• Monsignor Roger Arnsparger, V.F., pastor and rector, St. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville
• Father Paul Asoh, M.S.P., V.F., pastor, St. Mary Mother of God Parish, Sylva
• Father Christopher Bond, pastor, St. Lucien, Spruce Pine, and St. Bernadette, Linville (reappointed)
• Father W. Christian Cook, V.F., pastor, St. Pius X Parish, Greensboro (reappointed)
• Father Julio Dominguez, pastor, St. Joseph Parish, Newton (reappointed)
• Father Christopher Gober, V.F., St. Leo the Great Parish, Winston-Salem (reappointed)
• Father Mark Lawlor, V.F., pastor, St. Therese Parish, Mooresville
• Father David McCanless, Campus Ministry chaplain at Wake Forest University (reappointed)
• Father Paul McNulty, V.F., pastor, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Gastonia (reappointed)
• Father Adrian Porras, V.F., pastor, St. Barnabas Parish, Arden (reappointed)
• Father John Starczewski, V.F., pastor, St. John Neumann Parish, Charlotte (reappointed)

Bishop Martin serves as president of the Presbyteral Council.

Other members of the Presbyteral Council, including those elected by fellow priests in September, are listed on the diocese’s website, www.charlottediocese.org.

Required by Church law, the Presbyteral Council represents all priests in the diocese and is “like a senate of the bishop” (Code of Canon Law 495 §1), with about half the members elected by priests and others appointed by the bishop.

— Catholic News Herald

“Christ the King was founded on faith and reason. Pope John Paul II wrote that faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of the truth,”

President Shaileen Riginos said. “Today, we open a new academic wing. May it be one more way our students rise toward truth.”

Throughout the event, the student body broke out in song, dance and applause, honoring the original campus and the new addition – celebrating the twin wings, old and new, and the 15th anniversary of the building, which opened in 2011.

The $12 million Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools educational expansion project marked the largest building initiative CTK has undergone in its short history.

The school that began humbly with 27 students was maxed to capacity this academic year with 453 students. Now, thanks to the addition, the building will be able to accommodate as many as 650 Crusaders.

School leaders, students and parents toured the new facilities, which were blessed moments before by school chaplain Father John Cuppett.

The 17,000-square-foot space created a new rear entrance for the school. The main doors open into a spacious lobby that features a Crusaders spirit store, a concession stand and a new trophy case. The lobby branches out to two hallways on the left and right before attaching to the rear gym entrance.

The hallway on the left leads to a new weight room – filled with new equipment – and a large band room. The hallway on the right features to two new classrooms, one of which house language arts while the other is shared by Spanish and performing arts classes. Further down the right hall there is a new design lab outfitted with woodworking tools for the industrial shop, woodworking and fine arts classes.

“This gives students enough space to spread out and gives more opportunities for these guys to learn all different things,” Sara Aiello, a parent with three children enrolled at Christ the King, said. “This will give different avenues for kids to explore different interests.”

The end of the hall opens into a new cafeteria, which holds 275 students, an attached commercial kitchen, and an outdoor 50-seat eatery. The original cafeteria is being remodeled into additional classroom space.

“The food was not made here before – they had to bring in food everyday – but now it is going to be made here all day,” Anna Haynes, a junior, said. “Now, we are able to have breakfast, snacks and lunch. I am so excited to see this school grow like this.”

Superintendent Greg Monroe also expressed his excitement for the addition and encouraged students to approach it with a sense of gratitude.

“Have grateful hearts. I know you do. I know that is one thing that defines a Crusader, that we don’t take things for granted, but also when we have beautiful things around us please continue to rise to that challenge,” Monroe said. “Continue to pursue excellence. Continue to unlock our potential as a Crusader and as a member of our diocese.”

In her address to the student body and faculty, Riginos expressed that these improvements demonstrate Pope John Paul’s vision of faith and reason paired together to equal truth within the Crusader community.

“Saint John Paul II is a fitting patron for this building because there is a piece of his life in every room of it,” Riginos said.

As a playwright, actor, stoneworker, philosopher and kayaker, he would appreciate each new room, she speculated.

“He was not one thing, and neither are you,” she said. “The athlete belongs in the theater. The artist belongs in the weight room. The scholar belongs in the design lab. God didn’t make any of you to be just one thing. He made you in His image and He made you on purpose.”
— Lisa M. Geraci

CHARLOTTE — The annual Guadalupan Torch Run spent a week in the Diocese of Charlotte, winding through 11 parishes as a visible sign of faith, hope and connection.

