CHARLOTTE — Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., announced the following episcopal vicar appointments, effective June 25, 2024:
• Judicial Vicar: Father John Putnam, pastor of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville
• Vicar for Hispanic Ministry: Father Julio Dominguez
• Vicar of Education for Catechetical Formation: Monsignor Roger Arnsparger, rector and pastor of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville
• Vicar of Education for Catholic Schools: Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church in Charlotte
An episcopal vicar is a priest who oversees a particularly important aspect of diocesan life, such as vocations or faith formation, on behalf of the bishop.
As a representative of the bishop, under Church law an episcopal vicar must be at least 30 years old and be “doctors or licensed in canon law or theology or at least truly expert in these disciplines, and recommended by sound doctrine, integrity, prudence, and experience in handling matters” (478 §1).
Bishop Martin also recently reappointed Monsignor Patrick Winslow as vicar general and chancellor and Father Christopher Gober as vocations director for the Diocese of Charlotte.
— Catholic News Herald
Father John Putnam
Father Julio Dominguez
Monsignor Roger Arnsparger
Father Timothy Reid
National Eucharistic Congress inspires Catholic runner to spread ‘Adoration Ultra’ concept beyond Charlotte
St. Matthew parishioner Jimmy Coleman ran more than 50 miles in his first Adoration Ultra in January. Now he is encouraging other Catholic runners to do similar marathons to bring more awareness of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. CHARLOTTE — Earlier this year St. Matthew parishioner Jimmy Coleman ran what is believed to be the first-ever Adoration Ultra in the Charlotte area. Now he’s poised to do it again with more Catholic runners from North Carolina and beyond.
These prayerful marathons include running from church to church for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, raising awareness of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The upcoming event begins in Charlotte July 1 and culminates with the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 17-21.
For his first Adoration Ultra in January, Coleman started with Eucharistic Adoration and Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville and ran more than 50 miles carrying a flag emblazoned with “Eat my flesh” and “Drink my blood” (Jn 6:54-56) to the Charlotte-area churches of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Vincent de Paul, St. John Neumann and St. Matthew, stopping for Eucharistic Adoration at each location.
Ever since then, other Catholic runners who saw Catholic News Herald and national media coverage of Coleman’s feat have been reaching out to him to learn how he did it. Together, they’re gearing up for another Adoration Ultra.
This time, Coleman is recruiting runners and helping them plan Adoration Ultras or Adoration Minis in their own hometowns, leading up to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis.
“I’m hoping this inspires people who don’t know the Eucharist to look into it further and come closer to their Catholic faith,” he says. “And then maybe even people who are atheists, to inspire them through seeing people who are truly living out a devout Christian life versus a watered-down version of Christianity that is very unappealing.”
Coleman says runners of all ages are signing up, including a 69-year-old man, women in their 50s, and other runners in their 20s. The project has spread beyond just himself, which encourages Coleman.
“What we’re seeing now is a step further of not just being the ‘Jimmy Coleman Show,’” he says. “I’m hoping this becomes a more regular event throughout the U.S.”
Originally planned as a relay from Charlotte to Indianapolis, Coleman recently changed the format to ease logistical issues and involve more people.
“I’m really excited because it opens the door for other people to participate who originally really wanted to, but weren’t able to,” he says.
Coleman hopes the experience will create running groups in various areas of the country who can connect as Catholic families and athletes.
For the Charlotte marathon, runners will stop at St. Ann and St. Matthew churches in Charlotte and at the St. Joseph Adoration Chapel on the campus of Belmont Abbey College. Other locations in the diocese may be added in the meantime.
Coleman says he expects Adoration Ultras in cities closer to Indianapolis to intersect with official pilgrimage routes to the National Eucharistic Congress, further amplifying his mission to bring others closer to Jesus.
Participation in the Adoration Ultra is free. Runners are given an option to buy a T-shirt designed to match the flag Coleman carried in January featuring the words “Eat my flesh” and “Drink my blood” (Jn 6:54-56).
