CHARLOTTE — Nine priests, who together have 462 years of service to the Church, were honored June 21 at St. Patrick Cathedral. Bishop Peter J. Jugis served as main celebrant. He himself marks 35 years of priesthood and 15 years as the bishop of Charlotte this year.
Bishop Jugis was joined at the altar by five of those priests being recognized for jubilee anniversaries or retirement this year.
The nine priests honored at Mass include: Father Richard Benonis and Benedictine Father David Kessinger (60 years); Father James Hawker and Father Edward Sheridan (55 years); Father George Kloster (50 years); and Father Eric Kowalski and Father Carmen Malacari (25 years).
Father Wilbur Thomas (45 years of priestly ministry) and Father Carl Del Giudice (37 years of priestly ministry) are retiring.
These distinguished priests, many of whom who were asked to build new parishes, create vital ministries and initiate ecumenical outreach efforts over the past 46 years since the Diocese of Charlotte was created, are a reflection of the Body of Christ. They come from different backgrounds and cultural heritages – all of them unique shepherds called by God to serve His flock.
The Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral was part of the annual Priests' Colloquium held in Charlotte June 21-22. More than 44 priests of the diocese were at the Mass to hear the words of encouragement from their shepherd.
Drawing upon the first reading from 1 Thess 2:2b-8, Bishop Jugis gave a lighthearted interpretation of the Scripture, illustrating how the jubilarians and retirees present could use this passage as content for a letter they could pen to their parishioners:
“Dear parishioners, I drew courage from God to speak to you the Gospel of God. My exhortations over the years were not delivered from improper motives or for purpose of flattering you or manipulating you, but rather in order to please God who is the One who is going to judge me,” Bishop Jugis said.
“I was judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. I was gentle while I was with you, as a mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, I was determined to share with you, not only the Gospel of God, but my very self as well, so beloved are you to me.”
Bishop Jugis pointed out two elements that stand out from St. Paul’s writing – to speak the Gospel of God and to share one’s very self – all undergirded by affection for the people of God.
“It turns out that is really a great, concise summary of the ministry of a priest,” he explained. “To teach by word and by example those who are so beloved by the priest: his parishioners.”
Recalling the recent celebration of Father’s Day, Bishop Jugis spoke of how they had probably all been wished a happy Father’s Day by their parishioners.
“They consider you to be their spiritual father. They call you 'Father.' The faithful are formed and grow in holiness by what their spiritual father speaks to them,” he said.
In the Gospel, at the Mass, in the sacraments and by the example of their lives, Bishop Jugis said, all priests should live with a genuinely Christ-like attitude of affection for people, treating them as God's beloved.
“There is a lot of love at the foundation of the priest's ministry,” Bishop Jugis noted.
“We offer our prayers that our brothers who are celebrating special anniversaries of ordination, and our brothers who are entering retirement, will receive that love which they have given to many, many parishioners through the years,” he concluded.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — Mya McKenzie Nguyen, who has been battling leukemia for more than six years, received her first Holy Communion Sept. 24 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, during Mass offered by Father Patrick Winslow, pastor. Her cousin Ryan was also baptized the same day.
Mya McKenzie, who is in fourth grade, is once again in remission for the sixth time, according to her father Thanh Nguyen.
Mya McKenzie's parents credit their faith in God and his many blessings for the successes they’ve had in her treatment over the past few years. Diagnosed when she was 3 years old, Mya McKenzie has relapsed five times, trying experimental and other options to treat the cancer as it returns.
Read about her journey here.
— Photos provided by John Cosmas and Thanh Nguyen
MAGGIE VALLEY — St. Margaret of Scotland Church has reason to celebrate this year: their pastor, Father Richard Benonis, is marking his 60th anniversary of priestly ordination.
Parishioners congratulated Father Benonis with a surprise party after Mass May 15.
A Pennsylvania native, Father Benonis grew up in a large family and was one of two brothers who were called to the priesthood.
In his early years of ministry, he served in several parishes, he worked with the Boy Scouts, and he planned medical ethics courses for Catholic nurses and students.
He then began his work with the Ecumenical Movement, which included a Philadelphia radio talk show with Protestant clergyman.
He also served as a U.S. Army chaplain for 20 years, with many of those years serving overseas – including Germany and two tours in Vietnam, holding an officer’s rank.
Returning stateside, he earned a master’s degree in counseling from Long Island University.
While he was serving in Germany, Father Benonis became an executive team priest with Worldwide Marriage Encounter for several years before retiring from the Army.
He served again as the chaplain at the San Antonio, Texas, VA Hospital.
Upon retirement, he moved to Maggie Valley and has continued to serve the people of God as pastor of St. Margaret of Scotland Church.
“Father gave us his retirement to be our parish leader, bringing years of experience, knowledge and commitment to our community and St. Margaret of Scotland Church,” said parishioners Raymond and Maryellen Hoefer. “His years have not diminished his faith, energy and love for all people.”
“Father continues his service, even after retirement, because he believes we are all disciples and we must continue to spread the word of God,” they added. “We are grateful to have Father Richard Benonis in our church, community and our lives.”
— Catholic News Herald
BELMONT — Benedictine Father David Kessinger is marking six decades of priestly ministry this year.
A lifelong Catholic from Clifton Forge, Va., he first thought he might want to be a priest when he was training to be an altar server in the fifth grade.
He attended junior and senior college at Belmont Abbey. During his senior year there, he realized he had a call to the religious life. Upon his graduation from Belmont Abbey College in 1953, he entered the Benedictine monastery of Belmont Abbey.
After the novitiate he completed four years of major seminary studies before being ordained in the Abbey basilica by Bishop Vincent Waters on May 31, 1958.
Over the years, Father Kessinger has served at Belmont Abbey College, the Benedictine Military School in Richmond, Va., and a Benedictine high school in Savannah, Ga. He also served as the librarian of Belmont Abbey College for years.
When asked about what he has enjoyed most about his priestly ministry, Father Kessinger responds, “Having the joy of God’s gift of vocation and priesthood in ministering to the people of God, especially offering Mass and hearing confessions, and ministry to the sick and elderly.”
The most significant lessons he has learned over the past 60 years of religious life?
“God’s love for us all,” he replies, and adds, “The witness of the people of God. Learn from mistakes – go forward from there. God has many surprises! Take one day at a time.”
He has also witnessed “God’s loving mercy and the good example of the people of God.”
Father Kessinger has a great love of music, reading the Scriptures and spiritual reading. These things were shared with him by his parents, relatives and friends over the years.
His advice to those discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life?
“(Spend time in) daily prayer, asking the Holy Spirit for the grace of discernment of God’s call; daily participation in Mass and Holy Communion; faithful, daily reading of Scriptures; regular Eucharistic Adoration and praying of the rosary,” he suggests.
And, he urges, people should “pray daily for abundant and faithful vocations.”
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter