CHARLOTTE — Catholic health care workers from around the Diocese of Charlotte gathered after work Aug. 16 at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille to meet and learn more about the newly formed Catholic Health Professionals of Charlotte.
Over 50 health care professionals including several physicians attended the organization’s inaugural event. Among the attendees were the founding doctors of the group: Dr. Matt Harrison, Dr. Meghan Lemke of St. Mark Parish, and Dr. Julia Saluke of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Gastonia.
“It was heartwarming to see so many Catholic health professionals from varied specialties and geographic locations come together. We were blessed with an excellent turnout which affirms the desire within our healthcare community to connect and support one another through our shared spiritual beliefs,” Lemke said.
Harrison agreed. “It was a great opportunity to reconnect with old colleagues and to meet new ones who are not only dedicated to the delivery of quality and compassionate health care, but also in deepening their Catholic Faith. We look forward to the growth of this vibrant group of professionals and hope others will join throughout the diocese.”
Also present at the event was the group’s new chaplain, Father Cory Catron, parochial vicar of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Charlotte, who recently obtained a degree in bioethics from the University of Mary.
Father Catron remarked at the importance of the event, “I was excited and encouraged by the great turnout for the event. It was amazing to see not only a full house, but one full of such a diversity of health care practices and specializations. What we see here is the beginnings of a great force for good for serving the needs of Catholic professionals in the healthcare field in the region, and in turn support for them to provide greater service through their vocation to care for others.”
Before the evening concluded, the group paid a special tribute to their new patron, St. Gianna Molla, a wife, mother and doctor who died in 1962 from complications after the removal a tumor that endangered her unborn baby’s life. She died a few days after giving birth and was canonized by St. John Paul II in 2004.
Catholic Health Professionals of Charlotte is designed to support Catholic health care workers both professionals and spiritually and to promote the Catholic faith in the fields of medicine and science. It is open to all Catholic physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, medical students, and other health care workers in the diocese.
The group will host its next event, a dinner presentation, on Oct. 4 at St. Vincent de Paul Church. To learn more, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Jessica R. Grabowski, Special to the Catholic News Herald. Jessica R. Grabowski is the Respect Life Program Director for the Diocese of Charlotte.