The relay pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe begins in Mexico City and ends at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, covering more than 3,000 miles.

The Marian fire symbolizes the light of faith, the love of Mary, and the hope of an immigrant community divided by a shared border.

The pilgrimage has taken place since 2002 and has become a symbol of hope for immigrants, bringing an image of Mary often touched by friends and family members on its journey to Hispanic communities across the United States.

— Brian Segovia, Troy C.Hull and provided

Guadalupan Torch comes to Hamlet

HAMLET — Hundreds of people gathered at St. James Church as the Guadalupan Torch arrived in Hamlet for the first time in the parish’s history.

The Carrera Antorcha Guadalupana México-Nueva York torch run, in its 24th year, is making its way through the Diocese of Charlotte, from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City up the East Coast to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

The torch represents for many, especially immigrant communities, the maternal love and support of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. The torch’s annual journey attracts thousands along the 3,000-mile route, which this year includes nine stops through the Charlotte diocese.

A deep connection with faith and family often overwhelms people like Moises Vargas, a parishioner of Divine Redeemer in Boonville, when they hold the torch.

“It’s our mother, my family, you know, I haven’t seen my mom in 30 years,” Vargas said. “So, if my mom goes to Mexico and holds the torch and I come here and hold the torch, I feel her. It's our faith. It’s God.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe is credited with transforming the indigenous populations in Mexico from paganism to Christianity through her apparition to St. Juan Diego.

Dancers at St. James Church expressed their honor and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe through a deeply spiritual dance called “Matachines,” which celebrates the triumph of Christian faith and Mary's motherly protection.

— Lisa M. Geraci

Members of the community built around Greensboro’s Franciscan Center gathered for a Mass celebrated by Father Louis Canino, OFM at St Mary Church. The center has moved to a new, smaller location after years of taking St. Francis’ missionary spirit to the streets of the city. (Lisa M. Geraci | Catholic News Herald)

“I didn’t want the year to go by without honoring St. Francis, not just his Feast Day but we had to celebrate the 800th anniversary,” said Father Louie. “What was problematic was that simultaneously we had to leave our own place.”

The Mass hosted at St. Mary Church in Greensboro had more than 200 in attendance. It was the first Mass the group had celebrated since July, when their almost four-decade streak of Wednesday Masses at the Franciscan Center on Greene Street was put on hold.

It was then that the group received notice from Elon University that the center’s lease would not be extended. The Franciscan Center is where Father Louie ran a gift shop, offered Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and presided over Wednesday Mass for the past 36 years.

While running the center, he became available for whatever spiritual needs his inner-city neighbors brought to him – a confessor to the sinner, an advisor to the stressed, a waiter to the hungry, and a comforter to the broken.

Drawing from that experience, Father Louie focused his homily on how St. Francis is relevant today.

“If this legacy of St. Francis was emblazoned on the hearts of legions of people today, our community and our world would be in a better place,” Father Louie said. “It would resemble the Kingdom of God here on Earth.”

The Franciscan Center regulars in the pews understood because they strive to follow that legacy.

“We have been practicing what St. Francis has said and we live up to it,” said Mike Bohen, who admits to tearing up during the emotional Mass.  “We need somebody that aspires to do more than go to Church and go home. Father Louie inspires us in our faith.”

In his homily Father Louie said, “St. Francis’ spiritual family grew and grew so much that three orders were founded by him.”

In a similar way, the community of Franciscans in the Triad grew from Father Louie starting an experimental storefront in 1990.

Father Louie’s street ministry was accessible to people who may not reach out to a parish priest but would open a shop door to converse with the humble man in a hooded brown habit.

Kathleen Zeller, a parishioner at St. Pius X, met Father Louie after she decided to return to her Catholic faith and visited the gift shop for a Bible.

“He reminded me so much of a missionary priest I spent a lot of time with when I was growing up. It was really nice,” Zeller said. “It was like a transformation for me. I begged him to let me volunteer …  and we have been together every Tuesday ever since.”

Some came to the center as Father Louie said St. Francis might have.

“In his early youth, Francis would be by no means considered a saint. He was forever consumed with the values of the world,” he shared in his homily.

God changed that in St. Francis, and Father Louie has witnessed similar changes in those who have battled addiction.

“Over 36 years we have held meetings every day,” Father Louie said. “I have seen thousands –  even today some of the AA people came.”

