SAVANNAH — The bishops of the Atlanta Province gathered for their annual meeting June 27-29, this year held in Savannah, Ga. The Atlanta Province encompasses the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the four dioceses of Charlotte and Raleigh, Charleston, S.C., and Savannah.
"It's part of an identity of a province to periodically come together, to have an opportunity for fellowship, prayer, and for a little business that strengthens each of the local Churches," explained Archbishop Wilton Gregory.
"All of us, obviously, face many of the same pastoral challenges, and we need to support and affirm and encourage one another. Also, I think it's another indication that, as Pope Francis has said to the whole Church, we need to accompany each other. We need to move forward in faith together."
Their meeting was held at the Savannah diocese's new Catholic Pastoral Center, a former children's home opened by the Sisters of Mercy in 1938.
Pictured after Mass are (from left) Bishop Robert Guglielmone, Bishop of Charleston; Bishop Luis Zarama, Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta; Bishop David Talley, Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta; Bishop J. Kevin Boland, Bishop Emeritus of Savannah; Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta; Bishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., Bishop of Savannah; Bishop Michael Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh; and Bishop Peter Jugis.
— Photo provided by Michael J. Johnson, The Southern Cross
SALISBURY — The Salisbury City Council recently approved a rezoning request for a wedding venue to be operated at the former Sacred Heart Church property.
The city council approved a plan June 21 to rezone the 1.5-acre property at 128 N. Fulton St. for a wedding venue called The Abbey.
The vote was the second approval by the city council, which OK'd the rezoning June 7 only after city planners and the property owner modified the plans in response to neighbors' concerns.
Lori and Michael Dienfenbach requested the rezoning so they could convert the property into a wedding venue. Along with furnishing the former church and other buildings on the property to serve as a wedding venue, they plan for a support services building that could include related businesses such as a florist or tuxedo rental store. Another of the buildings could be converted into a bed and breakfast in the future, they said.
The Salisbury-Rowan Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated that the 1,800 square feet of retail space could have an impact of $1.8 million on the local economy, Lori Dienfenbach said. The venue would also bring many out-of-town visitors into Salisbury.
But some neighbors and the Historic Salisbury Foundation had voiced worries about the noise, parking congestion, and businesses that might move into the support services building if the wedding venue were to fail.
The Dienfenbachs' proposal went through two council committee meetings and a Planning Board committee meeting, during which changes were made to the plans, including removal of a rooftop terrace.
The Refuge, a church that currently rents a building on the property, will also have to move before the plans for the wedding venue can move forward.
The Fulton Street property was the home of Sacred Heart Church from when it was built in 1940 until 2009, when Sacred Heart Church moved to its current 40-acre campus on Lumen Christi Lane, just off Jake Alexander Boule-vard.
— Amanda Raymond, Salisbury Post
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis announces the following priest appointments:
- Father Innocent C. Amasiorah: From ministry outside the diocese to Campus Ministry at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, effective Aug. 15.
- Father Jason K. Barone: From parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte to in-residence at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, while continuing as diocesan promoter of vocations and assistant chaplain at Charlotte Catholic High School, effective July 5.
- Father Paul M. Buchanan: After completing his studies for a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, to parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, effective Aug. 1.
- Vincentian Father John Carney: From ministry outside the diocese to parochial vicar at St. Mary Church in Greensboro, effective June 13.
- Father Noah C. Carter: From parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro and chaplain of Bishop McGuiness High School in Kernersville to full-time studies for a Licentiate in Liturgical Theology in Rome, effective Aug. 10.
- Newly ordained Father A. Cory Catron: Parochial vicar at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, effective July 5.
- Father Julio C. Dominguez: From pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir to Hispanic Ministry Coordinator for the Smoky Mountain Vicariate, effective Sept. 1.
- Vincentian Father Tri Duong: From parochial vicar at St. Mary Church in Greensboro to ministry outside the diocese, effective May 9.
- Father Stephen M. Hoyt: From parochial vicar at Holy Family Church in Clemmons to pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir, effective Sept. 1.
- Vincentian Father Peter Hung Le: From ministry outside the diocese to parochial vicar at St. Mary Church in Greensboro, effective June 13.
- Father Joseph Matlak: Chaplain at Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte, effective Aug. 24. Father Matlak has also been assigned by the Ukrainian Catholic bishop of the Eparchy of Parma, Ohio, as full-time administrator of St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Charlotte and the new St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Pineville effective Sept. 1.
