Celebrations begin Jan. 12 with Masses at cathedral, across diocese
CHARLOTTE — In a celebration of faith across western North Carolina, the Diocese of Charlotte will commemorate its 50th anniversary throughout 2022 – beginning in January with a special Mass and Holy Hour across its 92 parishes and missions.
The yearlong observance, themed “Faith more precious than gold” (1 Peter 1:7), will feature a variety of events and activities including 50 Acts of Charity, a Marian Pilgrimage to 100-plus sites, Catholic Family Day at Carowinds, Charlotte Knights baseball and more.
Bishop Peter Jugis will formally open the 50th anniversary year on Wednesday, Jan. 12, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. A Holy Hour will be offered at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 7 p.m. It also will be livestreamed on the diocese’s YouTube channel, www.youtube/DioceseofCharlotte.
In a spirit of unity and communion, parishes also will offer Masses and a Holy Hour Jan. 12. Parishioners should check their parish’s bulletin or website for details.
“Our parishes will play the most significant role in our anniversary celebration since it is our parishioners and priests, along with our deacons and consecrated religious, who – with the grace of God – have allowed this diocese to thrive for 50 years,” Bishop Jugis told the Catholic News Herald. “With their creativity and passion, our parishes will find fitting ways to localize and acknowledge this special moment in our history, and we hope everyone will join us.”
In a recent letter proclaiming the anniversary year, the bishop noted that the celebration is particularly needed given current times.
Opening Mass Worship Aid
“During the pandemic, we have lived through a period of many trials, difficulties, and obstacles,” he wrote. “By God’s mercy, we continue to prevail. After much separation and isolation, we have in God’s providence the ability to come together in celebration of our unity as one family of God.
“During this year...we will celebrate in the present with joy and devotion; we will have the opportunity to recall our past and celebrate our diocese’s history; and we will resolve to strengthen our diocesan family and look for even greater ways to glorify God.”
Bishop Jugis is the diocese’s fourth and longest-serving bishop, installed in 2003, and has presided over significant multicultural growth among Catholics and communities from Greensboro to Murphy, in the westernmost tip of North Carolina. Now with more than 515,000 Catholics, the diocese is among the fastest growing in the country.
Launching in early January, the special anniversary website www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com will showcase the diocese’s history, treasured sites and communities that make the diocese what it is today.
The website will help visitors track parishes’ progress toward performing 50 Acts of Charity in their communities in acknowledgment of the anniversary and in addition to their ongoing charitable work.
Visitors can also follow a Marian pilgrimage featuring a special statue of Mary, Mother of God – the diocese’s patroness – that will visit parishes, schools and other Catholic sites throughout the year.
Events and programs will highlight the diocese’s shared faith and history, as well as its diversity and progress. The 2022 Eucharistic Congress, scheduled for Aug. 5-6 at the Charlotte Convention Center, will be a central highlight. Started by Bishop Jugis in 2005, the Congress serves as a “family reunion” that now draws well over 10,000 Catholics to celebrate Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist.
The Charlotte diocese was formally established on Jan. 12, 1972, when Bishop Michael Begley was ordained and installed as the first Bishop of Charlotte. The diocese was carved out of the Diocese of Raleigh, which previously encompassed the entire state – splitting North Carolina into two dioceses, each with approximately 30,000 Catholics at the time.
The bishop noted in his proclamation, “My brothers and sisters, let us recall once more that anything we celebrate in this anniversary year is a celebration of Christ. Whatever is good and praiseworthy in the diocese, which is composed of many branches connected to the true vine, comes from God.
We are His instruments and cooperators in carrying out His message of love and reconciliation.
And as Mary, the patroness of our diocese, is so closely connected with her Son’s work for our salvation, we also draw close to her in this special year of grace. May Christ’s hand guide our endeavors, and may Mary’s mantle always protect our work to further Christ’s Kingdom.”
— Catholic News Herald