The humble priest does not take credit, as he said in his homily message, “Francis’ transformation … came from God and not from his newly adopted lifestyle.”

As he left the ambo, Father Louie told the story of a man he hitched a ride from while he traced the path of St. Francis. He never forgot the reason the man, who wasn’t a Catholic, told him he was in Assisi.

“I want to catch the spirit of St. Francis,’”he repeated, fighting back tears, and then instructed his group. “I want you and I to have the same burning desire to catch the spirit of St. Francis and continue to live his legacy here and now.”

The Mass served as a welcome breather for the community, a reassurance that they will move forward as they transition from the former storefront to new second floor office space on Friendly Avenue.

“We ended up moving the 15th of September and last week was the first time it looked like it was put together again,” Zeller said. “It is going to be good, and maybe he will slow down a little bit because he works as hard as he needs to work.”

Father Louie admits that though the downsizing was unexpected, God has His own plans.

“Moving from over 5,000 square feet to a little over 700 square feet was a challenge,” Father Louie said. “It truly was, but it all worked out. I didn’t plan this at all, but God planned it.”

The gift shop will remain closed and the AA group has moved to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, but at 82, Father Louie has found another calling modeled after St. Francis.

“After enduring a horrific year in prison and then being released, his state of desolation caused him to seek help,” he said earlier in his homily. “What is remarkable and also providential is that he sought help from a divine agent.”

Father Louie is now guiding prisoners to that divine agent.

“I felt like I needed to reach out to prisoners,” Father Louie said. “That is one corporal work of mercy I have never done, and I want to do that.”

Father Louie has spent his life showing others the way of St. Francis, and his community plans to continue gathering at the new center for spiritual counseling, confessions and fellowship.

“Some people say we don’t need heroes. I think we do. Father Louie is that for us in this community,” Bohen said. “He makes you proud to be a Catholic. And we are supposed to be living out these corporal works of mercy.”

— Lisa M. Geraci

The Knights, who collected more than 110 flags throughout the year, opened the ceremony with a formal salute by an honor guard made up of Fourth Degree Knights from several parishes.

The ceremony is in its 15th year and is an important one for veterans, including organizer James Strauss.

“I was a Vietnam veteran. I never saw combat, but I saw the people who came back and were spit on at the airport as I came back,” Strauss said. “I will never in my life forgive or forget that. So, Veterans Day affects me a little bit differently. The ability to honor the people around me who died for this country and suffered for this country holds a special meaning.”

Strauss does not have a photo of his late father who was a World War II veteran, but he does have a poem his father wrote while he fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

“One of my nephews found it and sent it to me and I was able to read that at the ceremony,” Strauss said. “So, this year added a little bit extra on top of everything…I do get choked up about it.”

Under the U.S. Flag Code, if an American flag becomes worn, faded or torn, it must be properly disposed of, preferably by fire.

The ceremony ended with a ceremonial burning in the fire pit in St. Luke’s outdoor Marian courtyard – the large statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, watching over them.

— Lisa M. Geraci

While pursuing his degree, he balanced his priestly duties as the parochial administrator of St. Benedict the Moor Church and Good Shepherd Mission in King.

He graduated from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, with a master's in canon law and his ecclesiastical licentiate in canon law.

He will receive his certificate in January and is invited to walk in the graduation ceremony this June.

The ordinarily two-year program took him four to complete.

“Since I was serving in the parish and doing it online, I took the extended version,” he said.

Each year he would make a mandatory in-person trip to the college for 10 days.

He completed his last class in Rome, where he met Pope Leo.

“He greeted me,” Father Yumo said. “It was such a great honor to meet him.”

Father Yumo initially enrolled in the program because he felt compelled by his parishioners back in the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon.

“I was motivated by the fact that there are many couples back in my home country who have been waiting for annulments. But they are unable to have them because the process takes too long,” Father Yumo said. “They do not have tribunals in every diocese. Before coming here, I was serving at the Family Life Office, so I encountered many of those situations. I felt that studying Canon Law would provide the tools I need to help in that direction.”

Father Yumo expressed his gratitude to his many well-wishers, including his old friends at St. Mark Church in Huntersville - where he served as parochial vicar - his communities at St.

Benedict the Moor and Good Shepherd, The Knights of Columbus, The Ancient Order of the Hibernians and Mary’s Women of Joy. They have all have supported him through this journey for years and have showered him with congratulatory cakes, parties and love since his graduation.

