BELMONT —The statue of St. Joseph outside Old St. Joseph Church in Mount Holly now displays an official plaque recognizing the Sisters of Mercy and their service for more than 100 years in western North Carolina.
Sister Maria Goretti Weldon was instrumental in relocating the statue from St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville after the Sisters of Mercy sold the hospital to Mission Health in October 1998.
It seemed appropriate that it would find a new home at Old St. Joseph Church, which opened in 1843 and is the oldest standing Catholic church in the state. Now affiliated with Queen of the Apostles Church in nearby Belmont, St. Joseph Church has been refurbished in recent years but is used only for special occasions.
The Sisters of Mercy’s maintenance staff cleaned the statue of St. Joseph and installed the new plaque, which was dedicated Sept. 25 in a blessing ceremony led by Father Frank Cancro, pastor of Queen of the Apostles.
The staff also set up for the ceremony, attended by a dozen sisters and friends. The plaque reads: “Dedicated to the glory of God and those who serve with compassion / This statue, from St. Joseph Hospital, is donated by the Sisters of Mercy who have ministered in healthcare in Asheville since 1900.”
Pictured with the St. Joseph statue are (from left) Sister Maria Goretti Weldon, Sister Antonette Schmidt and Sister Jane Marie Davis, all of whom served at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Asheville, where the statue originally stood.
— Beth Rogers Thompson
CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Aquinas Church hosted its annual “World Feast” Oct. 13, showcasing food, music and cultural traditions of parishioners from around the world.
— Photography by Doreen Sugierski, correspondent
BELMONT — House of Mercy recently received a $3,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Gaston County. These funds will be used to reupholster all resident recliners at the House of Mercy.
“Our mission is to provide our residents with quality medical services in a home-like setting,” said Stan Patterson, House of Mercy president. “The recliners provide comfort and support and allow our residents to relax in an area other than their beds. After much use, the covering of the chairs have worn out and new coverings are needed. “
“We are very pleased with the functioning of our current recliners and believe reupholstering them is a cost-effective approach to addressing the problem. We are also happy to be using a local Belmont business, Byrum’s Upholstery,” Patterson said.
The Community Foundation awards annual grants through a competitive application and review process. “For more than 25 years, House of Mercy has provided a home and specialized care for persons living with AIDS,” said Ernest Sumner, CFGC President. “Each resident has a hospital-grade recliner in their room and funding from this grant will be used to reupholster every recliner.”
Pictured with Sumner are (from left) Krystyna Sarrazin, HOM Development Director; Shirley Stowe, HOM Director of Nursing; and Erin Wiggins, CFGC Program Officer.
— Krystyna Sarrazin
BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College President Bill Thierfelder has been selected to serve on the NCAA Division II Presidents Council. He will serve a four-year term until 2022.
The Presidents Council is the highest governing office in NCAA Division II Athletics and consists of 16 members who are presidents or chancellors at NCAA-sponsored institutions. Each member represents a region of 100 colleges or universities.
The Council is charged with guiding “the strategic direction for the division in all areas, including the division’s financial affairs and championships administration.” Further, it is the primary sponsor of legislative proposals at the NCAA Convention. Dr. Thierfelder represents Region 2, including Conference Carolinas, of which Belmont Abbey College is a member.
“I greatly appreciate the opportunity to help forward the mission of Division II in educating and forming young men and women in body, mind and soul. My personal experiences of competing and coaching at Olympic, International and NCAA levels enable me to understand the needs of students pursuing both academic and athletic excellence,” Dr. Thierfelder said.
Dr. Thierfelder is a former NCAA Division I Coach, National Champion and a two-time All-American from the University of Maryland. He is a licensed psychologist and received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Sports Psychology and Human Movement from Boston University. He is also the author of ‘Less Than a Minute to Go: The Secret to World-Class Performance in Sport, Business and Everyday Life.’
Entering his 15th year as president of Belmont Abbey College, Dr. Thierfelder has been an advocate of the importance of collegiate athletics as it relates to excellence and virtue in all aspects of life. The number of athletic teams at Belmont Abbey College has more than doubled under his leadership.
— Belmont Abbey College