CHARLOTTE — Father Timothy Reid is stepping down as Vicar of Education for Catholic Schools after five years of leadership marked by significant expansion, strengthened Catholic identity, and record enrollment across the Diocese of Charlotte’s 20 schools.
With his five-year commitment to this role completed, Father Reid says he’ll miss his daily interactions with students and educators but is looking forward to devoting more time in service of his growing parish, St. Ann Parish and School, which he has shepherded for most of his two decades of priestly ministry.
“We are grateful for Father Reid’s service through the pandemic and at a time of unprecedented growth in our schools,” said Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., “and I know the parishioners of St. Ann will appreciate having his full attention as the parish also manages the blessings and challenges of growth.”
The leadership transition aligns with Bishop Martin’s effort to place priests where they are uniquely qualified and can have the greatest impact – in parish ministry, providing sacraments and pastoral care – rather than in administrative roles that can be filled by laypeople.
Other priests serving as administrative ministry leaders have already transitioned back to parish ministry, including Monsignor Roger Arnsparger, formerly Vicar of Education for Catechetical and Faith Formation; Father Julio Dominguez, formerly Vicar of Hispanic Ministry; and Father Peter Ascik, director of the diocese’s Family Life Office until a replacement is hired.
Bishop Martin praised Father Reid’s leadership and focus on the Catholic Schools’ mission. Father Reid partnered closely with Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Gregory Monroe, who joined the diocese in 2020 and will now serve as the schools’ top administrator in collaboration with the bishop.
“Father Reid has been a tireless champion of our mission to form disciples of Jesus Christ who pursue excellence and go forth to transform the world,” Bishop Martin said in a Nov. 25 letter to the Catholic Schools community. “The work of our Catholic Schools is ultimately the work of salvation, and he has always approached his role as Vicar of Education as a natural extension of his priestly ministry.”
Father Reid was appointed by Bishop Peter Jugis to the new position of Vicar of Education for Catholic Schools in 2020, and played a key role in unifying the diocese’s Mecklenburg Area and parish-based schools into a more integrated system.
Under his leadership, total enrollment grew by more than 20%, and students earned increased numbers of academic scholarships. Major capital projects were launched or expanded at Asheville Catholic, Christ the King, Holy Trinity, Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of Grace, Immaculata and St. Ann, and the MACS Fine Arts Center was opened at Charlotte Catholic High School. In 2023, the diocese’s Catholic Schools system received national recognition as the Catholic Education Foundation’s “Catholic Organization of the Year.”
Father Reid said the transition will enable him to focus on the needs of his growing parish of 1,300 families, especially since his parochial vicar, Father Brandon Jones, is now spending more time each week serving the new Chapel of the Little Flower in Mooresville.
He will also continue to serve on the formation faculty at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly.
“I can’t express how gratifying it has been to work with school leaders and staff, and to watch our children grow academically and spiritually,” Father Reid said. “We worked hard to expand the Catholic Schools Office to serve our schools, and our schools are in an excellent position to serve our students and families.”
Education has always been an important part of his ministry, Father Reid said, and he’s not giving up that focus. “Getting to be around the kids at our schools regularly was always a lot of fun for me,” he said, “and now I get to do even more of that at St. Ann School.”
— Catholic News Herald