

Both the girls and boys lacrosse teams won state championships May 29, in a developing division spanning 1A through 6A schools.

Both won with the same score, 9-8. 

The boys team beat Middle Creek High School from Apex in a highly anticipated matchup after the NCHSAA expanded its playoff brackets to allow more teams to compete. It was the lacrosse team’s second state championship. 

The girls team won in overtime, defeating East Chapel Hill High School. The program has two previous state championships, most recently in 2014.

Christ the King golf 

Earlier in May, the boys golf team won the program’s first state championship May 11-12 capturing the 2A championship over Mitchell High School in Bakersville. The outcome came down to the final hole, with Christ the King winning by just two strokes to gain the title with a final team score of 650.

Other state team championships: 

This spring topped off a 2025-2026 school year of state team championships for all three Catholic high schools.

Charlotte Catholic also captured state team championships in girls tennis, boys soccer, girls swimming and girls golf. 

Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville capture the boys 2A cross country state championship. 

Christ the King’s women’s cross country team also won the 2A state championships in the fall. 

Two high schools also captured club championships in sports being newly introduced to the league: Charlotte Catholic in mens rugby and Christ the King in men’s volleyball. 

Best of the Best

Athletic teams at Diocese of Charlotte Catholic High Schools won a total of 10 team state championships as  well as individual titles in spring and fall sports during 2025-26 school year.

Charlotte Catholic (6A):

Girls – golf, tennis, swimming, soccer and lacrosse.

Boys – soccer and lacrosse. Individual championships – Girls Golf (6A), Elizabeth Guthrie. Tennis (6A), Ella Davis and Madison McWilliams, doubles. Wrestling, Jackson D’Ettore - 6A 120 lb. Swimming (6A), 50 Free – Kathryn Kern, 100 Butterfly – Madi Hertzig, 100 Free – CJ Bernardo, Diving – Reagan Leckner, 200 Free Relay –  Kathryn Kern, Ellie Druhan, Olivia Jacobson and Madi Hertzig, 400 Free Relay – CJ Bernardo, Caroline Meehan, Olivia Jacobson, Madi Hertzig. 

Christ the King (2A):

Boys – golf and volleyball (1A-4A division).Individual championships – Diving, Avery Noonan.  Track, 4x800m relay – Brandi Malloy, Claire Oglesby, Shea Roche and Anna White (1A-2A division). 

Bishop McGuinness (2A): Boys – Cross country. Individual championship – Drew Pacholke.

— Christina Lee Knauss. Photo by Troy C. Hull