CHARLOTTE — Priests from the Diocese of Charlotte are gathering this week for two days of continuing education.
“One of the goals for us is to refresh and enhance our knowledge of the faith and our pastoral ministry skills,” said Father Patrick Hoare, pastor of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, who helps to organize the yearly event.
The speaker for this year’s annual colloquium, held June 21 and 22, is Father Robert Pesarchick, vice president for academic affairs and professor of systematic theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. Father Pesarchick earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a Master of Divinity from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary as well as his licentiate in sacred theology and doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He is speaking on the Catholic theology of holy orders.
“We will be able to reflect on the nature of the priesthood and who the priest is called to be in God’s plan in the Church,” Father Hoare said.
The colloquium topic is especially appropriate this year, as the priests also gathered with Bishop Peter Jugis for Mass on June 21 to honor those priests who are celebrating jubilee anniversaries in 2018 and the two priests of the diocese who are retiring this year: Father Wilbur Thomas, pastor of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, and Father Carl Del Giudice, pastor of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte. Bishop Jugis offered Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte for the jubilarians and the retirees.
“We honor those celebrating their dedication and faithfulness to their call for orders,” Father Hoare said.
These continuing education colloquiums allow pastors to grow in their faith and skills, and they also provide time for fellowship. The program is funded by the seminarian and priests’ continuing education collection that is taken up each year at Easter.
“We’re scattered across 46 counties in western North Carolina and we don’t spend a lot of time as priests together – depending on where we’re stationed,” Father Hoare said. “These meetings allow us to spend time together and catch up.”
— Kimberly Bender, Online reporter