July 20, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com
Photo provided by Dr. Cris Villapando
Capuchin Franciscan Father Remo DiSalvatore is pictured being given a farewell serenade of thanks by the Filipino community of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, where he has served as pastor for the past six years. More than 30 Filipino leaders gathered for a banquet feast at the Ray-Myrna DelaCruz residence to thank Father DiSalvatore for his pastoral leadership. Shown with him are the Filipino Dominican nuns led by Sister Gloria Camitan playing the guitar. Father DiSalvatore is being reassigned by his order, which is reorganizing and moving out of two out of three parishes in the diocese.
Priest assignments, new pastor installation dates announced CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte announces that the following clergy have been reassigned effective July 10 (unless otherwise indicated), and dates for pastors to be installed have also been scheduled as noted below:
Newly Ordained
Father Jason K. Barone: Newly ordained, to parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury Father Matthew P. Codd: Newly ordained, to parochial vicar at St. Mark Church, Huntersville Father Peter J. Shaw: Newly ordained, to parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great Church, Winston-Salem
First-time Pastors
Father Patrick D. Toole: from parochial vicar of St. Matthew Church, Charlotte, to pastor at Sacred Heart Church, Brevard. He will be installed at 6 p.m. July 23. Father Benjamin A. Roberts: from parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury, to pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Monroe. He will be installed at 7 p.m. July 25. Father Lucas C. Rossi: from parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great Church, WinstonSalem, to pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Church, Winston-Salem, and Good Shepherd Mission, King. He was installed July 18. Father John J. Eckert: from parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensboro, to pastor of St. John the Baptist Church, Tryon. He will be installed at 11 a.m. July 22.
Diocesan Clergy Assignments
Father Richard. G. DeClue: from parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte, to pursue graduate studies in sacred theology at The Catholic University of America
Father Carl T. DelGiudice: from pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Brevard, to pastor of Our Lady of Consolation Church, Charlotte, and St. Helen Mission, Spencer Mountain. He will be installed at 7 p.m. July 20. Father Lawrence W. Heiney: from pastor of St. Benedict the Moor Church, WinstonSalem, and Good Shepherd Mission, King, to pastor of Holy Angels Church, Mt. Airy. He will be installed at 11 a.m. Aug. 3. Father Matthew K. Kauth: from graduate studies in Rome to chaplain of Charlotte Catholic High School and serving in residence at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte Father Thomas J. Kessler: from pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Monroe, to parochial vicar of St. Matthew Church, Charlotte Father Eric L. Kowalski: from pastor of Holy Angels Church, Mt. Airy, to pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensboro. He will be installed at 7 p.m. July 27. Father Fidel C. Melo: from pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensboro, to full-time Vicar for Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Charlotte Father David P. Miller: from parochial vicar of St. Mark Church, Huntersville, to parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte Father Patrick J. Winslow: from pastor of St. John the Baptist Church, Tryon, to pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte (effective Aug. 1)
Religious order Assignments
Father Martin A. Schratz, OFM Cap: from pastor of Our Lady of Consolation Church, Charlotte, and St. Helen Mission, Spencer Mountain, to pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville. He will be installed at 5 p.m. Aug. 25. Father Robert Williams, OFM Cap: from ministry outside of the diocese to parochial assignments, SEE page 12
OUR PARISHESI
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SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald
Seminarian Jason Christian was ordained to the transitional diaconate, one of the final steps on his path to the priesthood, during Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral July 7.
Jason Christian takes next step toward priesthood SueAnn Howell Staff writer
CHARLOTTE — Within the cool confines of St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte seminarian Jason Christian took the next step on his journey to the holy priesthood July 7, as he was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Peter J. Jugis. Priests, deacons and laity escaped the blazing summer heat during the one-and-a-half hour Mass to witness Deacon Christian’s transformation from seminarian to an ordained minister of the Church. Bishop Jugis was the main celebrant for the Mass. Concelebrants included Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey; Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte; Father John Putnam, judicial vicar; Father Roger Arnsparger, vicar of education; Monsignor John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church; and Father Christopher Gober, director of vocations. A special guest, Monsignor Gian Carlo of the Diocese of Brescia, Italy, was also in attendance. Deacon Christian met him one day while he was at Mass and learning Italian while studying at the North American College in Rome. Monsignor Gian Carlo has been a huge help to all of the seminarians studying in Rome, providing them outings, meals and fraternity. “Today our brother Jason is set apart from other men for the exclusive service of God,” said Bishop Jugis as the beginning of his homily. “He is to be imprinted with a special character through the sacrament of holy orders which configures him to Christ. ... Christ,
More online See more photos from the Mass at www.catholicnewsherald.com.
who made Himself the deacon or servant of all...” “You, my brother, will show your love for God who bestows this gift on you by faithfully fulfilling this ordained ministry. By proclaiming the Gospel, preparing the sacrifice and distributing Our Lord’s Body and Blood to the faithful, you will be serving Jesus as you build up His Church and make a return of love for the love He has shown you.” Deacon Christian’s family – his mother and father, Dee and Joe Christian; his brother Jeremy and his sister Ana – presented the gifts to Bishop Jugis during the Mass. “God in His love has chosen Jason for this special office of the Church to configure him to Jesus, His only Son, His beloved Son ... who came not to be served but to serve, to give His life for the ransom of many,” Bishop Jugis added. Deacon Christian is serving this summer at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury until Sept. 3. Following his ordination, Deacon Christian noted, “These recent years leading up to ordination, of study, prayer and fraternity, have been a great blessing for me. I am sure the ones that lie ahead will likewise be the same. I am very grateful to Bishop Jugis and to my family, and to the countless people who have supported me at each step of the way with their constant and generous prayers.”