“They contributed so much to make it so I could achieve this,” he said. “I especially would love to thank Dr. Dennis and Monica Golden, who I consider my parents over here.”

If anyone knows Father Yumo, they will agree this would be a great time to belt out his favorite saying, “God is good… All the time!”

Congratulations, Father Yumo!

— Lisa M. Geraci

Students got a hands-on lesson in science and racing when the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) team from Charlotte Motor Speedway visited the school.

The excitement began in the classroom, where students learned about polymers and how they're used in the racing industry, including cleaning up spills on pit road. Then things got a little messy as students put their new knowledge to work by making their own slime.

But the fun didn't stop there. Students headed outside, where they traded slime for tires and learned what it takes to be part of a NASCAR pit crew. Using a Bandolero race car, they practiced tire changes and discovered the importance of teamwork on race day.

From mixing slime to working on a race car, the visit gave students a chance to see how science and engineering support motorsports.

— Troy C. Hull

A Sept. 30 ribbon-cutting was held for the $6 million project that added six new tennis courts, a new practice field and outdoor restrooms. 

“We are celebrating 25 years in Kernersville this year, and it is really special to see your faces, the same ones that have been with us throughout this whole time and process,” President Jared Rashford said to the players, students, staff and donors who attended the event. “This marks the completion of our first major capital improvements to the campus in that 25-year period.”

Father Christopher Brock, campus minister, blessed the new courts before a real battle ensued against two current Villains players and state champions - Lucia Neves, a junior, and Luke Ansari, a senior. 

Neves won, but not for the last time that night. Afterward, the entire girls team fought hard to earn their first victory on their new home court against rivals South Davidson High School. 

This project may be the school’s first, but it will not be the last. 

“Other items in future plans include the construction of a new press box with a concession stand, construction of visitor bleachers and expanding our home section,” Rashford said. “And, in the main footprint of the building, we are looking at opportunities to expand some of the usable spaces for our St. Gabriel program.” 

The campus, which has seen its largest enrollment at 502, up 18% from five years ago, made some additional improvements over the summer, including renovating the chapel and redoing the floor, plus adding bleachers in the gym.  

“As we enter our 25th year here and look at the legacy we were given, we are building on that legacy through these projects,” Rashford said. “They are a testament to the school’s commitment to continue to build upon the solid foundation.”

— Lisa Geraci, photos provided

CHARLOTTE — Students at St. Ann School gathered in prayer for a living rosary Oct. 8, celebrating their Catholic faith and honoring Hispanic Heritage Month.

During the schoolwide assembly, students participated in the living rosary as the school choir filled the gathering with sacred music. In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, one decade of the Rosary was recited in Spanish.

The gathering offered students the opportunity to deepen their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary while celebrating the diverse languages and cultures that make up the universal Catholic Church.

The Catholic News Herald had a little extra help capturing the special occasion. St. Ann student Charlie Weiss stepped in as our newest photography assistant, lending a hand behind the scenes as we documented the school's celebration of faith and community.

— Photos by Troy C. Hull and Charlie Weiss

The celebration was organized in honor of the month of the Holy Rosary and was one of many activities planned during the school’s R.O.A.R (Relationships Outreach Achievement and Reflection) activity block – an allotted time when students step away from academics to focus on God. 

“This is our first year doing a Marian procession,” Assistant Principal Lori Obendorf said. “Our theme for the school year is ‘To Jesus through Mary,’ so this was a great way to honor Mary and our theme during this month of October.”

Each grade brought handmade banners from a previous ROAR session celebrating a different title given to the Mary in the Litany of Loreto.

Together, the students prayed a decade of the rosary in front of the outstretched hands of the large Blessed Mary statue next to the church. 

Altar servers carried the Blessed Mother in procession as everyone sang the Litany of Loreto and the Ave Maria.  Younger students traveled beside their older prayer partners and scattered flower petals as they walked through the campus.

The procession lasted 30 minutes but was enough to leave Mary and the little Lions with smiles. Each student ended their day with a delicious treat - a white or blue “bead” from a rosary made from donated cupcakes.

— Lisa M. Geraci

Addressing participants in the Vatican's student ministry conference Oct. 22, the pope said many students may feel "anonymous" as they "walk the halls of our schools and universities."

"How many students also face existential hardship: broken families, digital loneliness, feelings of inadequacy or fear in the face of a future that seems uncertain," Pope Leo said.

He added that "quite a few young people today are virtually paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes, of not measuring up, of being misunderstood, or of failing to meet expectations."

