Deacon Kenneth Henry 
Deacon Scott Johnson
Deacon James KeaneyCHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announces the following deacon assignments:
- Deacon Kenneth Henry to Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville. Ordained in 2015 for the Diocese of Galveston/Houston, he has focused his ministry on pro-life and end-of-life pastoral care. He and his wife of 55 years, Marilyn, will split their time in North Carolina and Texas. They have five children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild
- Deacon Scott Johnson to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe. A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Deacon Johnson and his family recently moved to Waxhaw. Ordained for the Diocese of Dallas in 2020, he has served in parish ministry, hospital and homebound ministries and OCIA. He is employed with Bank of America and is pursuing a doctorate in homiletics from St. Louis University. He and his wife Anna-Maria have been married for 20 years, and they have six children and one grandchild.
- Deacon James (Jim) Keaney to St. Gabriel Parish in Charlotte. A Boston native, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the U.S. Navy for six years. His career in manufacturing took him to Virginia, where in 2003 he was ordained for the Diocese of Richmond. He then served in the Diocese of Nashville before moving to Charlotte. He has served in youth ministry, marriage formation and support, OCIA and confirmation preparation, faith formation, visiting juvenile detention centers and campus ministry. He and his wife Jennifer have three children.
— Catholic News Herald
HIGH POINT — A marble statue of Mary under her title as Mother of God now graces a new grotto on the campus of the Pennybyrn retirement community.
Dozens turned out for the June 21 blessing of the new feature located at the Penny Road entrance to the community. Father Steve Hoyt, Pennybyrn’s chaplain, presided over the blessing.
Situated atop a grassy knoll, the statue is made of the same Italian marble Michelangelo used to sculpt his Pietà and other famous works. Its carving took place in the town of Carrara in the Tuscany region of Italy with Mazzolini Art Craft Co. Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio.
Made possible by a generous donor, the natural stone grotto is intended to remind passersby of Our Lady’s constant presence.
“Even non-Catholics think it is magnificent. Indeed, the details are remarkable,” said Sister Lucy Hennessy, mission leader and chairperson of Pennybyrn’s board of directors. “Our order’s name is the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, and we wanted the people to know the place Mary has in the life of all of us.”
The grotto leaves a visible reminder of Pennybyrn’s founding religious order – the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God – before the sisters depart for retirement next year to their motherhouse in England.
“We are most grateful to our donor who covered the cost of sculpting the statue and all the many pieces that go into making it all come together,” Sister Lucy said. “For the many good and great things that have happened down through the decades and into our time at Pennybyrn, we give God thanks and truly say with the Psalmist: ‘Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever!’” (Ps 107:1)
— Annie Ferguson
