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CHARLOTTE—Bishop Peter J. Jugis admitted four seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte to the rite of candidacy at a special Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral June 17. The candidates were Jason Barone, Santiago Martini, David McCanless and Peter Shaw.

The liturgical rite of admission to candidacy formalizes the intent on behalf of the diocese and the candidates to further the candidates' studies and formation on the path to the transitional diaconate and, eventually, the priesthood.

Bishop Jugis, the main celebrant at Mass, addressed the congregation during his homily, stating, "Our brothers here have heard the Lord calling them to holy orders and they consider themselves ready to respond to the Lord's call.... The Lord interiorly prompts these men to His grace to come follow Him."

Two of the candidates, Santiago Martini and David McCanless, will leave for Italy July 17 to study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome for the next four years. They will join Diocese of Charlotte seminarians Noah Carter, Paul Buchanan and Jason Christian, who are also studying theology there.

Jason Barone will serve at St. Michael Church in Gastonia this summer.

Peter Shaw – whose father, Deacon William Shaw, assisted at Mass – will serve this summer at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte.

— SueAnn Howell, staff writer