Bishop Peter Jugis dedicates Divine Redeemer Church in Boonville in 2004, one of the first churches he dedicated after becoming Bishop of Charlotte.
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis has created six new parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte during his episcopacy, elevating former mission churches and centers to parish status.
In 2007, he elevated four mission churches to parishes: St. Joseph in Kannapolis, Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe-Candor, and Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph Vietnamese parishes in Charlotte. In 2004, Divine Redeemer in Boonville was created by combining two missions, Sagrado Corazon in Dobson and Cristo Rey in Yadkinville. Divine Redeemer was officially established as a parish and solemnly dedicated by Bishop Jugis on August 21, 2004. Father Fidel Melo was appointed the first pastor.
In 2022, St. Jude, a former mission of Sacred Heart Church in Brevard, was elevated to a parish and Father Jason Barone, was installed as its first pastor.
Explore more about these parishes:
"The Lord Jesus Christ did not leave us orphaned. He left us in the hands of His Apostles, who in turn left us in the hands of priests all the way down the line to feed us with the holy sacraments to assist us on our way to salvation. We're not by ourselves; we have a family. A parish doesn't exist without a priest because the Eucharist doesn't exist without a priest, and Bishop Jugis knows the essential importance of that reality."
— Father Matthew Kauth, rector, St. Joseph College Seminary, from Bishop Jugis' 20th anniversary special section
Explore Bishop Jugis' contributions to the Diocese of Charlotte:
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Bishop Jugis has fostered diversity and inclusion of all Catholics
Bishop Jugis grew ministries and services through stewardship
Diocese marks a half-century of serving faithful
Bishop Jugis led the diocese through the aftermath of abuse revelations