Coleman says he hopes people see a run group wearing the shirts and start wondering what they are doing.
“They’re going to ask someone, and someone is going to be forced to give them an answer,” he says. “That’s an opportunity to evangelize and bring people closer to Christianity – specifically to the Catholic faith.”
— Annie Ferguson
Learn more
Want to create your own Adoration Ultra or know someone who would? Email Jimmy Coleman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for advice and planning. See coverage of Coleman’s first Adoration Ultra.
Thousands gather for Corpus Christi Mass, procession with Bishop Martin
CHARLOTTE — On his first Sunday as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Michael Martin got out among the people, celebrating Mass for a crowd of thousands at a Ballantyne amphitheater.
The outdoor Mass and Eucharistic procession were hosted by St. Matthew Parish and had been in the works for months to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi on June 2. Since it fell on the same week as Bishop Martin’s installation, parish leaders invited him to celebrate the Mass.
“We were greatly honored to welcome our new bishop on his first Sunday in the diocese,” said Father John Allen, parish administrator. “It’s a very special gift that he comes to us on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi so we can celebrate our communion with him as our chief shepherd.”
Organizers estimated the outdoor Mass drew about 4,000 people, including St. Matthew parishioners and other members of the community.
Bishop Martin arrived at The Amp Ballantyne outdoor amphitheater shortly after 10 a.m. and started talking with people in the crowd minutes after getting out of his car. People young and old gathered around him, some snapping photos with their cell phones.
One of the first people he met was a St. Matthew parishioner also named Michael Martin.
“It was rather a shock to discover that the bishop and I have the same name,” Martin said as he sat with wife Shauna and their three children. “It’s nice to share a name with him, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he does as our bishop.”
Many in the crowd obviously enjoyed the unique outdoor venue for the Mass, sitting together on the lush grass on beach towels or lawn chairs. Children ran and played before the Mass started.
“This is just a beautiful chance to get outside the walls of the church and worship together,” said St. Matthew parishioner Jaime McKenzie. “This is a great way to get us together and show the Ballantyne area that we are here as Catholics.”
In his homily, Bishop Martin drew on the meaning of the feast day of Corpus Christi. The feast, with roots in the 13th century, celebrates Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist.
Bishop Martin described recent research that shows many Catholics no longer fully believe in the Real Presence, a sad situation he said that has roots in a more secular culture, increasingly focused on social media and technology offering “quick-hit” information and communication.
“Many people have a hard time considering what the Real Presence is and means, and that’s not a Jesus problem – it’s an us problem,” he said. “It’s we who are less really present, and the extent we fail to really be present to one another and our God is the extent to which we find ourselves adrift. We have got to find ways to not allow this culture to cause us to be less present to Christ and to each other.”
He encouraged people to focus on building a community willing to reach out to others, make sacrifices and do the necessary work to bring the message of Jesus to everyone they encounter – including the poor and the marginalized.
“Jesus is really present in the Eucharist – He wants communion with us and He shares it with us so we become His Body and Blood,” Bishop Martin said. “His Real Presence is not just to be received, adored and taken around in procession. All of those things are beautiful, but together we will also need to bring His Real Presence into the world out there that so needs us. If we don’t bring that Real Presence there, we’ve minimized Jesus Christ.”
The Mass concluded with a Eucharistic procession with Bishop Martin and St. Matthew clergy walking through the crowd.
Bishop Martin spent more time with people after the Mass, shaking hands and talking with everyone who approached him.
“The Mass was wonderful and it was amazing to have the bishop with us,” said Karen Botero Cabas. “The sermon he gave was great – very concise and very timely, very true.”
“The venue for the Mass was perfect and the whole thing was just beautiful,” said St. Matthew parishioner Diane Gaskin. “Having the bishop here made this an even more special experience.”
Father Binoy Davis, a parish priest at St. Matthew, reflected on the day’s meaning.
“Based on everyone who has come out here today, you can see they are excited to be together with the bishop as we celebrate and proclaim our faith.”
— Christina Lee Knauss. Photos by Liz Chandler and Travis Burton
