CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis announces the appointment of Father Richard F. Sutter as in residence at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte effective May 1.
An Atlanta native ordained initially in the Congregation of the Legion of Christ, Father Sutter comes to Charlotte from the Diocese of Savannah, Ga., but he is not unfamiliar with the Charlotte diocese.
He graduated with honors from Belmont Abbey College in 1991. While there he served as student body president and captain of the cross country team. He was also an Army R.O.T.C. cadet at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and member of the Army National Guard in Morganton.
After college he served six years as an U.S. Army Infantry Officer with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and the 10th Mountain Division in New York. Prior to his first assignment he completed the U.S. Army Airborne, Ranger and Air Assault Schools. He earned his Expert Infantryman's Badge while serving as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Platoon Leader in Germany, and he received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Following an honorable discharge as captain, he worked two years as a corporate IT project manager in New York before entering the Legionary of Christ Summer Candidacy Program in 1999.
He completed his theology studies in Rome and was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Jugis at Our Lady Help of Christians Basilica at Belmont Abbey on May 11, 2009. He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 12, 2009, at the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls in Rome.
From 2009 to 2011, Father Sutter served as chaplain of Christian Brothers' School in New Orleans, chaplain of Acadian Oaks Catholic Youth Retreat Center in Lafayette, and Conquest Boys Club Youth Section Director for the state of Louisiana.
He moved to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 2011, where for three years he served as chaplain at Pinecrest Academy High School and five years as the Catholic chaplain for the Atlanta Braves.
Father Sutter's cousin is a priest with the Savannah diocese, so in 2014 he asked to discern some time there where he served from 2014 to 2016 as chaplain of Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga.
Earlier this year he spent several months of discernment at Belmont Abbey, during which time he said he sensed a call to serve in the Charlotte diocese.
He has been in residence at the cathedral since May 1 and will serve a temporary summer support assignment from May 28 until mid-August at St. Joseph Church in Bryson City.
Besides his priestly ministry, Father Sutter said his favorite activity is training for Ironman Triathalons. This year he is scheduled to compete in three Ironman 70.3 races, one of them being a 70.3 Ironman World Championship slot earned while competing in Ironman Augusta 70.3 this past September. He holds a high Ironman All World Athlete rank as an amateur in his age group.
He said he finds swimming, cycling and running a great means of praying, as well as a concrete way to evangelize non-Catholics.
"Our Blessed Lord comes to meet all of us in the today of our life as He did His first disciples on the Sea of Galilee," Father Sutter said. "He desires to remain in our boat as we navigate the waters of our daily life. I find Him often and He finds me in these brief moments of recreation amidst the beauty of His creation."
— Catholic News Herald
HICKORY — The call to follow God can often seem formidable, but for 60 men and women from across the Diocese of Charlotte, saying "yes" to God has changed their lives.
Their "yes" was taking part in the diocese's Lay Ministry Formation Program, a journey that began in 2014 and reached a milestone July 9 with their graduation.
Through this two-year formation program, laypeople learn more about the faith so they may better fulfill their baptismal call to participate in the Church's mission. It focuses on four areas of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. The program is comprised of 150 hours of classes – everything from Scripture, Church history and Church councils, Christology, liturgy and the sacraments, to Catholic moral and social teachings, prayer and gift discernment.
For those who completed the program, July 9 was a day of celebration and anticipation about where God will lead them next. The past two years of study may have been challenging, graduates said, but well worth the effort.
"Lay Ministry has allowed me to take yet another step in my faith journey by opening my heart, nourishing my mind and soul so that I may continue walking the path as one of God's humble servants," said Hugh Holland of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
"My knowledge of the history of the Catholic Church is deeper, as is my faith. I have also met a lot of new friends from across the diocese that I wouldn't have otherwise," said Bill Youngblood of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.
"I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for all this program has poured into me," said Carol Everhart of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonsville. "We know that by virtue of our baptism we are all called to serve, and we do, in many ways in our own vocations, but if you are ready to go deeper in your understanding and application of God's call, I lovingly encourage you to explore this program."
"For the Catholic who has always felt they need to know more about their faith, the Lay Ministry course is RCIA to the fourth power," said Hank Kaczmarek of St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton.
"The commitment was not easy, but I believe it was worth the effort," said Patrick L. Roach of Our Lady of Fatima Mission in Winston-Salem. "I particularly feel blessed to have been introduced to the Divine Office, and I feel the whole experience has brought me closer to God. I now know that there is so much to learn about my Catholic faith, and although I have just finished two years of study the journey is just beginning."
During a Mass at the Catholic Conference Center to celebrate their graduation, graduates were encouraged to keep saying "yes" to God.
In his homily Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, reflected on the day's readings, including Isaiah 6:1-8, in which the prophet encounters God. When God sanctifies him and calls him, Isaiah responds, "Here I am, send me!"
Isaiah serves as a model of how we should respond to God's similar call to us, Monsignor West said.
"Dear friends in Christ, the very same commitment is being asked of us this morning," he said. "Christ is inviting you to work with Him to make His love and mercy a real experience for those whom you encounter on the journey of life."
"I realize that in hearing this call, it is a daunting one," he acknowledged. "Nevertheless, it is what is being asked of us as we formally embrace a life of Gospel ministry, side by side with the Lord Jesus."
In his closing comments at the graduation ceremony, Frank Villaronga, diocesan director of the Lay Ministry program, also told the graduates to keep going on their spiritual journey.
"I've heard you say 'yes' several times today," he said with a smile. "Hopefully, you'll begin to realize what that 'yes' is and continue to say' yes,' and figure out how to live that out."
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Editor
New classes starting
The 2016-'18 Lay Ministry Formation Program begins Sept. 24, with classes scheduled in Arden, Bryson City, Charlotte, Greensboro and Lenoir. All Catholic adults are welcome to apply.
For details, contact Frank Villaronga, director of the diocesan Evangelization and Adult Education Office, at 704-370-3274 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..