"We live in a performance-driven culture that constantly compares and ranks people, sometimes ruthlessly," he said. "A misguided meritocracy ultimately fails to respect people. This is why many end up giving up before they even try."

In light of these challenges, the pope said Catholic schools and universities must be "first and foremost a home," where students feel known, welcomed and valued.

A welcoming environment, he said, is one in which someone "looks you in the eye, remembers your name, notices your absence, and rejoices at your return."

"Beneath the armor that so many teenagers build around themselves to avoid suffering lies the desire to love and be loved," the pope said.

"Pastoral ministry in schools and universities will be all the more fruitful the more it focuses on educating the heart -- educating the heart in compassion, gratitude, and the ability to be moved by the suffering of others; educating it in praise and the longing for God," he added.

The pope recommended service to the poor and volunteer work as experiences "where the heart learns to expand," urging student ministers to help form young people "to become pioneers of a new way of living in the world."

"Pastoral ministry in schools and universities is called to accompany the slow germination of thought, to teach discernment, and to encourage perseverance in the search for truth," Pope Leo said.

He explained that in "a welcoming environment, students can express their deep desire to understand and to make sense of reality," adding that "this is where the true vocation of schools and universities comes into play: the shared search for truth."

"Courage springs from a covenant of trust: from the experience of someone who believes in you before you believe in yourself," he said. "Jesus did not choose the Twelve because they were courageous; he called them and, through his trust in them, made them capable."

The pope met with participants in the International Congress for Pastoral Care in Schools and Universities taking place at the Vatican Oct. 22-23. Organized by the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the congress featured speakers from Haiti, Colombia, Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Spain, Lebanon and Zimbabwe. Discussions focused on cultivating interiority, technology, and educating for peace.

The final day of the conference Oct. 23 included discussion of how digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, are changing school environments. Many of the speeches from the congress are available online.

"Dear brothers and sisters, false teachers and deceptive messages promise to provide quick answers to young people’s questions," Pope Leo said.

"You, however, have chosen to do something greater: to walk with them along the way, until they discover the gifts that God has already placed within them."

 — Courtney Mares, OSV News

• 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

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

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

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

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.

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

“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

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

First-class relics of St. Bernadette will stop at the three parishes in the diocese. The 130-pound reliquary contains pieces of bone and muscle the beloved saint’s ribs, femur and knee.

St. Bernadette’s relics are traveling throughout the nation and will stop at three diocesan churches. The public is invited to attend a special week of veneration and sacred moments with one of the most beloved saints of modern times.

This is the second time the relics have visited the diocese. In 2022, the tour went through St. Bernadette Church in Linville. It will now also stop at Belmont Abbey in Belmont and St. Pius X in Greensboro.

“St. Bernadette continues to mean so much to people because her life reminds us that God is close to us in our humility and vulnerability,” said Father Christopher Bond, pastor of St. Bernadette. “I am grateful that her relics will return this November, and I look forward to welcoming people once again to pray, find comfort and experience the hope that made her first visit so meaningful.”

The 24-karat gold-plated St. Bernadette reliquary weighs about 130 pounds. The first-class relics are fragments of St. Bernadette’s bone and hair.

The relic will be accompanied by two Grotto of Massabielle rocks that are mounted on wooden boards and the healing waters from the Lourdes spring, which will be used for anointing of the sick and healing Masses.

According to Toni Pallatto, the U.S. representative for the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes who is organizing the events, the St. Bernadette relics have reportedly already brought healing to many.

She related that a man in Washington, D.C., has claimed a medical miracle after his tumor reportedly shrunk to the point where doctors said there was no need for medical intervention.

“Remember, healing is not only physical. There is a lot of spiritual healing that goes on,” said Pallatto. “Bringing St. Bernadette to so many locations with the opportunity for healing, hope, prayer and penance is remarkable, particularly in today’s world where we are looking for healing and hope. We are bringing this to people who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity.”