- Father Paul M. McNulty: Continuing as parochial vicar at St. Mark Church in Huntersville and the new chaplain of Christ the King High School in Huntersville, effective Aug. 24.
- Newly ordained Father David R. McCanless: From parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte to full-time studies for a Licentiate in Biblical Theology in Rome, effective Sept. 1.
- Father Elie Mikhael: From parochial vicar at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte to ministry outside the diocese, effective Aug. 7.
- Father Felix F. Nkafu: From ministry outside the diocese to parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem, effective Sept. 1.
- Father Peter K. Nouck: From ministry outside the diocese to parochial vicar at Holy Family Church in Clemmons, effective Sept. 1.
- Father Basile N. Sede: From sacramental minister at St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem and Good Shepherd Mission in King to pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Church and Good Shepherd Mission, effective Aug. 9.
- Vincentian Father Charles Strollo: From ministry outside the diocese to pastor at St. Mary Church in Greensboro, effective June 13.
- Father Richard F. Sutter: From ministry outside the diocese to parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, effective Aug. 17.
- Vincentian Father John Timlin: From pastor at St. Mary Church in Greensboro to ministry outside the diocese, effective June 13.
— Catholic News Herald
WAYNESVILLE — Two more faith communities in the Diocese of Charlotte have inaugurated a Catholic Daughters of the Americas chapter.
On June 5, St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton instituted the Court Immaculate Heart of Mary 2715 with a total of 28 charter members. It is the 18th and newest local CDA chapter in North Carolina.
The CDA is the oldest and the largest Catholic women's group in the Americas. Formed in 1903 in Utica, N.Y., today it numbers 70,000 members in 1,250 courts in 45 states across the country, and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Members are dedicated to the principles of "Unity and Charity," the order's motto. CDA tools of the trade are considered the Circle of Love, including Spiritual Enhancement, Education, Family, Leadership, Legislation and Quality of Life.
The chartering ceremony in Waynesville was the culmination of months of work by parishioners and CDA leaders from elsewhere in the diocese, including State Regent Essie Walker of Charlotte; District Deputy Diane Clark-Hawkins; Jo MacWilliams, Regent of the Court St. Joan of Arc 2471 in Candler; and State Secretary Gwendolen Parris of the Court St. Mary of God in Sylva.
Officers for the new court are: Regent Jean Burton, Vice Regent Christine Ryan, Recording Secretary Mary Harrah, Financial Secretary Gail Webb, and Treasurer Norma Waring. Father Christopher Riehl, pastor, wll serve as court chaplain.
National Director Sheila Storey of Durham swore in the new officers.
Attending and serving at the ceremony were Brend Spizo and Vice Regent Sue Harris, both of Court Durham 1576 in Durham; Teresa Cornett, State Treasurer and Regent, of Court St. Bernadette 2629 in Fuquay Varina; and Janet Rapiey, Vice Regent, Court St. Philip the Apostle 2593 of Statesville.
District Deputy Diane Clark-Hawkins organized the court and and the event was hosted by the Court St. Joan of Arc 2471. The Knights of Columbus Father Bernard McDevitt Council 15085 helped with the reception that followed.
— Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis administered the sacrament of confirmation to eight young people during a Mass in the Extraordinary Form June 25 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte – a first for the 44-year-old Diocese of Charlotte.
St. Ann Church hosts the Charlotte Latin Mass Community, which supports and promotes awareness of the Traditional Latin Mass in the diocese.
The Solemn High Mass was offered by Father Jason Barone, parochial vicar of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, with Father Jason Christian of St. Thomas Aquinas Church serving as deacon and Deacon Matthew Bean serving as subdeacon.
Confirmandi were: Kyle James Derscheid, Daniel Dean Dierking, Benjamin Joseph Jakubek, Cristhian Rodriquez, Kevin Francisco Romero, Isaiah James Rosamond, Mary Imelda Ohlhaut and Sebastian Adriano.
During the rite of confirmation in the Extraordinary Form, which is celebrated according to the 1962 Missal, the candidates knelt before the bishop, who anointed their foreheads with sacred chrism, made the sign of the cross over them three times, and then lightly slapped them on the left cheek as he told them, "Pax tecum" ("Peace").
After they were anointed, Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church and spiritual advisor to the Charlotte Latin Mass Community, wiped their foreheads clean with a mixture of bread and lemons.
To learn more about the Latin Mass in the Charlotte diocese, go to www.charlottelatinmass.org or www.nctlmmef.com.
