CHARLOTTE — With so many people facing challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, funds awarded this fall by the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation will have particular impact.
Support for people in crisis, food for the hungry, faith formation resources and needed facility improvements are just some of the ways recipients of this year’s Diocese of Charlotte Foundation grant award winners will make a difference across western North Carolina.
The annual awards are given out based on need and the impact the funds are expected to have on their local communities.
This year 17 grants totaling $69,394 have been awarded to 10 parishes and missions, four diocesan outreach ministries and three parish food pantries. The grants range from $1,500 to $5,000.
One of the recipients of a $4,394 Foundation Grant is the Ave Maria Food Pantry at St. Bernadette Mission in Linville. Started in 2012, it now features 26 volunteers distributing 320-350 bags of groceries including dairy, produce, meat and dry goods each week to approximately 200 families – that’s about a total of 600 people each month.
“On behalf of the many volunteers and parishioners who contribute so much of their time and financial resources to the Ave Maria Food Pantry, I would like to thank the Diocese of Charlotte for the generous grant we recently received,” said Father Christopher Bond, pastor. “The money has already been put to very good use – helping to pay for an enclosed addition on what was the original rectory of St. Lucien Parish and St. Bernadette Mission, substantially aiding in the logistics of such an important enterprise. It is quite special to think that what started as a very modest home providing shelter for the priests now serves to provide food and clothing for those in our community who are in desperate need!”
Other food pantries which received grants include: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Food Pantry in Charlotte, $5,000; and St. Jude Mission Food Pantry in Sapphire Valley, $5,000.
Four Catholic Charities offices across the diocese will use their grants in various ways: Catholic Charities Charlotte office, $4,000 to assist homeless veterans with housing; Catholic Charities Lenoir office, $4,000 to work with families in need; Catholic Charities Piedmont/Triad office, $4,000 to conduct charitable outreach in Guilford County and the surrounding area; and Catholic Charities’
Respect Life Office, $1,500 to create awareness about human trafficking.
Since 2001, the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation has awarded 376 grants totaling $1,008,894. These grants are distributed from three of the foundation’s 278 endowments.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
2020 Diocesan Foundation Grant Recipients
Catholic Charities, Charlotte Regional Office: $4,000, SSVF/Veterans Housing
Catholic Charities, Lenoir: $4,000, Walking with Families in Need
Catholic Charities, Piedmont/Triad Office: $4,000, Charitable Outreach for Guilford and surrounding areas
Catholic Charities, Respect Life Office: $1,500 Human Trafficking Awareness
Christ the King Mission, Kings Mountain: $5,000 Lighting Upgrades
Our Lady of Consolation Church, Charlotte: $5,000 Sports Leadership Initiative
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Charlotte: $5,000 Food Pantry & Social Ministry
Our Lady of the Angels Mission, Marion: $2,500 Preventative Maintenance
Our Lady of the Highways Church, Thomasville: $4,000 Ceiling Repair
Prince of Peace Mission, Robbinsville: $5,000 New Roof
Sacred Heart Church, Brevard: $4,000 Faith Formation
St. Benedict Church, Greensboro: $5,000 Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Bernadette Mission, Linville: $4,394 Ave Maria Food Pantry
St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jefferson: $3,000 Faith Formation
St. Jude Mission, Sapphire Valley: $5,000 Food Pantry Services
St. Mark Church, Huntersville: $4,000 Stephen Ministry Training
St. Pius X Church, Greensboro: $4,000 Faith Formation
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Lay Dominicans celebrated their 11th anniversary in the Diocese of Charlotte on Sept. 26 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlotte for its annual Rite of Admission and Promises. The Charlotte Lay Dominicans, known as the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Group of the Southern Province of St. Martin de Porres, was formed in 2009, and today has nearly 40 members.
Reverend Matthew Kauth, the spiritual advisor of the Charlotte Lay Dominicans and rector of St. Joseph College Seminary, celebrated Mass assisted by Rev. Mr. Tim Mueller from St. Michael Catholic Church in Gastonia. During the Mass, Reverend Kauth carried out the Rite of Admission and Promises ceremony.
Lay Dominicans share in the charism of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominican Order, founded in 1216 by St. Dominic de Guzman. For more than 800 years, the Dominicans have been committed to the salvation of souls.
After completing their five year formation, Mr. Steven Richardson, O.P., Mrs. Mitzi Fields, O.P., and Ms. Megan Whiteside, O.P. made their Perpetual Promises in the family of St. Dominic. As lifetime members of the Dominican Order, they participate in the apostolic mission of the Order through constant prayer, study, and preaching according to the state of the laity.
Also during the ceremony, those who completed their first inquiry year advanced to Candidate members. This included: Matthew Bosnick, Mary Clark, Carolyn Franks, John McElravey and Renate Raynor. Members who completed their second year made their Temporary Promises: Glenn Yellico, Susan Evans, Suzette Mahoney, Diona Mathews, and Cecelia McGloughlin.
Lay Dominicans are distinguished both by their spirituality and by their service to God and neighbor in the church. They draw their strength from listening to the Word of God, reading Sacred Scripture, attending daily Mass, daily rosary, frequent confessions, celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours in union with the entire Dominican Family, and study. There are four branches of the Dominican Order: the Friars, the cloistered Nuns, the Sisters, Priestly Fraternities of St. Dominic for Diocesan Priests, and the Laity.
New inquirers are invited to discern and join the group beginning on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. The Four Pillars of the Dominican Order are: Prayer, Study, Community, and Apostolate.
The group meets monthly at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly. Please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To learn more about the Dominican charism, visit www.CharlotteLayDominicans.org.
— Charlotte Lay Dominicans
‘God has called us together’
HUNTERSVILLE — Six men, all parishioners of St. Mark Church but of very different personalities and backgrounds, have come together to start a Holy Spirit-inspired public prayer group.
Several of the men met on a trip to the Holy Land in 2016. All are pursuing a deeper life in Christ in their daily lives and in their responsibilities as husbands, fathers, grandfathers and members of their faith community. All are feeling drawn to pray for the country, for families and for people struggling during these uncertain times.
For the past four months, they have been meeting each week at the church for prayer, Mass and to discuss how to proceed with their mission – “to be fed by God and to call ourselves, our Church and our country back to God.”
Return to God ministry member Paul Anatrella explains, “We all believe the Lord is calling us to this ministry, that God has called us together. We are being called by the Holy Spirit and now is the time. We want to give our fiat… All of us are tired of the moral demise of our country and the moral issues our Church is dealing with.”
John Nickl recalls an initial video conference call he and a few others had in July. “We talked about what was going on in the Church and in the country.” Soon afterwards, a few other men were invited to join their group of prayer warriors seeking to grow closer to Christ and witness to their faith. “And from that point on, all six of us have had the fire to go out into the world to do something for the Church and the country,” he says.
“We have to be open to the Holy Spirit,” adds Dave Stoughton. “There are many opportunities we face, and we have to be open to it. We need to see the face of Jesus in whoever we see in the public square. We have to remember that we are looking at the face of Jesus.
“We want to be peaceful and in the spirit. That is why we have prayer ministry to strengthen us.”
Charlie Magro insists the group’s peaceful prayer presence will prevail even in the face of any opposition they may encounter. “The people who are angry or confused, we know are wounded friends, our wounded brothers and sisters.”
Mannie Obregon says the effort is part of learning more about his faith. “I have been trying to get nearer to God. I have been learning a lot… It is creating a spark for me to learn and grow.”
“I am growing spiritually and emotionally and I am being sharpened,” echoes Cesar Marston. “We are building up each other and the Body of Christ. That’s our goal. My goal as a Catholic man is to lead people back to Christ, through prayer, and to bring more of them to heaven.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Return to God prayer events
The men of Return to God ministry are consulting with local officials to understand and adhere to guidelines for public prayer events. They have already held two public prayer events this fall. They plan to pray at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 21, at Veterans Park in Huntersville. All are welcome. Questions? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..