— Lisa M. Geraci

Belmont Abbey, Belmont

Wednesday, Nov. 11

·       10 a.m. – 8 p.m. — Veneration

Thursday, Nov. 12

·       9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Veneration

St. Bernadette Church, Linville

Friday, Nov. 13

·       3 p.m. — Welcoming celebration

·       3:30 – 8 p.m. — Veneration

·       4 – 6 p.m. — Confessions Available

Saturday, Nov. 14

·       8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. — Public Veneration

·       9 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Confessions Available

·       2 p.m. — Anointing of the Sick

·       4 p.m. — Vigil Mass (fulfills Sunday obligation)

·       5:30 – 8 p.m. — Veneration

Sunday, Nov. 15

·       8:00 – 10:45 a.m. —Veneration

·       11 a.m. — Mass

St. Pius X Church, Greensboro

Sunday, Nov. 15

·       5 – 5:30 p.m. — Welcoming celebration

·       6– 7:30 p.m. — Confession

·       6 – 9 p.m. — Veneration

·       8 p.m. — Candlelight rosary

·       9 p.m. — Church closes

Monday, Nov. 16

·       8:30 a.m. — Mass followed by veneration

·       9:30 a.m. — Lourdes Virtual Pilgrimage Experience (video presentation)

·       11 a.m. – 1 p.m. — Confession

·       11 a.m. – 2 p.m. —Eucharistic adoration

·       12 p.m. — Rosary

·       2 p.m. — Benediction

·       2:15 p.m. — Anointing of the Sick & Lourdes Water Blessing

·       3 p.m. — Divine Mercy Chaplet

·       8 p.m. — Candlelight rosary

·       9 p.m. — Church closes

Tuesday, Nov. 17

·       9:30 a.m. — Veneration and rosary

·       12 p.m. — Farewell celebration

For more information or scheduling updates visit https://bernadette-usa.lourdes-france.com/ip.php?pg=St-Bernadette-Relics-Tour-Map

More online
At www.tinyurl.com/4av8hsh2: Learn more and check for scheduling updates

About 400 saints came out Nov. 1 to experience comradery, the faith-based games, the candy and the fun.

Longtime parishioner Kim Kostner, who managed the facepainting booth with the help of her son dressed as Saint Carlo Acutis, said it is something parishioners look forward to each year.

Her favorite part? 

“The march,” she said. “I love walking around and dancing with the kids. It is like one big family.” 

With the Louis Armstrong song, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” blaring from outside speakers, hundreds of saints, including a baby Saint Michael the Archangel, a pregnant Virgin Mary, and even a young Saint Dorothy, processed through the parking lot. 

Amongst them, Father Michael Carlson, the pastor, dressed like his Confirmation saint, Saint Olaf, the Norwegian Viking.

“This is a good chance for us to get together but also to learn about various saints. I mean, every year I learn about a new saint myself,” Father Carlson said. “The kids also have a lot of fun with it. It is a good chance for them to learn to serve one another.”

Cars for the Trunk-or-Treat circled the parking lot and were filled not only with candy but also with lessons on faith. One trailer had a Day of the Dead shrine, while others dedicated their trunks to their favorite saints. 

The eighth-grade confirmation class hosted the saintly games, such as “Fill Dorothy’s Basket” and “St. Patrick Drives Out the Snake,” and were required to keep the theme by dressing up too. 

Organizer Meg Barrett even dressed up as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Though she retired as the Faith Formation director years ago, she still takes time every year to put on this event she started 20 years ago. 

Barrett’s drive is “seeing all the families out here and the people that actually take their time to dress their kids up as saints.” 

— Lisa M. Geraci

Monsignor Gary

“Monsignor” is a title granted by the pope, typically based on the local bishop’s recommendation. It is a rare honor from the Vatican, and it has been given to only a handful of priests in the Diocese of Charlotte since its founding in 1972.

On the Feast of All Saints Day, Bishop Michael Martin sent the news to priests: “I am pleased to announce that Pope Leo XIV has honored Father Paul Gary with the title of Chaplain of His Holiness!” Bishop Martin wrote.

“Monsignor Gary’s 42 years of priestly ministry has had wide-ranging impact on people and parishes,” Bishop Martin said. “He has built up the faith of the parishioners he has served and is well-known in our diocese for his loving and gracious spirit.”

Monsignor Gary was surprised and humbled by the news.

“I am deeply honored by becoming a Monsignor and I am extremely grateful to Pope Leo XIV and to my bishop, Bishop Martin, for bestowing this privilege upon me,” Monsignor Gary said. “It is not just my accomplishment, but something the whole parish can be proud of.”

Monsignor Gary is widely known as the “construction priest.” His leadership as pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Parish in Statesville and St. Luke Parish in Mint Hill resulted in new churches for those growing communities. While he was rector at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, he oversaw the completion of the parish’s Family Life Center.

Father Gary grew up on Long Island in New York as a cradle Catholic. He was educated in Catholic schools along with his four brothers, including his identical twin, Peter Gary, who is also a parishioner at St. Luke.

He attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1980 and was ordained by Bishop Michael Begley at St. Patrick Cathedral on Feb. 11, 1984.

His diocesan assignments ranged from parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville and St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte, to pastor at St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem and St. Philip the Apostle parish. In 1996, he became the rector at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte where he served until 2008. Then, he was assigned to St. Luke as pastor, where he has spent the last 18 years shepherding the growing parish.

More than 200 St. Luke parishioners and friends voiced their congratulations on the parish’s Facebook post announcing the new title.

“Congratulations to Monsignor Gary!” wrote Michelle Fabrize. “We are blessed to have such a faithful shepherd.”

As Father Andrew Templeton, parochial vicar at St. Luke noted, “This papal honor is not merely a recognition of past accomplishments, but also a testament to the many lives touched through Monsignor Gary's priesthood and his faithful service to the People of God.”

 — Lisa M. Geraci 

Related story: Father Paul Gary celebrates 40 years of priesthood

The Guadalupan Torch Run is returning to nine parishes in the diocese this year after a condensed itinerary last year. The torch is a symbol of unity and hope across countries. (Troy C. Hull | Catholic News Herald)

The Guadalupe Torch Run is a relay pilgrimage that travels each year through Mexico and the United States in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Marian fire symbolizes the light of faith, the love of Mary, and the hope of an immigrant community divided by a shared border.

The journey begins in Mexico City and ends at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, covering more than 3,000 miles.

The pilgrimage has taken place since 2002 and has become a symbol of hope for immigrants, bringing an image of Mary often touched by friends and family members on its journey to Mexican communities across the United States.

The torch and a large replica of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be transported in a trailer with glass windows, allowing people to see them along the route and at each stop.

At each stop, the torch will be welcomed with a procession. Masses will also be celebrated, and traditional Mexican dances accompanied by music will be performed, along with other activities, before participants accompany the torch to its next destination.

In the Charlotte diocese, the Guadalupan Torch Run has become an annual tradition that has brought together thousands of people to venerate Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Last year, amid threats of mass deportations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Charlotte area, the torch took on added significance as a beacon of hope for immigrant communities facing fear and uncertainty.

This year, the pilgrimage will see a return to two traditions interrupted by last year’s immigration concerns: A group of runners will once again accompany the torch, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte will welcome the pilgrimage after opting not to host it last year.

— Brian Segovia

Planned stops

• Nov. 2: Immaculate Conception, Hendersonville
• Nov. 3: St. Joseph, Newton
• Nov. 4: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Charlotte; arrival at 6 p.m.
• Nov. 5: St. James, Hamlet; arrival at 6 p.m.
• Nov. 6: St. Francis of Assisi, Rich Park, Mocksville; arrival at 4:30 p.m.
• Nov. 6: Divine Redeemer, Boonville; arrival at 10 p.m.
• Nov. 7: Our Lady of the Rosary, Lexington; arrival at 9:30 a.m.
• Nov. 7: Holy Infant, Reidsville; arrival at 6 p.m.
• Nov. 7: St. Mary’s, Greensboro; arrival at 9 p.m.
• Nov. 8: Our Lady of the Highways, Thomasville; arrival at noon.
• Nov. 8: Immaculate Heart of Mary, High Point; arrival at 6 p.m.

Consult your local parish for any updates to this schedule.

The tradition of the Red Mass has roots in Europe, where it was started by Pope Innocent IV in 1243 for the Ecclesial Judicial Court. The tradition spread over the centuries and now Red Masses are celebrated in many nations to mark the beginning of the judicial year. In the U.S., the Red Mass is usually celebrated in the fall to coincide with the beginning of a new Supreme Court session.

The liturgy takes its title from the fact that celebrants wear red vestments because it is a votive Mass of the Holy Spirit. The tradition of the Red Mass in Charlotte was revived in 2024, and this was the 19th held in the diocese.

Bishop Michael Martin offered a homily that asked attendees to focus on their faith in Christ as they go through the often challenging tasks of their daily work.

“I’m so grateful that you place your professional lives on the altar with Jesus as an offering to God, who has given you gifts to enable you to do the wonderful work you do,” Bishop Maritn said. “He trusts you with the law, with justice on this Earth, and He gives you His Spirit.”

The Gospel reading for the Mass from Matthew featured Christ speaking “woe” on the Pharisees for their strict interpretation of minor rules without focusing on larger issues of justice and mercy. Bishop Martin asked the congregation to focus on both of the modern interpretations of the word “woe.”

