February 19, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com
All Catholic men invited to upcoming conference CHARLOTTE — The sixth Annual Catholic Men’s Conference will take place Saturday, Feb. 27, at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte. The theme of this year’s event is “Step up, Find your Strength,” and will feature talks by Brian Pusteri of Broken Door Ministries; author Joe McClane; and Father Chris Alar, MIC, director of the Association of Marian Helpers. Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey will celebrate Mass, and Bishop Emeritus William Curlin will give a reflection during a period of Eucharistic Adoration in the afternoon. All men of the diocese are invited to attend the day-long conference, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Advance registration fee is $35, and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Discounts apply for early registration, seniors, students and Knights of Columbus. St. Matthew Church is located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. in Charlotte. For details and registration information, go to www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org. — Rico De Silva, Hispanic Communications Reporter
CHARLOTTE — When Jim Kelley came on board to lead development efforts for the Diocese of Charlotte in the mid-1980s, the diocese was home to 32,000 registered households. Fast forward 30 years and the diocese now has 65,000 registered households. Kelley has helped to find financial resources to support this “tremendous growth” since Monsignor John McSweeney, then the diocese’s vicar general and chancellor, hired him as the diocese’s first development director in 1986. Kelley was charged with creating a spirit of stewardship among Kelley the people of God and encouraging them to participate in the life and future of their parish. From his first day on the job, he recalls, there was a three-fold focus on development that went beyond simply raising money. “The focus has stayed consistent from the first day. First, we wanted people to live stewardship as a way of life, to see how blessed they are – and in gratitude for those blessings to give back their time, talent and treasure. Second, we also wanted people to get closer to Jesus and get closer and engage in their parish community. And third, we wanted the focus to be on changing lives – both the donors’ lives and the recipients’ lives. We know the Holy Spirit changes lives,” he says, “but we can help set up an environment where that can more readily happen.”
Under Kelley’s tenure, the scope of work for the diocesan development office has expanded significantly. “When I started, we were only coordinating the Diocesan Support Appeal. Soon after, we were working on capital campaigns,” he recalls. “Now we have 24 different efforts in the development office including the successful ‘Forward in Faith, Hope and Love’ campaign – the largest of its kind in the history of the diocese. That campaign raised pledges of more than $67 million for parish life and ministries, clergy support, Catholic education, Catholic outreach, and pastoral and temporal needs. “Overall, we have helped raise $497 million (over the past 30 years),” he says. “That speaks to the generosity of the people.” The office also oversees the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation, which since it was established in 1994 has grown to encompass 235 endowments and more than $32 million in assets. It has also conducted 163 capital campaigns to help build churches, activity centers and schools and to help parishes pay off debt. “We’ve also had over 900 people indicate to us that they are making gifts to the Church in their estate,” Kelley adds. The diocesan development office has grown from just Kelley and his administrative assistant of almost 30 years, Carol Flynt, to an additional six professional staff and two support staff. “I have been blessed to work with very talented and hard-working people over the years. I am very proud and appreciative of all their efforts, and look forward to accomplishing more for the diocese.” Kelley, who served as president of the International Catholic
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‘I consider myself graced and blessed’
Father Byer celebrates 35 years of priestly ministry SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
TAYLORSVILLE — Thirty-five years ago on Feb. 21, 1981, Father James Byer was ordained a priest of the diocese by Bishop Michael J. Begley, the first bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. A native of Ohio, Father Byer attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmittsburg, Md., and learned of a need for priests for the mission Diocese of Charlotte through a friend. He has served at 10 parishes in the diocese, first at St. Gabriel Church as a parochial vicar and currently as administrator of Holy Trinity Mission in Taylorsville. The Catholic News Herald recently asked Father Byer to describe his journey to the priesthood and his experiences over more than three decades of serving the Church: File | Catholic News Herald
For 30 years, development director recognizes parishioners’ generosity, engagement SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER
OUR PARISHESI
Stewardship Council, travels the world promoting stewardship, meeting with people to foster an understanding of what true stewardship is and how to implement it. “The Church is so dynamic here in western North Carolina. I have had the good fortune to work with more than 100 dioceses over time. There aren’t a lot of places that have the dynamic growth that is happening here. Some areas are closing churches and schools. We’ve had nothing but dealing with growth.” Kelley also stresses that he has noticed great spiritual growth in the diocese. “At the end of the day, we’re looking for spiritual change in parishes. We’ve seen a lot more things happen spiritually. There were 14,000 people at the Eucharistic Congress last year. More parishes have adult education. More parishes offer Bible studies. We are finding that people are getting more engaged – not just at Sunday Mass, but throughout the week. There is more focus on Adoration, on prayer, on confession, on daily Mass, on developing ministries that serve others. We’re seeing that spiritual connection.” These successes point back to the original focus on stewardship set out by Monsignor McSweeney 30 years ago, he notes. “I have learned so much from the three bishops and three chancellors I’ve worked with here in Charlotte. They have allowed me to share the message of stewardship throughout our diocese and dioceses across the country. There is truly nowhere else I would have wanted to spend the past 30 years than with the pastors and people of the Diocese of Charlotte.”
CNH: When did you first discern that you were called to the priesthood? Father Byer: I grew up in a Catholic parish, Sts. Peter and Paul Church of the Polish heritage in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. I began serving in my home parish when I was in the sixth grade. The sister in charge of the altar boys was especially helpful and affirming in her training program. Also, my pastor was an inspiration to me, to the degree of my attributing him as the seed of my vocation to the priesthood. CNH: What are some of your favorite assignments you have had over the past 35 years? Father Byer: Two assignments stand out in my memory: First, as parochial vicar at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. At one point of my stay at St. Ann’s, I was given the additional assignment of living with (at the time) our retired Bishop Michael J. Begley, who lived very close by. I thought it a blessing to live with the bishop who ordained me and travel with him, as his master of ceremonies, as he celebrated confirmations in our diocese. Second, when I was in residence at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville. The people were wonderful to me and I became good friends with a few families of the parish. While at St. Philip’s, I considered myself graced and blessed. CNH: What do you enjoy most about your priestly ministry? Father Byer: Number one on my list is celebrating the sacraments of the Church. The sacrament of the Holy Eucharist is most special to me. The sacrament of penance offers any priest the opportunity to bond with and try to heal souls who need God’s grace and forgiveness in their lives. All sacraments are wonderful opportunities for priest and parishioner alike to unite themselves closer to God and grow together as members of the family of the Church. CNH: What are some of the biggest lessons you have learned over the past 35 years? Father Byer: I have learned the importance of the virtue of humility. Staying dependent upon the Lord as a fragile human being myself, so as to identify with the fragility of the people of God. I have also learned the need for forgiveness in my own life so that I can offer the forgiveness of God with a greater sensitivity to the people I have been called to serve. CNH: What advice would you give to a man discerning a vocation to the priesthood? Father Byer: As you grow in maturity, try to balance the idealistic aspects of your understanding of the priesthood with the realities that you face on an everyday basis. The two aspects may bring you joy or may present a challenge to you. Be faithful to and constant with your own personal prayer life. Offer your services to the people you serve with honesty, respect, forgiveness and love all throughout your priestly ministry.