First, he said, “woe” means negativity that can come to those who do their work without focusing on God’s Word. But he also asked the congregation to focus on “whoa,” which means a stopping point  –  a chance to focus on God’s presence in all of our daily lives, whether we work in the law or in other professions.

“If there is one thing I would hope tonight’s celebration would encourage, it would be the courage of all of you in your professional lives to realize that in that breath, in that space between stimulus and response, is where you slow things down just enough to realize the presence of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

He emphasized that God does not send His Spirit to the faithful at baptism and confirmation so it can impact only their personal lives, but also their careers.

“His Spirit wants to impact your approach to your profession…in understanding more deeply the nuance that is so much a part of trying to define justice in the world,” he said.

The Mass featured beautiful music offered by organist Gianfranco DeLuca and Will Esser as cantor, including a version of Cesar Franck’s “Panis Angelicus” as the Communion hymn. The evening ended with an inspiring version of the hymn “O Beyond All Praising,” with a second verse echoing the evening’s theme of serving justice: “Then hear, O gracious Savior, accept the love we bring, that we know your favor may serve you as our king.”

Austin Walsh, president of the St. Thomas More Society, said the annual Mass gives Catholic legal professionals the chance to remember the faith and integrity of the saint, the patron of lawyers, and to “orient their work towards giving glory to God.”

“The Red Mass is a moving reminder that the practice of law is ultimate in service of well-ordered justice,” he said, “and that we cannot compromise our faith and formation to win a point.” 

After the liturgy, attendees took time to talk with Bishop Martin and each other.

“It’s an opportunity to gather as a legal community and to see people we might sometimes see in court and professionally,” said Matthew Hoefling, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte who attended with several family members who are also attorneys. “It’s a chance for us to pray together and be together.”

— Christina Lee Knauss

CHARLOTTE — The 32nd annual fundraising banquet for MiraVia welcomed more than 1,400 people to witness God’s light lived out through the mothers and children the nonprofit serves every day. 

The event themed “Where Love Gives Life,” told a story of love that started for many mothers at MiraVia’s maternity home situated on the campus of Belmont Abbey. 

This is the place where more than 600 pregnant women since 1994 have found refuge, hope and a home during a time of uncertainty.  

Kingsley Murray, one such mother, shared her testimony as an intrepid college student in another state and the fear she felt when she found out she was pregnant. 

Then, she learned about MiraVia’s college residence program – and moved across the country after she was accepted to the program. She moved into maternity home and enrolled at Belmont Abbey College, where she continued her education and was able to give birth to her son.

Kingsley’s pregnancy did not keep her from the Dean's List. She could be a mother and a student. 

She heard her baby say his first word in his crib at MiraVia. 

“Light,” the boy said. 

Murray recently graduated from Chapel Hill and is now pursuing a career as a journalist with son – her light – at her side. 

MiraVia’s Executive Director Debbie Capen had many more stories that spread smiles. 

MiraVia housed 14 pregnant college students this year. The program assisted women from all over the country – some of whom, like Kingsley, transferred to Belmont Abbey College, while others moved into the residence and continued their education virtually at another college. The program provides housing, books, material goods, meals and spiritual, educational and parental support. 

In addition, MiraVia’s outreach center distributed 96,000 diapers and 34,600 clothing items, serving 1,790 pregnant women and mothers. Capen thanked their many volunteers who put in more than 2,000 service hours over the year, and donors for their generous support.

Bishop Michael Martin, who opened the fundraiser with an invocation, encouraged the audience, as MiraVia so eloquently demonstrates, to step out in faith through discipleship, even when the circumstances seem dire. 

“While we commit ourselves to do everything we can to support the mission of MiraVia, we also have to commit ourselves to go out into the world and to bring the Good News to a world that doesn’t know how incredibly gifted we are to be co-creators with the Almighty,” he said. “That is our mission. That is the Good News we are meant to share.” 

Keynote speaker Sister Cora Caeli, of the Sisters of Life, shared lessons she learned coming from an order with a charism for protecting and enhancing the sacredness of human life. 

“We all long for a place to call home,” Sister Caeli said. For many, MiraVia is that home.

She went on to explain that life is messy but that we should take heart because the “battle belongs to God.” 

“With God everything is a gift,” she said, repeating the theme for the night. “Love gives life… Allow Him to reign even when things don’t make sense.”

 — Lisa M. Geraci